Enjoying and Sharing

Enjoying and Sharing

 

Joshua 19:1-23

 

The tribe of Simeon was given 18 cities within the territory of the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Zebulun was given the barren land of the lowlands of Galilee, and the tribe of Issachar was given the fertile land of Jezreel, located in the south of Galilee.

 

As Jacob prophesied, “I will scatter you among Israel” (Genesis 49:7), Simeon lost his tribal independence and was absorbed into the tribe of Judah, and Levi lived ‘scattered’ among each tribe without owning land (1 ~8). The aspect (‘scattering’) was similar, but the phase was different. Unlike the tribe of Levi, who devoted themselves to God in the wilderness and faced a twist of fate, the tribe of Simeon entered a path of constant decline as they were deeply involved in the Baal Peor incident (Numbers 25:14,15) and were excluded from Moses' blessing.Losing earthly blessings through a brief punishment is a small thing, but losing heavenly spiritual blessings would be even more miserable. There is no guaranteed blessing without breaking away from the old way of life.

 

Unlike the descendants of Joseph, who complained that the land they were allotted was small, the tribe of Judah gave up part of their inheritance for the tribe of Simeon (9). In an agricultural society, land is the foundation of life and future, so sharing the land is a sacrifice that goes beyond consideration. “Too much” given means to be shared. The kingdom of God is not a country where we enjoy more, but a country where we share together. In a world that only cares about self-interest, let us strive to ensure that “enjoyment” leads to “sharing.”

 

The tribe of Zebulun was located in the inland north of Canaan, in the lowlands of Galilee, not bordering the Mediterranean Sea or the Jordan River(10~16). The land was not large and was rough and barren. However, they did not compare themselves to other tribes or raise issues, but tried to protect their inheritance until the end (Judges 5:18). What is important is not ‘where you live,’ but ‘where you put your heart.’

 

The inheritance that the tribe of Issachar received was located southwest of the Sea of ​​Galilee, a relatively fertile land (17-23). In particular, the Plain of Jezreel was suitable for farming, and as a result, battles to occupy this area became frequent, making it a strategic point (Judges 6:33; 1 Samuel 29:1). Protecting the company would not have been as easy as taking over it. In order to enjoy the inheritance God has given us, we must continue to fight the good fight of faith.

 

God, help us not to look only at what is given now, but to look at what will be given in the future and to live a life worthy of that wish!

 

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