Growing up as a child, fairness was a big concern of mine. Things had to be “fair.” Whether it be the distribution of food or the sharing of toys things had to be fair and square. A bag of Skittles for you, a bag of Skittles for me (those were the days). Fairness explains the phenomena of siblings receiving gifts on the birthdays of other siblings, and why most families own one Nintendo DS/child. There are few other childhood cries of foul like, “It’s not fair!”

In these few reflections about work (see introduction here) and particular the work of those in the community who must rely on the ‘work’ of others – including my own vocation as a ‘missionary’ with a Christian, non-profit, missions organization – it would be equally easy to recall that childhood protest: It’s not fair. I don’t get a ‘wage’. I don’t get to ‘earn’ my own living. I am neither self sustainable nor self sufficient. But if the childhood protest and childlike heart would just grow up a little, we find that the precedence has been set a long, long time ago.

When the Israelites finally…finally entered into the promise land there came a time to divide the inheritance for the twelve tribes. And yet we find this: “To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance.” (Joshua 13:14, 33; 14:3). How could that be fair? No inheritance. No land. Yes to the tribe of Judah, here for the clan of Reuben, there for the people of Gad. But to you Levites, nothing. In days far removed from the modern conveniences of importing and exporting, no inheritance and no land meant no life at all.

In fact it had all been spelled out earlier in Numbers 18: “And the Lord said to Aaron, ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do…’” (vv. 20-21a).

Notice that the question of sustenance has been answered. With no land to call their own, it will be the tithes of Israel given first of all to the Lord that will be their physical sustenance. Grain (v. 9), fruits (v. 13), and the sin offering – that is cows, sheep, and goats (v. 17) – will be theirs to enjoy. In fact, “all the best of oil and all the best of wine and of the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord,” is theirs. No land, no inheritance, no problem.

Notice, however, that there is no debt owed by the Levites to their fellow citizens. In fact v. 32 tells them to “bear no sin” about it, that is, to have no guilt for eating and enjoying these firstfruits. No, it is not the hard work of pressing wine or tending fields or raising up livestock that the Levites must be ultimately grateful for. It is the Lord himself. “I am you portion,” says Yahweh. “I am your inheritance.” Just like I am the ultimate source of life, demonstrated mightily through the land for the rest of the people of Israel, so am I your ultimate source for life.

This promise to the Levites, I believe, still holds true today for those who render their service over for the work of God but are without the ‘land’ from which to draw sustenance. It is also a powerful reminder for the majority of others, the ‘rest of the eleven tribes,’ that everything from ‘the land’ – every pay cheque and direct deposit – is ultimately from God himself. Tithing, the giving of our firstfruits reminds us all to whom we, and every other good gift, belong.

“I am your portion and inheritance.”

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