Ezekiel 48:30-34

From one family the nations of the world have been blessed. From this lineage, Jesus reigns. All man, all God, all roads lead to Him. Abraham and Sarah and their descendants remain special to God. It was too small a thing that Jesus came only to this family. He came to save the world that God so loved. 

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Family is important to God.

God's faithfulness is clear. His steadfast love is sure.

In suffering and provision. In the middle and on the other side.

Friend, as believers in Christ, we know the end of our stories too. But it's what happens here, in the middle, that makes that ending so powerful. Jesus, the God-man, who would one day be born through the lineage of this very family is going to make new all things in this world (Revelation 21:5). The happiest of endings is on the way. And God is working while we wait.

Will we choose to trust God? First5 

Ezekiel 48:30-34

30 “These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits 31 (the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; 32 on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan; 33 on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun; 34 on the west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35 All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. The New King James Version

The gates are named after the original twelve tribes. The gate for Joseph represents the two tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. The northern gates are Reuben (the firstborn), Judah (the tribe of the messianic line), and Levi (the priestly tribe)—all descendants of Jacob and Leah. On the eastern side the gates represent Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan. While the first two were children of Jacob and Rachel, the third was the child of Jacob and Rachel’s servant Bilhah. South of the city, the three other offspring of Jacob and Leah have gates named for them: Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun. The three western gates are named after Gad and Asher—the sons of Jacob and Leah’s maidservant Zilpah—and Naphtali—a son of Jacob and Bilhah. The NKJV Study Bible

Access to the city comes through 12 gates, three on each side. They are named for each of the 12 tribes. Faithlife Study Bible

Here is a description of the several portions of the land belonging to each tribe. In gospel times, behold all things are become new. Much is wrapped up in emblems and numbers. This method God has used to state mysterious truths in his word, not to be more clearly revealed till the proper time and season. But into the church of Christ, both in its state of warfare and triumph, there is free access by faith, from every side. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will, may come, and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:6 

“Let Reuben live, and not die,

Nor let his men be few.”

Deuteronomy 33:7 

And this he said of Judah:

“Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah,

And bring him to his people;

Let his hands be sufficient for him,

And may You be a help against his enemies.”

Deuteronomy 33:8 

And of Levi he said:“Let Your Thummim and 

Your Urim be with Your holy one,

Whom You tested at Massah,

And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,

Revelation 21:12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.