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The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, ⁵⁰ as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

⁵¹ These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.

I want to highlight two further things in Joshua 19: the first appears close to the beginning of the chapter, and the second at the end. Here they are:

1. The principle that those who have more should share with those who have less. This is illustrated in the story about the Simeonite share coming out of Judah. In two great chapters on ‘giving’, in 2 Corinthians, Paul writes in 9:13-15: ” Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
2. Biblical leadership involves service – putting others first. It’s not about sitting at the top of the pile and keeping all the best for yourself – the cream from the top of the milk, as it were. Simon Sinek wrote a book with the wonderful title: ‘Leaders eat last’. This seems to encapsulate the principle. Warren Wiersbe writes, ‘Joshua saw to it that the distribution to the tribes was completed before he received his own inheritance (19:49-50). The city of Timnath was located in a mountainous region where life would not be easy. Joshua could have chosen the finest place in the land, but he put others first and let them take the best (1 Cor.10:24; Phil.2:1-4).’

 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. ² It included:

Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, ³ Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, ⁴ Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, ⁵ Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, ⁶ Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages;

⁷ Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan—four towns and their villages— ⁸ and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev) (NIV).

I am still reading from an old Bible, slightly battered and falling apart through repeated use, that I have had in my possession for many years. Reading through Joshua 19 (and, as you can see, I’ve only printed a small part of a long chapter) I noticed that at one point I had highlighted the repeated phrase ‘…and their villages.’ It’s a chapter which outlines the God-given allotments of land for the tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. In each case there are references to ”villages”.

I guess I highlighted it, because, since my mid-thirties, I have lived my life and conducted my ministry in villages – predominantly in one, Boston Spa, in West Yorkshire. It was probably not long after I distinctly felt the call to Boston Spa, that I was listening to a recording of a well-known evangelical leader of that time. In his sermon he said, ‘The villages must be among the most difficult places in the UK in which to minister at this time.’ Since he said this, many rural areas have seen declining congregations, and there have been multiple chapel and church closures. But God’s heart embraces ”towns and villages”, where there are many people whom God ”so” loves (John 3:16). ‘Lost sheep’ live in these remote parts: those the ‘Good Shepherd’ longs to bring home.

If God has placed you in a village, take heart. He has you there by His design, and He has a ministry for you in that place. There are no small places to God.

Maybe you live in a great city, or a bustling town, but there are villages on your heart? You know of them, or you know some people who live in them. Let’s join in prayer today for the vilages, and ask ‘the Lord of the harvest’ to ‘thrust out workers into His harvest field’ everywhere.

A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom;
    a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.

³² The speech of a good person clears the air;
    the words of the wicked pollute it.

11 God hates cheating in the marketplace;
    he loves it when business is aboveboard.

² The stuck-up fall flat on their faces,
    but down-to-earth people stand firm.

³ The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
    the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

⁴ A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart,
    but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

⁵ Moral character makes for smooth traveling;
    an evil life is a hard life.

⁶ Good character is the best insurance;
    crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.

⁷ When the wicked die, that’s it—
    the story’s over, end of hope.

⁸ A good person is saved from much trouble;
    a bad person runs straight into it. (The Message)

Again, there is much to reflect on in this next set of Proverbs, but I want to highlight verse 8. Just recently, I fulfilled a long held ambition to visit Castle Drogo in Devon. It has been described as the last castle to be built in England.

Julius Drewe made a fortune from his business, ‘The Home and Country Stores’. So much so that he could retire at the age of 33. According to ‘Wikipedia’:

‘…in 1910 he bought about 450 acres (1.8 km²) south and west of the village (Drewsteignton); by the time of his death he had bought up an estate of 1,500 acres. He then went to Edwin Lutyens, a prominent architect of the time, and asked him to build his castle. According to his son Basil, he did so on the advice of William Hudson, proprietor of Country Life, who was both a patron and a champion of Lutyens. Drewe was now 54 years old, but he still had time, energy and money to create his new family seat. On 4 April 1911, Drewe’s 55th birthday, the first foundation stone was laid.

The castle took many years to complete, with the First World War and the economic downturn causing many delays. Castle Drogo was finally completed in 1930, a year before Julius died. Castle Drogo was the last castle to be built in England, and probably the last private house in the country to be built entirely of granite.’

As we toured the magnificent building, I was struck by the sight of a smaller bedroom next to a much grander one. Our guide explained that this was where Julius was confined after his stroke, and where it was easier for him to receive full time nursing care. But it is only today, in reading up on some of the history, that I realise how little time he had to enjoy any of it.

The words of Jesus come to mind: ” For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV)

I am not saying that Julius was not a believer. I don’t know and I can’t comment. But maybe you can see why he came to mind when I read Proverbs 11:4. There was something salutary about that smaller bedroom.

When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.”

⁴⁸ Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.”

Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.”

⁴⁹ Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”

^50-51 Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.” (The Message)

Genesis 16:13, in the King James Version, says this about Hagar: ”And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me”

Certainly, in days gone by, it was not unusual to see these words on plaques in the homes of elderly Christians.

I believe it is intrinsic to our human nature, for the most part, that we want to be deeply known by others. We don’t want to feel lost and anonymous in the world, just another cog in an impersonal machine. We would like someone, somewhere, to know who we are, what we’ve done, what we’ve come through, and so on.

Nathanael was surprised that Jesus knew him, But He did. He knows you too. All about you, and He loves you. What is more, He wants you to know Him, and He desires to reveal more and more of the wonder of Himself to you.

F.B.Meyer writes beautifully about this passage: ‘Still others were brought by the call and ties of previous friendship, following on a long course of previous preparation. Philip had often crossed the hills that separated the lake from Cana, where Nathanael dwelt, and the two would earnestly discuss the signs of the time: the desperate straits of their country, the preaching of the Baptist, and the Messiah’s advent. The guileless Israelite would sit beneath his favourite fig tree, pondering over the things which Moses and the prophets had written. It was not difficult to win such a man when Philip broke in on him with the news of their discovery.

Jesus is always showing us ”greater things,” v.50. He leads his disciples onward and upward, for he is himself the ladder of ascent to God.’

For further thought: read Psalm 139

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, “Come, follow me.” (Philip’s hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)

^45-46 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!” Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.”

But Philip said, “Come, see for yourself.” (The Message)

So the process of ‘one lighted torch serving to light another’ continues.

It’s been said that evangelism is just ‘one beggar telling another where to find bread.’

Christian witness is highly relational. We who have ”found” Jesus (or been found by Him!) find others, and invite them to find out for themselves.

”Come and see” (46b NIV)

This approach goes back to the Lord Himself (see vv.37-39).

I remember Michael Griffiths writing that, in his experience, he found that it was highly unusual for an adult to seriously investigate the gospel and not then be converted.

PRAYER: Lord, please lead me to people who you want me to invite into the goodness of Christ and the gospel

THOUGHTS:

• V.45: The more we consider the Old Testament background to Jesus, surely the more compelling the evidence of His uniqueness becomes?
• v.46: God often works in unexpected places
• ‘Jesus calls each one individually and uses different approaches, but the same Master calls. Have you heeded His call?’ Warren Wiersbe

The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”

^37-38 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”

They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.

^40-42 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.

Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”). (The Message)

‘One lighted torch serves to light another’. This is a story of ‘finding’ and ‘telling’.

We again see John pointing to Jesus, and look at the knock on effects! One simple word of witness and who knows where the ripples will spread?

Someone said, about Andrew bringing his brother to the Lord, ‘It was, perhaps, the greatest service anyone ever performed for the church,’ We only meet Andrew three times in this gospel, but on each occasion he is pointing someone to Jesus. That is, in my view, an enviable track record.

PRAYER: Lord, please give to me Andrew’s desire and ability to share Jesus