This Bible study is all about how the Lord is your inheritance, spoken of in Deuteronomy 16-19.
During these chapters in Deuteronomy, Moses speaks of some of our benefits under God. He also talks of the responsibility that comes when the Lord is our inheritance. Here, we see the immense joy that can be found as God’s children, with the celebration of feasts. But we also see the responsibility to give back from the abundance we have been blessed with. We are to serve God only and to read His word daily, as well as provide refuge for the innocent. But with these responsibilities also comes blessing when the Lord is our inheritance. We can be content no matter the situation we find ourselves in because of Christ.
Read all about how the Lord is your inheritance, before reflecting on it below.
Deuteronomy 16-19
Walking in purity because of His sacrifice
The Israelites were called to observe the Passover. The Passover celebration remembered how God spared His people when they sacrificed a spotless lamb and painted their doorframes with its blood. This tenth and final plague of God on the Egyptians allowed the Israelites to be free. Because of this, God commanded His people to celebrate that they are a redeemed people. God also commanded that the Feast of Unleavened bread be celebrated at the same time, signifying that there be no sin (yeast) found among them.
God wants His people to walk in purity, but this can only happen after the blood sacrifice of Jesus at the cross. Do you walk a life of purity, remembering the price Jesus paid you (Galatians 2:20)?
The Lord calls us to joy, rest, and peace as part of our inheritance
The three feasts that God called the Israelites to Observe in Deuteronomy 16 all point to celebration in God. The Israelites were to rejoice when bringing God their gifts, acknowledging the blessings of God in their lives. They were to be joyful as they celebrated in fellowship with each other. No one in Israel was to be excluded from celebrating the blessings of God. Male and female servants, Levites, foreigners, and widows were all to share in the celebration and rest offered within these feasts.
Do you joyfully partake in the rest God offers, taking intentional time out of your busy schedule to find peace and contentment in God (Hebrews 4:9-11)?
True sacrifices must be costly
Deuteronomy 17 gives instructions for the judges and Levitical priests to administer justice to the Israelites if anyone is found serving other gods. The Israelites were not allowed to worship any other gods, and they were not allowed to offer any sacrifice to God that had any kind of defect. God did not want anything but their whole-hearted devotion. He demanded their best.
Although we are not required to offer animal sacrifices under the New Covenant, we should still remember to only offer god our best. If what we are offering to God doesn’t cost us something – it isn’t a true sacrifice. This is true of our time, money, possessions, and relationships. It costs something to give up time each day to spend with God. We may feel a pinch in our wallets when we give back through tithes and offerings. Sometimes God calls us to use our favorite possessions for His glory. And sometime we spend more or less time on relationships than we would like to do His will.
In what areas do you feel the cost of sacrifice in your relationship with God (Luke 9:23)?
Write the Law of God
God knew that, eventually, the Israelites would want to appoint a king for themselves. When this happened, God did not want it to be because they desired to be like other nations but because they desired a ruler to help them keep God’s laws. So, God gave them regulations for the king. He was to begin his reign by writing down a copy of the word of God, and then read it daily so that he did not turn from it. By doing this, the king would always serve Israel from a place of humility, revering God as the ultimate authority.
The greater the responsibility God has bestowed on you, the greater you will need to read and meditate on the truths found in God’s word. Does your reliance on scripture match the responsibility He has given you (Matthew 4:4)?
The Lord is your inheritance
The Levitical priests were called to rely on God’s provision no matter where they lived or in what capacity they chose to serve. If one of them decided to serve in the temple instead of the town they lived in, they could be sure that God would provide. In the same way, we need to remember to not place value on material wealth and security. Instead, we should rest in the knowledge that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, our inheritance is the lord. He will provide.
Are you in a season of plenty or of need? Do you find your contentment in the provision of God as your inheritance (Philippians 4:11-13)?
Do not learn the detestable ways
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they had plenty of opportunities to learn the customs of the Canaanites and surrounding nations. These practices included different means of predicting the future, influencing events, and consulting the dead – and each was equally detestable to God. He does not want his people seeking after the darkness of the occult. Rather, He calls us to trust in Him. We do not need to see the future because God calls us to only think about today (Matthew 6:34). We should not try to influence events (through witchcraft and casting spells) because God does not change (Malachi 3:6-7). And we should inquire of God instead of trying to consult with the dead (Isaiah 8:19).
God calls us to be blameless and to avoid any involvement with occult practices. Do you have any involvement with the occult – whether through tarot card reading, Wicca, horoscopes, or any other means (Galatians 5:19-21)?
There will be a new prophet
Moses mentions that there will be a new prophet to arise after him who is like Him. It is no coincidence that this declaration comes after the sections that give requirements for Israel’s kings, priests, and prophets. This is because the prophet Moses references is Jesus. He is the perfect king, priest, and prophet. And although He is like Moses (John 1:45), He is also greater than Moses.
Why does this prophecy about Jesus matter (Hebrews 3:1-6)?
The Lord’s protection and Punishment under his inheritance
God instructed the building of cities of refuge for his people so that the innocent would be protected while the guilty would be punished. These cities of refuge were designed to protect those who had innocently and accidentally killed someone. However, there would be no refuge for the person who intentionally murdered someone out of the hatred he had in his heart. God also gave the regulation that there must be at least two witnesses to convict someone. This was so that no one could falsely accuse another – whether intentionally or through a misinformed testimony. These systems set up by God ensured justice for the innocent while only punishing the guilty.
Related post: Stage After Stage | How God Uses Each Part of Your Journey
Do you hold any hatred in your heart that could convict you of murder (Matthew 5:21-26, 1 John 3:15) ?
Reflect on how the Lord is your inheritance today
Have you thought of your inheritance in the Lord and the blessings and responsibilities that go along with it? How does this knowledge change the way you live for Christ?
This Bible study was all about what it means to have your inheritance found in the Lord, according to Deuteronomy 16-19.