After giving first place in the introduction of the tribes of Israel to Judah, the passage we read today highlights the tribe of Simeon. If you are familiar with Simeon, you will know that he is the second of the six sons of Jacob and Leah, which makes him the second eldest sons among the twelve.

The interesting thing to note is that the tribe of Simeon had no territory of their own, but they dwelt within the territory of Judah (Joshua 19:1-9). One will realise that the chronicler named specific cities and villages, rather than naming the extent of the territory which the tribe inherited. Why was that so? This part of history need to be traced back to the book of Genesis. An incident was told that Simeon and Levi massacred the men in the city of Shechem, in order to take revenge on the defilement of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34:24-30). Their actions were cruel and they risked the death of the entire household of their father Jacob. Jacob was angered by their actions, and at his death bed, instead of blessings his two sons, he cursed them to be scattered. “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords... I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:5-7). This curse was fulfilled as the tribe of Simeon inherited scattered cities within the territory of Judah until the time of David’s reign.

The other point the chronicler attempted to highlight was that the tribe, though increased in numbers, did not multiply like the men of Judah. David Guzik tells us that the census data both at the beginning and the end of the Book of Numbers indicates that the population of the tribe of Simeon decreased radically during the wilderness years of the exodus. They were among the largest tribes at the beginning and among the smallest tribes at the end. They were a tribe that was lacklustre in spiritual vitality and their sparsity in their land and in seed was the proof of it. It almost seemed like they were invisible and forgotten.

Yet, they were NOT forgotten. Their names were included by the chronicler into the historical record of Israel. Can you imagine the tears of joy when the descendants find their tribe named in the records? I remember a moment at the end of my basic military training, where we had to gather one last time to receive our posting after basic training. We had to fall into our platoon, and they will shout out the names of those who were called to the officers cadet course. I was hoping to be part of the list from my platoon to go into officers school. I was not in the row call and by the time it came near to the end, I had lost hope of being called out. But lo and behold, I was the last name in the list to be called out. I was the last but I was glad I made it in the list. The tribe of Simeon made it in the list, they were not forgotten by God, they were part of God’s covenantal promise.

Dear brothers and sisters, we who are part of the new covenant with God will never be forgotten by God. Isaiah 49:15 tells us, “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” God has said, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). That is the grace that God gave to us. If you are struggling today, remember that God has not forgotten.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being a God with such a great memory. It is so easy to be distracted and to suffer from spiritual amnesia, but thank you that you remember your children by name. Help us oh God to get us out of our lukewarm condition, so we can enjoy intimacy with you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.