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The recipient of the double portion was to be the first born son. Deut. 21:17 Joseph was the first born son of Jacob and Rachel, but through the trickery of his father-in-law Rachel was not his first wife nor was Joseph his firstborn but was his firstborn with Rachel. Moreover he was his favorite, therefore Joseph was hated by his brothers. By the will of the Lord being accomplished in his life Joseph was far greater and should have been far richer than all of his brothers combined. So complete was his alliance with the Lord that the double portion blessing poured over upon his descendents who were to receive a double portion of land. Eze. 47:13
The spiritual significance of the double portion is found in the request of Elisha of Elijah that a double or absolute full portion of the Spirit which was upon Elijah come upon Elisha. 2 Kings 2:9 We are filled with the Spirit but too often, because of limited capacity, there is yet a great measure of the Spirit which could be received if the vessel was expanded to its full capacity. The Lord will have a people who are like Himself, filled with all the fullness of the Lord. The promise of the Word is that we are to be filled with the fullness (the completeness) of Him who fills (crams) all (any, every, the whole) with the fullness of His divine nature. Eph. 1:23 The good pleasure of the Father is that in the Spirit being of the physical new man, the Lord Jesus, the completeness of all that is God might dwell. Col. 1:19 In the process of salvation and resurrection, the redeemed, will also be filled with the same measure of all that God is. Eph. 3:19 That is the ultimate of the double portion.
The dividing of the land, it ownership and the construction upon it is a great issue today. Even our country became diplomatically involved over this issue. In the measuring of the portions given to the twelve tribes there was also an ordinance given which could have great implications of the end of the age. It concerned the stranger, those who were not Israelis, yet for what ever reason they were living among them as citizens. A spiritual revival is to be found in the last days when Jacob and Esau, Jew and Arab learn to dwell together. A work which has to be wrought by the Spirit of the Lord. The stranger was to be delegated a portion of land equal to that of his neighbor.
What a beautiful type of the end times church embracing all the nations of the world with out prejudice or racial division of any kind. They were to be granted full citizenship and an inheritance equal to the people of Israel and that was to be practiced among all twelve tribes. How wonderful the Lord is. Eze. 47:21-23.