Hebrew
Highlights 14 - Inheritance
Shalom,
this is Yuval Shomron, coming to you from Jerusalem.
I’d like to begin this program by
reading from one of my favorite passages; one which as a father, is very dear
to my heart.
PSA
127:3-5 Behold, children are a gift
of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are
the children of one's youth. How blessed
is the man whose quiver is full of them; They shall not be ashamed, When they
speak with their enemies in the gate.
The word “gift”, here, is translated
in the New King James version slightly more literally. The Hebrew word “nachala”
means heritage, or estate, or inheritance.
The point is that children are a gift which continue to be a blessing
even after we have departed for the eternal Kingdom. If we raise our children in the Lord, they
will continue to give us a good name for generations to come.
The word translated as “reward”,
actually means wages. That is to say a
reward given in return for something. I
think most of the mothers listening would agree that the birth of their child
really does seem like a reward for their nine months of preparation, and their
delivery. They nearly always say, “It
was all worthwhile”.
In
PSA 33:12 we read, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people
whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Have you ever seen yourself, being one of
God’s adopted children, as an inheritance to the Lord, or even as a reward to
Him? Sometimes it is hard for us to
imagine the heavenly Father being blessed by having a quiver full of people
like us! Doesn’t it make you want to
behave in such a way that we will not be ashamed when we speak with our enemies
in the gate?
Then
in PSA 74:2 there is a reminder to the Lord; “Remember Your congregation, which
You have purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your
inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.” Now this scripture is speaking specifically
about the children of Israel, and the literal Mount Zion. However, as we see in Revelations 5:9 and
Acts 20:28, all of God’s children have been redeemed and purchased by the blood
of the Lamb, our savior Yeshua.
Another scripture which uses both “nachala” or heritage, and “sachar”
or wages in conjunction is COL 3:23-24.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for
men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Here we are reminded that, after all, everything we have comes from
God. If we want to “inherit the farm”
so to speak, we need to joyfully get out there and “bail the hay”.
Finally,
let’s take a look at 1PE 1:3-9; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to
obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not
fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God
through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now
for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is
perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and
glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1PE 1:8
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him
now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of
glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
As an earthly father, I am so blessed
by my children, that there is no question of my giving everything to them,
whether now, or after my passing. I am
proud of them and not ashamed in any way.
How unbelievably wonderful it is that God has adopted us, and written us
into his estate. We are His heritage;
His eternal salvation is our inheritance; imperishable, undefiled, fade-proof.
Kinda’ makes
you wanna’ be a good kid.
Shalom, Shalom from Jerusalem.