THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP IN CHRIST

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP IN CHRIST

 

 

Joshua 19:1-9

Introduction: In this passage, we are going to learn the significance of a name. Last week we studied the importance of giving honor to our Father’s name. Today, we want to examine the significance of having a good name. In this study, we will look at the tribes of Simeon and Levi. 

For 400 years, all Israel had dreamed of the land of promise. Now they are finally entering that land and seeing the promise fulfilled. When you look at the New Testament, you find that the Joshua of the Old Testament references were to a large degree the fulfillment of the promise of a Messiah. Matt 1:18-25. Jesus/Emmanuel or “God with us.” (verse 23), and in Matt 1:25 we find Joseph naming this child Jesus. 

What is interesting about the birth of Jesus is that it did not exactly match the way people expected the Messiah to come. This is the same as what happened to Israel when they came into the land. It was not exactly the way they expected it to be. Sometimes when God works, it is not always the way we expect. Look at Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. This verse tells us that what God starts, He will finish. Our problem is that it is not always the way we expect. God sometimes surprises us with how He accomplishes His plan in our lives. Sometimes, we affect how God accomplishes this through the choices we make. That is what we want to look at in Joshua 19. We know that God will accomplish this because He cannot lie and has made this promise. The question is “How does God accomplish this?” How will God finish His work in our lives? We want to explore how God takes the “ragged edges” and converts them into “spiritual riches.” We have ragged edges, and God has not finished His work in us yet. I have some ragged edges, and I know God is still working on me. How about you?

Joshua 19 is sometimes an obscure passage that offers insight into some of the ways God uses things in our lives to accomplish His will and purpose. We want to note some of the things we have in common with this book of Joshua and the people mentioned here. It all comes down to our birth bemefots, our names, the choices we make, and the consequences of making these choices. Biblical choices, right choices, lead to hope and spiritual riches. Wrong choices lead some people to rags instead of riches. 

  1. THE STORY OF SIMEON. Let’s consider Joshua 19:1-9. It says in Joshua 19:1, “. . .even  the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.” They had a portion inside the portion allotted to Judah, which had a large portion of land (Josh. 19:9). Eventually they drift into obscurity. What we are going to learn is that they are about to “blow it” A lot of people do this. They may win the Lottery of several million, and for three to five years, they are living in poverty. Have you ever wondered what happened with all the money? It is amazing the choices we make and the consequences of them. Here is the thing. We all have privileges related to our birth, and it matters what we do with them. Today, we want to examine the birth privileges of Simeon and Levi. These are usually mentioned together, yet they are not here. Simeon and Levi were the second and third son of Jacob/Israel. They are both mentioned first in Genesis 35. Reuben was the firstborn, yet Reuben lost his birthright to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He lost the rights of the firstborn because he committed fornication with his father’s concubine (Gen. 35:22). God made this declaration in 1 Chronicles 5:1. The tribe of Reuben joined Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh and decided to stay on the East side of the Jordan and settle there, rather than take their inheritance in the land of promise. These two and a half tribes settled for “good enough.” We should never be willing to settle for “good enough.” We should settle for the best. Thus, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, along with Judah, have all received their inheritance. The next in line are Simeon and Levi. There is a principle here. God wants to bless us just as He did with the tribes of Israel. What is interesting is that we cannot relate to the culture of the tribes of Israel; we need to realize that human nature is always the same, and we see the same things being lived out today that were lived out thousands of years ago. We also know the God who wanted to bless Israel, and He wants to bless us as well. Yet, He has left us with the ability to make choices. Many times, we make poor choices, often sinful choices, even ignorant choices. Just because you are a child of God does not mean you cannot make stupid choices. You can! Even though we have been promised to do what He began in us, He will finish it. It may not be the way we thought, and it is often altered somewhat by our not-so-best choices. We, just like Simeon and Levi, have a privilege of birth. It is what happens when someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ. We experience a “new birth.” Those of us who have been born again, we have a birth privileges. Look at Romans 8:15 (KJV) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Many choose to adopt children. It is special to be adopted when a child is wanted by a couple, and that child has the privilege to call them mommy and daddy. God has allowed us to be born into the family, but He has also adopted us. Now Romans 8:16-17 (KJV) 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. We know there will be times when we will suffer in this life. When that happens, we need to remember that God has a blessing for us and we have hope. What we have is greater than winning the Lottery. We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and all the benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ are rightfully ours. Yet some are bound and determined to throw it all away by bad choices. God is always faithful to His promises.
  2. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT. Names in the Bible have significance. If we could go back to Genesis and find the birth of these two, Simeon and Levi, we would learn their names had meanings. Simeon was the second born to Leah the wife of Jacob and she had cried out to God and He heard her so she called his name Simeon which means “hearing” (Genesis 29:33). She was trying to gain her husband Jacob’s attention, and she thought if she could have another child and she did and his name was Levi. She had thought this would help her join to her husband and she named him Levi which means to “join” (Gen. 29:35). Since she had another child, she thought this would get her husband’s attention. 

You may ask why we are talking about this. You see when you were born your parents gave you a name. They gave you a name for a reason. Sometimes they do not communicate that to us. Our first child was named Julie Ann. We looked at a book of names and meanings and found that “Julie” means “youthful, beautiful.” We got the name Ann from her mother, Marilyn’s middle name is Ann. She was our first born and we were certainly proud parents. When our second child came along, we had decided to give him a biblical name. We came up with Micah, which means “who is like God” but mainly because Micah was the one who prophesied of the birthplace of our Saviour. The name Seth, of course comes from the son of Adam and Eve who replaced Able who was slain by his brother Cain. There is another reason though the name Seth was chosen. I had an uncle who was a preacher and his name was Seth Rockwell. 

Some of you may know what your name means or you can find out. Have you ever thought to the fact that when your name is spoken someone knows you? When your name is spoken it means something to them. Have you given consideration to what people think of you when they hear your name spoken? When someone mentions your name in the neighborhood, they are thinking about something. What do they think when they hear your name? Your name is an important possession. 

  1. THE CHOICES WE MAKE. Both Simeon and Levi had a rough reputation. We get that from a story we read in Genesis 34. We looked at it a few months ago, along with the Hivites and how Shechem slept with their sister, Dinah. They were outraged and devised a scheme to get even with the Hivites. They had all the Hivite men to be circumcised, and when they were sore, they fell on them and killed them. They took matters into their own hands without consulting God. They were also not interested in honor they were wanting to get even. They took vengeance. They suffered the consequences of their actions. Go to Genesis 49:5 and lets look at the “blessings” Jacob was giving to his sons just before his death. Genesis 49:5-7 (KJV) 5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Now what was being said is that God was going to divide them and scatter them. Think about that for a moment. This doesn’t sound very hopeful. Both will be divided and scattered. God will accomplish His purpose for their lives. How is He going to do it. The prophecy in Genesis 49 is going to be fulfilled in two ways.  Have you considered the consequences of your sin and the wrong choices we make in life? Paul in Romans 1-3 deals with the reality of sin and the consequences is death. There is no way we can repair the consequences of sin except that God has made provisions in Jesus Christ and reversed the consequences of sin. Have you ever considered when people get ready for Christmas and try to decide where they will celebrate this wonderful season? They have been married three times and have children from all three marriages. Also, the one you married has children from other marriages and discover you have more pairs of grandparents than you ever considered. How do you work this out? You find that there are some consequences for bad choices. All of us make some bad choices in life. Sometimes these consequences follow us all through life. 
  2. THE APPLICATON. This story teaches us two great truths of life. There is hope. This is a story of God converting ragged edges into riches. There are two consequences here. Simeon illustrates how people can find themselves by losing themselves in Christ. Joshua 19 shows us how Simeon literally disappears inside of Judah. From this point forward they find themselves scattered inside Judah.

Question? Which tribe was Jesus from? Judah. Some people find themselves disappearing in sin but not in Christ. Very soon in the Old Testament you won’t find much about Simeon. No one talks about Simeon because he has been absorbed in the tribe of Judah. He totally lost his identity. He was swallowed up by the tribe of Judah. Sooner or later all of us will be swallowed up in Christ. The Bible says we are “in Him.” This phrase occurs very often in the New Testament. God is making the point that if we are to understand our relationship with Him, it is in Christ. People ought to be looking at us and seeing Christ. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Paul is talking about believers, and he is saying that there is a day coming when we will be swallowed up in Christ. Paul uses the same language in 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJV) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. He is quoting Isaiah 25:8. Remember Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. The question is when will it happen? You see there is coming a day when we will be swallowed up in Christ when we die. You don’t have to wait. You can allow it to happen now and enjoy the inheritance given you. How do we do it now? Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Paul understood that he was going to be swallowed up in the identity of Christ. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you will be swallowed up in Christ. Is it going to be now or later? 

Where is Levi in this passage. You never see Levi ever receive an inheritance of land. Levi made some better choices. He became the priestly tribe. How did that come to pass? Levi teaches us to reap blessing by being broken. Go to Numbers 25:1-13. Levi was a man who made some bad choices. Yet there came a moment in life where his descendants had to make a decision to live for God and made some good choices. He made the decision to be consecrated to God. Let’s make the choice to be zealous for God. Now when God told Moses to divide the land remember that Levi is not getting any land because I am his inheritance. Deuteronomy 10:9 (KJV) Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him. Did you know that in the New Testament we are called “priests?” We have direct access to God. We have an inheritance that is God. It makes no difference what your income bracket is. It makes no difference if you live in a big house or a mobile home that is 40 years old. It makes no difference if you are from Texas or Florida or Germany. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal saviour and have been born again, God Himself is your inheritance. It does not mean that God is going to make you rich in worldly things. It means in Philippians 4:19 we have the “riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Romans 10:12 (KJV) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 3:8 (KJV) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. 

When you think of Simeon, he received the inheritance promised but not as he thought. He was scattered in Judah, but in a blessed way. Levi was scattered and divided. Yet God set up cities all over Israel that belonged to the Levites. They were called “cities of refuge.” They became a source of refuge for those who were in trouble. He was literally scattered and literally blessed. 

Conclusion: You may be living under the curse of sin. Why not let God convert the ragged edges of your life into the blessings He wants you to enjoy. He can do it. We cannot escape the consequences of sin. You cannot correct the fact that you made some bad choices in the past. Why not make a right choice and repent and allow God to convert the bad choices into good ones that are filled with blessings? You can give your life wholly to Jesus Christ and allow Him to enrich your life. Hebrews 12:11 (KJV) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. If you allow God to exercise you and you begin to make the right choices, then God will work out the details and fill you with the “riches of His grace.” God wants to give you the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” in your life. God can take those bad choices and convert them into blessing. Listen if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). Two issues we have seen today, consecration and brokenness. You will be brought to that place of brokenness. You can do it on your terms or on God’s. Yet He is going to bring it to pass. Why would you not want to allow God to pick up the pieces of your life and put them together so you can have the blessings of His grace? You can right now by repenting and turning to God.