Today's reading is Joshua 19-23
Joshua 19:9 tells the inheritance of Judah was too much for them so part of it was given to the children of Simeon. There is no real answer given as to why Simeon wasn’t given its own portion like everyone else. There are two things we can deduce, one is it was a divine act in regards to a prophecy and the other is for an example to us.
First, in Genesis 49:5-7 Jacob remembering the history of Simeon and Levi gives this prophecy concerning their future “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Their swords are implements of violence. Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will, they lamed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it, is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.” The Levites were dispersed in Israel because of their role as the priest but the tribe of Simeon was placed within the tribe of Judah and slowly faded away as a distinct tribe. We see here that the actions of the parents affect the children for generations, but I want to point out the difference between what happened to the children of Levi verses the children of Simeon. Both are dispersed through the tribes, but Levites gain a level of dignity and respect. What was the difference? I can only see one and that came in the name of a man called Moses.
The destiny of the Levites was dispersal, but it ended up not being division and oblivion. The actions of one man, Levi, set his family on a course which could not be changed but the actions of Moses caused the final destination to be far different then it would have been. This gives me hope that my actions (your actions) can make a difference in ways we may never expect. We might be on a course which we can not change but our lives can change what the final destination will look like.
The second thing we see is the actions of the men of Judah, which are an example for us today. Bible commentator Matthew Henry put it this way, “The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities within their border when convinced that they had more than was right. If a true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in anything, he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own, and doth not behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells, to part with their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.”[1] All I can add is Amen.
[1] Matthew Henry's Commentary. Accessed Feb. 25, 2018. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/joshua/19-9.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment