The Portion of Jacob

As you go through life, you will meet people who worship all sorts of things. They draw comfort from their precious material assets; however, the prophet Jeremiah used some sharp words to describe these mini-gods.  “A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine. The moulded image is falsehood. They are futile, a work of errors”. What do you do when everything that you value is labelled worthless, falsehood and futile? People, who know God, do not need to give these labels a second thought because Jeremiah has some words of hope for God’s people.  “The Portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The Lord of Hosts is His Name,” (Jeremiah 10: 8; 11; 15; 16). Even if you have no material wealth, or hope of inheritance from earthly relatives, as a child of the King, you have a glorious gift from God. The psalmist David explains, “Oh Lord, You are the Portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot,” (Psalm 16: 5). Jeremiah compares the portion or allowance of some people with the allowance of the kingdom citizen. In the place of being worthless, the kingdom citizen’s Portion is of eternal value because Jesus is the Pearl of great price (Matthew 13: 46). Where others have falsehood as their lot in life, Jesus is the Truth. Instead of futility, your allowance is full of eternal purpose. Why did Jeremiah call the Lord the Portion of Jacob? Why not the Portion of Abraham, the friend of God? Jeremiah wanted kingdom citizens to have someone with whom they could identify. Jacob was the one who started life trying to find a way to get rich quick. Jacob did not even blink as he lied to his father on his deathbed, and stole from his brother (Genesis 27: 14). Jacob was the one who was more concerned about his reputation than the violent behaviour of his sons (Genesis 34). Jeremiah was saying that the Lord is the inheritance of flawed people like Jacob. However, God brings us to a place of overcoming, as He changes our names and our circumstances to enjoy the blessings of Israel. Our Portion, the Holy One, fills our cup and maintains our lot.