MY ALLOTMENT
Today's reading:  Joshua 16-20

"...This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Simeon.  Their inheritance came from part of what had been given to Judah because Judah's territory was too large for them.  So the tribe of Simeon received an inheritance within the territory of Judah."  Joshua 19:8-9 NLT

I'll be the first to admit, I usually skim over the allotments of land in the book of Joshua.  I'm usually so thrilled that the Israelites FINALLY made it to the Promised Land, that where they settled within it matters little to me.  I'm guessing they felt the same.

It's probably my skimming over that has caused me never to notice today's Scripture.  

Every tribe received land based on the size of their family.  Makes sense.

But to read that the tribe of Simeon received land that had originally belonged to Judah, surprised me.  The statement, 'Judah's territory was too large for them', really threw me for a loop!  Another translation says, 'Judah received more than it needed'.  And another, 'Judah couldn't fill up the cities or tend to all the land'.

It hit me.

We're all in the same boat as the tribe of Judah.

God has given us more, way more, than we could ever use/maintain/appreciate/fill in our lifetimes.

More blessings.  More opportunities.  More chances to experience His love.  More moments to be in His presence.  More, abundantly more, than we could ever keep to ourselves.

So we spill over into other people's lives.  Our blessings touch the heartss of those we come in contact with.  Our abundance allows us to experience Christ, and allows others to be touched by it.

And to think, I'd overlooked that overwhelming, life-changing truth all these years!

Thanks, Lord, for opening my eyes this morning.