diff --git a/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_47:21-23.md b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_47:21-23.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..73d4197 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_47:21-23.md @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@ ++++ +title = "Ezekiel 47:21–23" +date = "2023-07-26" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel47.21-23) + +I know I'm going over verses that were supposed to be covered by the last post, +but I realized I left out the most amazing part, and I think it's worth digging +into. + +This time, when the land is alotted, those who have immigrated to the land of +Israel, settled there, and had children there will be given a share of the +land. They are to be treated the same as the native-born, blood-descendants of +Abraham. At this point in redemptive history, when Ezekiel is telling all of +these things to the people, _this is unprecedented_. There had always been +provisions in the Law to treat aliens and sojourners well, but they were +usually grouped with the orphans and widows. That is, they were in need of +special care because they had less financial and social support than those +around them because they did not have any land inheritance. In an agrarian +society like those of the time, land was basically equal to wealth, because +that's how you made food to survive. + +When the land of Israel is divided up among the twelve tribes again, those +seeking to live near the Lord will be allowed to, and they will be given a +portion of the inheritance to be established in the land. I'm not sure I can +express how big a deal this is. Over and over again in the Law of Moses, God +expresses how important it was to the Israelites that the land must be kept +within the family. To the extent that if a man dies without any heirs, his +brother is to marry the widow and beget children with her who will inherit the +dead man's land. It was allowed to sell land if cash was needed in dire +straits, but only to a fellow Israelite, not a foreigner. Furthermore, it +should be sold back at the same price at any time, or even just given back for +free in the Year of Jubilee. + +Now that we have the story of Peter and Cornelius and understand how God is +grafting the Jews and Gentiles together into one people in His kingdom, these +verses make a lot of sense. But I expect there was a lot of confusion over +these verses with anyone who paid attention to them before Jesus came. + +* * * + +You never change and Your plans have been perfect from the beginning.