I noticed an interesting fact as I read Joshua chapter 19 earlier this morning. Two facts really, but they harmonize beautifully.
Joshua is (carefully following God’s Will) allotting to the Tribes of Israel their land grants, geographical territories promised them by God long ago.
And so we read: “Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: FOR THE PART OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH WAS TOO MUCH FOR THEM: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.” Joshua 19:9
Judah had too much land!
And, even though he numerically was the largest tribe, part of his holdings were given away! To his brother Simeon, that tribe! And, far as we can tell, Judah never said a word in complaint.
I am suggesting this is an excellent example of “brotherly kindness,” to use Peter’s term employed later in the Bible.
Sharing with the brethren!
Then I came across verse 47 in today’s chapter, Joshua 19. Sort of a “reversal” of the Judah situation. “AND THE COAST OF THE CHILDREN OF DAN WENT OUT TOO LITTLE FOR THEM: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.”
Wow!
Now a tribe has insufficient land!
So … the Danites did not grumble either! They merely went to battle and conquered more heathen territory, Leshem by name. They wisely did not try to take any land from their brethren, but sought it elsewhere … yet still in the area God had bequeathed to Israel, her “Promised Land!”
Two examples today …
First, “too much” so I’ll share.
And then “not enough” so I’ll claim more … but in the right way.
Had that kind of sweetness persisted in Israel … the “divided kingdom” could have never occurred!
Oh, that we might learn to “love one another!”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Now I’m wondering if the good example first set by Judah might have had a great influence on Dan his Brother, that tribe!
Maybe so.