God asks Moses to build him a tent - the "tabernacle", so he can be present with his people. As God continues with instructions for the priests, he now tells them when they get to keep part of the offering for their use.
God tells them he "will be their portion." It is reassurance that God will supply their livelihood.
The Hebrews are a farming people. What they eat comes from what their grow and shepherd. But God has asked the people of Moses' tribe - the Levites, to be set aside as priest and temple workers. Since their time is dedicated to serving people in "church", they have no time for farming.
In fact, when the Hebrews finally get to the land God promised them, and every family was given a piece of land to farm, the Levites got nothing. They asked, "what about us?" And once again, God says "I will be your portion," of land.
Here, we read how. God has given the Levites' portion of land to all the other tribes to farm and pasture. And the proceeds from this portion of land is returned to the priests as a part of their offering to God. This is how the priests eat - they share in the people's offering to God.
And this practice continues today: when a Christian becomes a member of a church, God's portion for the church staff is given to the members of the church, which is then returned to them as part of the offering people give to the church.
Write
Think about your faith story: how have you experienced God being your portion?
Who are the people whom God gives your portion to, the people through whom God supplies your needs?
Whose portion has God given you? Whose needs does God supply through you?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your experience of him being your portion. Thank God for the people who are faithful to return God's portion to you, and for trusting you to return God's portion to them.
Pray for the people who holds your portion - are they your employer, your parents. Ask God for what they need, and for the wisdom to appreciate them and bless them..
Pray for the people whose portion you hold. Pray for what they need, ask God for the courage and opportunity to give faithfully and bless them.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he chooses people to supply your needs, and the way he gives you extra resources to bless others.