Too Large

"The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was taken from the portion of the sons of Judah, for the share of the sons of Judah was too large for them; so the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of Judah’s inheritance." -Joshua 19.9

The rest of the Promised Land is being divided by lots. The remaining seven tribes are each receiving their inheritance from the unclaimed land. The tribe of Judah had a massive area in the south. It bordered the entire western shore of the Dead Sea, then went westward to the Mediterranean, and then down to the brook of Egypt on the Sinai peninsula. It's a large piece of land, and as it turns out it's too large. The lot that falls to Simeon is a portion taken from the middle of Judah's land.

This is an interesting scenario. Land that was given to Judah, that they had claimed as their inheritance, is now being taken and given to another tribe that dragged its feet in claiming the blessing of God. If I'm honest, my first reaction would be, "Heck no!" Why does part of what God has given me get to go to someone else who didn't claim what He gave them in the first place. I think most of us would have a response like that.

I don't know what the Judahites were thinking, and the Bible doesn't tell us, it does say that their land was too large for them, and so part of it was given to Simeon. There could have been a war between the tribes over this, but that doesn't happen. Instead the land passes from one tribe to another, and both receive an inheritance in the land.

Men, have you been blessed with more than you need? What are you doing with the surplus? Are you spending it on things no one will ever need? Are you putting it away for a rain day? There is nothing wrong with having nice things as long as you aren't consumed by the desire to have more and more. Having money put away for an emergency or retirement is responsible and wise. Are you putting what you have to work for the Kingdom? Are you investing what you have been given eternally? Are you taking the excess you have and helping those in need?

Let us take what we have, and invest it in others. Let us be men who don't hoard the excess that we have been blessed with. Let bless others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor