The land was divided among the tribes except for one. You may remember that the Levites weren’t given land as their inheritance. Here are two verses from Joshua 13 that talk about the inheritance of the Levites:

To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to him. (Joshua 13:14)

But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them. (Joshua 13:33)

The Lord is their inheritance. Their offerings by fire are their inheritance. Let’s look at each of these from a New Testament perspective.

The Lord is their inheritance. An inheritance is the father’s possessions to be passed down upon death. The death is of Christ on the cross. Because of His death we have obtained an inheritance. We receive the full inheritance upon our death.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14, NKJV). We are guaranteed our inheritance. We will finally be fully one with Him, He in us and we in Him, one body for all time.

The other description of their inheritance was that their offerings by fire were their inheritance. To me that sparks a parallel with Romans 8:16-17. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Offerings by fire, the fire of trials, is a picture of suffering for righteousness’ sake.

Do we see this as part of our inheritance, our promised gift from God? Do you revel in the idea of wealth as inheritance, or do you rejoice in the idea of joining Christ in His suffering?

Here’s one more verse, 1 Peter 4:13. “But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.”

Rejoice in your inheritance. There is more joy to come.