God’s Portion

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 31:29-32:13     3/31/2018

Moses entreated the Israelites to allow his teaching to infuse their thinking and culture. He celebrated God’s goodness and faithfulness. He also observed that a necessary implication of God’s commitment to Israel as a chosen people is that the children of Israel are God’s portion. Finally, he reiterated the promise that God will always provide for them.

God’s Portion

The children of Israel are God’s portion. Of all the people in the world, God has this special relationship with the Israelites. It has nothing to do with their righteousness. It has nothing to do with their virtues or lack of virtues. It’s simply that He associates Himself with this people. They are, he says, His just share of the earth.

Other people are associated with other gods – which really aren’t gods at all. But for non-Israelite peoples, the association is to something other than the God of all creation. God, makes no special claim on them. If any of the nations were to come to God, they would have to do so through union with His chosen people.

Jesus’ Portion

Jesus is careful to point out that He was not sent to all the people of the world.  For example, He said, “…this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day.” He also said, “I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Luke 5:32 And, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” Matt 15:26  

That’s not to say that anyone is excluded – just that if people come to God, they will come to God through Jesus. This is Jesus’ portion.

We are Jesus’ portion.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:29