The genealogy of Simeon follows the genealogy of Judah. As in Judah’s genealogy we find outsiders listed if not emphasized. There’s a Canaanites and some descendants of Ishmael listed in the line of Simeon. But what’s interesting about Simeon is what is mentioned in 4:27, “they did not multiply like the family of Judah.” This is interesting because historically, the Simeonites were totally absorbed into the tribe of Judah. They lost their separate genealogical identity.
I believe this is God’s eternal plan for all the races. If we read scripture literally, we find that we’ve all descended from one family; Noah! The races evolved with minor physical differences which seemed to become the basis for differentiation and is primarily maintained by geographical borders. Yet, when those borders are crossed assimilation occurs.
I wonder if that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “I have other sheep that are not in this flock, and I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). God only has one flock but it’s made of all nations and all races. We are all assimilated into God’s one family.
After church on Sunday I attended the 90th birthday party of my father’s first cousin. She had five brothers & sisters and eight children so you can imagine the crowd that was there. We had a great time tracing our connections. We would connect with phrases like this; “My grandmother was your great-grandmother’s sister.” Even though few of us had ever met, there was an interesting atmosphere of “identity” among us. I got a glimpse of what it must be like in heaven.
In the end, all believers will be assimilated into one great big family like Simeon was absorbed into Judah! Hebrews 2:11 says, “Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.”
Chuck
“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:9