Today's Scripture Reading (October 30, 2024): Genesis 49
Sometimes,
something can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how the prophecy
plays out and our reaction to the prophecy in question. How we react can often change
our situation, although this isn't always true. How we respond to events is the
power in "the power of positive thinking." While thinking positively
doesn't always change a curse into a blessing, doing nothing ensures a curse will
remain a curse.
We can see
this principle at work in the lives of the tribes of Simeon and Levi. Both
brothers received the same prophecy from Jacob. Simeon and Levi shared the same
curse as a response to the same crime. The curse resulted from the role Simeon
and Levi had played in wiping out the men of the community of Shechem. The
brothers committed their atrocity in reaction to the rape of their sister
Dinah. As a result, Jacob prophesies that their descendants would be scattered.
For Simeon, the prophecy became true during the nation's wilderness wanderings.
At the beginning of the wanderings, Simeon was the third most populous of the
tribes of Israel. "The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300" (Numbers
1:23). The only more populous tribes were Judah with 74,600 (Numbers 1:27) and
Dan with 62,700 (Numbers 1:39). Simeon was an essential tribe in the early days
of the nation. However, over the next four decades, the tribe became absorbed
into the tribe of Judah. By the time the wanderings were over, the Tribe of
Simeon had shrunk to 22,200. The tribe had lost 63% of its population and was
now the least populated of the tribes of Israel. The prophecy of Jacob had come
true.
The Tribe of Levi took a different path and proved themselves
faithful during the episode with the Golden Calf. Moses describes the events of
that day this way;
Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let
them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is
for the Lord, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord,
the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth
through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend
and neighbor.'" The Levites did as Moses
commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he
has blessed you this day" (Exodus 32:25-29).
On
that day, Jacob's curse became a blessing, and Levi was chosen from all of the
tribes to be scattered as a holy presence among all of Israel and to be the
ones who would minister in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, offering the
sacrifices before their God.
Tomorrow's
Scripture Reading: Genesis 50
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