Lessons From Ezekiel's Temple,
Part 15:
The Division of the Land
Last week, in Lessons from Ezekiel's Temple, Part 14,
we discovered that the trees planted by the waters that pour forth from
Ezekiel's temple represent each and every Christian. As long as we remain
rooted and grounded in Christ, we will bear fruit, and that fruit will be
used for the healing of the nations.
This last lesson from Ezekiel's temple takes a look at the message of the
least two chapters of Ezekiel: The division of the land. "This is what
the Sovereign Lord says: 'These are the boundaries by which you are to
divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with
two portions for Joseph. You are to divide it equally among them. Because I
swore with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will
become your inheritance.'" (Ezek 47:13-14 NIV)
When considering the vision of Ezekiel's temple, we must remember that the
Children of Israel were, at the time, still in Babylon. Ezekiel 47:13-48:35,
which outlines how the land will be redivided, is a promise to all of
Israel: The bondage will not last forever. You will return to your land!
This idea is again reemphasized by the fact that the
exact boundaries are given: "On the north side it will run from the Great
Sea … to Zedad, Berothah and Sibraim … On the east side the boundary will
run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan … On the south side it
will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh … On the west
side, the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath."
(Ezek 47:15-20 NIV)
God's message to His people in bondage was clear: You WILL return to your
land!
And history records that the people did, indeed, return to Israel (See the
books of Ezra and Nehemiah).
The promise to us today is the same. This World is NOT our home. We are just
sojourners here. We were created for eternity with Jesus, and we WILL
receive our true inheritance! Just like the children of Israel returned to
their land after the Babylonian captivity, and, in more modern times, the
state of Israel has been created, the promise is just as sure for us today:
Jesus is coming back, and when He does, He will set us up in our true,
rightful home.
As you read down through the last two verses of Ezekiel 47, it is
interesting to note that the land is to be distributed equally among the
tribes of Israel, as well as "for the aliens who have settled among you"
(See Ezek 47:22). This is not at all allowed in the original division of
the land brought about by Joshua, but it is to come to pass in the current
description. Why the difference?
I believe that this is to remind us, today, that the message is for
everyone, not just for Israel. It is to remind us that the Gospel of Jesus
Christ is open to each and every individual, regardless of heritage,
culture, skin color or religion, for: "Anyone who trusts in him will
never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -
the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for,
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Rom
10:11-13 NIV)
When Jesus died on the cross, the wall between the Jew and the Gentile was
removed. We are all the same in Christ, and the description of the division
of the land in Ezekiel reminds us that when we call upon the name of the
Lord, whether Jew or Gentile, white or black, poor or rich, we are all
sinners in need of a Savior. No matter who we are or what we've done, when
we call upon the name of the Lord, we will be saved!
Enough to ponder, but do ponder this: The vision of the division of the land
in the last two chapters of Ezekiel reminds us that Jesus has promised to
come again. He's kept His promises in the past, and He'll keep them in the
future. It also serves to remind us that no matter who we are or what we've
done, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is ours for the taking!
This is the last lesson from Ezekiel's temple. If you have missed any of the
lessons, you will find them published online at
www.scripturalnuggets.org/folder6/lessons_from_ezekiels_temple.htm , or
email me by replying to this email and I will be happy to forward them to
you.
God bless each of you as you seek to draw closer to
Him!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org , with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .