Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): rr chap. 20 paras. 9-17 and box 20A.
A fair and precise division
9. What detailed instructions did Jehovah give on how to divide up the land?
Read Ezekiel 48:1, 28. After establishing the country's borders, Jehovah gave detailed instructions on how to divide up the land. He ordered that the territory to be inherited by the 12 tribes be drawn evenly and accurately from north to south; beginning with the tribe of Dan, in the far north, and ending with the tribe of Gad, in the far south. Each territory would be a horizontal strip that would go from the eastern border of the country to the Great Sea, or the Mediterranean Sea, in the west (Ezek. 47:20).
10. What guarantees must this part of the vision have given the exiles?
What guarantees must this part of the vision have given the exiles? Ezekiel's detailed description of the division must have made it clear to them that the division of the land would be very well organized. Furthermore, the exact division of the country among the 12 tribes emphasized that each of those who returned to Israel would without fail receive an inheritance in the land that would be restored. No one would be left without land or home.
TOOLBOX 20A: The division of land
The description of such well-defined borders assured the exiles that their beloved land would indeed be restored. What lessons can we learn from this vision? Let's analyze two aspects that we see in it.
ILLUSTRATION:
A map showing the borders of the strips of land that would be given to returning exiles, as described by Ezekiel. The territories inherited by the tribes drawn equally from north to south, beginning with Dan and continuing with Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, the tax (stripe for administrative purpose), Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun and Gad.
A secure place and valuable work
Each one who returned from exile would have an inheritance in the restored Promised Land. In the spiritual paradise, each servant of Jehovah also has a place. No matter how insignificant our role in the organization may seem, we have a secure place and valuable work in the spiritual paradise. And it is that Jehovah values all his servants equally.
Equal share distribution
In Ezekiel's vision, each restored Promised Land territory would give its inhabitants the opportunity to take advantage of all that was good in the land. Today, Jehovah gives all his servants the same opportunity to enter the spirit paradise and enjoy its blessings.
11. What lessons can we learn from the prophetic vision of the division of the earth? (See the box “The division of the land”).
What empowering lessons can we learn from this vision? Not only the priests, the Levites and the chiefs would have a place in the restored Promised Land, but also all the members of the 12 tribes (Ezek. 45:4, 5, 7, 8). Similarly, not only the anointed remnant and those of the “great crowd” who lead God's people have a place in the spiritual paradise (Rev. 7:9). * We all have a secure place and valuable work in the spiritual paradise, no matter how insignificant our role in the organization may seem. How we are encouraged by this guarantee!
ILLUSTRATION:
Images of God's people today: 1. A sister helping her elderly mother with medicine. 2. A missionary training a younger publisher in preaching. They are preaching near the beach. 3. A single mother giving Bible lessons to her boy and her girl. 4. Gerrit Lösch leading morning worship for the Bethel family. 5. An older sister praying. On her legs she has a Bible and a list with names of brothers who are in prison. 6. A brother cleaning a sink in a Kingdom Hall. 7. A brother directing traffic in the parking lot of an Assembly Hall. 8. Brothers working in a recording studio of a Remote Translation Office.
No matter what responsibilities we have in Jehovah's organization, he values our efforts to fulfill them. (See paragraph 11).
Two big differences and their meaning for us
12, 13. What specific instructions did Jehovah give regarding the division of the land among the tribes?
Some of Jehovah's instructions regarding the division of the land must have surprised Ezekiel because they did not coincide with those that God had given to Moses. Let's look at two differences. One has to do with the land and the other with its inhabitants.
The earth. To the larger tribes, Moses had to give more land (Num. 26:52-54). But Ezekiel was specifically told in the vision that all the tribes would have to receive “equal shares” or, according to the note, “each as his brother” (Ezek. 47:14). Therefore, from north to south, the strip of territory of each tribe had to measure exactly the same. All Israelites—no matter what tribe they were from—would have an equal opportunity to take advantage of all the good that the Promised Land produced, a very fertile place.
14. What is the difference between what Jehovah told Ezekiel about foreign residents and what was written in the Law?
The habitants. The Mosaic Law protected foreigners and allowed them to worship Jehovah, but they could not own any land.—Lev. 19:33, 34. However, what God told Ezekiel went beyond what he himself had established in the Law. He ordered him: “You must give the foreign resident an inheritance in the territory of the tribe in which he has settled.” With that command, Jehovah completely eliminated a major difference between “born Israelites” and foreign residents.— Ezek. 47:22, 23. Ezekiel saw that, in the restored land of vision, the inhabitants enjoyed equality and worshiped Jehovah together (Lev. 25:23).
15. What truth about Jehovah did the instructions confirm about the earth and its inhabitants?
These two instructions that Ezequiel received on earth and its inhabitants must have filled the exiles with confidence. Upon receiving them, they understood that both Israelites and foreigners who worshiped Jehovah would enjoy the same inheritance (Ezra 8:20; Neh. 3:26; 7:6, 25; Isa. 56:3, 8). These instructions also confirmed the fact that, for Jehovah, all his servants are of equal value, and that is a truth that will never change (read Haggai 2:7). So whether we hope to live in heaven or on earth, that truth touches our hearts.
ILLUSTRATION:
Sisters of different races and ages conducting family worship at the home of a sister who is in a wheelchair.
Do I imitate Jehovah by being impartial and treating others with sincere respect? (See paragraphs 15 and 16).
16, 17. (a) What lessons can we learn from analyzing the details about the land and its inhabitants? b) What will we study in the next chapter?
After analyzing these details about the land and its inhabitants, what lessons do we learn? These details remind us that equality and unity must be something that stands out in our global brotherhood. Jehovah is not partial. So it would be good for us to ask ourselves: “Am I doing my best to be impartial like Jehovah? Do I treat all my siblings with sincere respect, regardless of their race, background, or situation?” (Rom. 12:10). We are very happy that Jehovah gives all of us the same opportunity to enter the spirit paradise. In this paradise we render whole-souled sacred service to our heavenly Father and enjoy his blessings (Gal. 3:26-29; Rev. 7:9).
In the next chapter we will study the fourth assurance Ezekiel received at the end of his last vision: the promise that Jehovah would be with the exiles. We will also see what lessons we learn from that promise.
PURE WORSHIP AND YOU
Why are you sure that a spiritual paradise already exists?
Not only the anointed remnant and those of the "great crowd" who lead God's people have a place in the spiritual paradise. We all have a secure place and valuable work in the spiritual paradise, no matter how insignificant our role in the organization may seem.
Why can you be convinced that you have a secure place and valuable work in the spiritual paradise?
We are very happy that Jehovah gives all of us the same opportunity to enter the spirit paradise. In this paradise we give whole-souled sacred service to our heavenly Father and enjoy his blessings.
What does the prophetic vision about the division of the earth teach you about Jehovah?
To the larger tribes, Moses had to give more land. But Ezekiel was specifically told in the vision that all the tribes would have to receive "equal shares." Therefore, from north to south, the strip of territory of each tribe had to measure exactly the same. All the Israelites regardless of their tribe would have the same opportunity to take advantage of all the good that the Promised Land produced, a very fertile place. These details teach us that equality and unity should be something that stands out in our global brotherhood. Jehovah is not partial.
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