Borders of Inheritance

Ezekiel 47:13-23

13 Thus says the Lord GOD: "These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. 14 You shall inherit it equally with one another; for I raised My hand in an oath to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

15 "This shall be the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea, by the road to Hethlon, as one goes to Zedad, 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazar Hatticon (which is on the border of Hauran). 17 Thus the boundary shall be from the Sea to Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus; and as for the north, northward, it is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

18 "On the east side you shall mark out the border from between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan, and along the eastern side of the sea. This is the east side.

19 "The south side, toward the South, shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea. This is the south side, toward the South.

20 "The west side shall be the Great Sea, from the southern boundary until one comes to a point opposite Hamath. This is the west side.

21 "Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance," says the Lord GOD.

The borders of the kingdom of God on earth were lord out  and given as an inheritance to the chosen people of God, Israel.  The boundaries are clearly defined geographically and described enough to avoid misunderstanding or denial of God’s plan for His own.  The borders of the north, south, east, and west are given as a mandate and outline of God’s inheritance given to His people in the kingdom on earth.  How much more has He laid out the heavenly kingdom which we yearn to inherit and worship Him in!  We anticipate and yearn for that revealing (Romans 8:19), eagerly waiting for our permanent adoption (Romans 8:23), and patiently wait with a certain hope that is impossible to disappoint (Romans 8:25).  Our new kingdom’s borders will be opened up in new incorruptible bodies as heaven’s citizens (Philippians 3:20-21).  As Hebrews 9:28 assures us, we await Christ’s return and the abolishment of resident sin among us in this new kingdom that never ends (2 Corinthians 5:1-2).  These are the unlimited borders of our inheritance in the kingdom that cannot be ever shaken (Hebrews 12:27-28) or taken away (John 10:28-29).  So our heavenly country will be our inheritance with borders set by God and kept by Him forever.  Let Your kingdom come quickly (Revelation 22:20) with You, Lord.  Amen.