JOSEPH #43 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #25 | LAST WORDS OF JACOB #14
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3639
JOSEPH #43
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #25
LAST WORDS OF JACOB #14
8. GAD #2
In studying the tribe of Gad, it is interesting to note that they were blessed with an overcomer's disposition.
Look at the list of their potential as mighty men of valor:
SEPARATED men — Separated to David (1Ch 12:8)
POWERFUL men — Men of might (1Ch 12:8)
WARLIKE men — Men of War (1Ch 12:8)
WISE men — Handle the shield (1Ch 12:8)
BOLD men — Faces like lions (1Ch 12:8)
DILIGENT men — Swift as roes (1Ch 12:8)
VICTORIOUS men — Put to flight the enemy (1Ch 12:15)
It was especially important for the tribe of Gad to be strong, for it received its share of the land on the border (east of the Jordan River ), and guarded the north-eastern flank of the country.
Moses, when blessing the 12 Tribes before his death, likened Gad to a lion. This was an allusion to the mighty warriors of this tribe who will strike down Israel's enemies.
But they were taken into exile by the Assyrians and became one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel.
What happened?
They succumbed to the lust of the eye. For they saw the richness of the soil east of the Jordan and preferred it to the Promised Land.
In other words, they rather settle for God's second-best than press into God's best that was yet to come. They did not hold fast to the confession of their faith in God until the end.
Sounds familiar? Would you prefer to be on maintenance mode doing your least instead of your best for God?
But God is merciful. He preserved Gad's legacy as a memorial to them.
God had assigned the tribe of Gad as ministry partners with Simeon and Reuben as their head. They were assigned to guard the southern side of the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness.
As a commentator wrote: "In the arrangement of the camp and order of the march, the tribe of Gad was placed under the Staff of Reuben, together with Simeon, south of the Sanctuary (Num. 2:10, 14)."
Thus the Jews believe that their Messiah - when He comes - will gather in the Jewish exiles from all parts of the world into the Holy Land and rebuild the Temple on its ancient site, as promised by their prophets.
Indeed, the Prophet Ezekiel describes the boundaries of the lands repossessed by the twelve tribes. He declares that the City of Jerusalem will have twelve gates, each named after a tribe. The Gate of Gad will be one of the three southern gates (Ezekiel 48:27, 28, 34). Then all the twelve tribes of Israel will again be united in their own land, one people, serving the One God.
Our lesson today is not to lose our passion for the things of God but to press on, to go deeper into the Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit to become more and more spiritually mature.
As disciples open to spiritual discipline, we must fight this good fight of faith like Gad in the army of God and be accounted as a good workman for the extension of God's kingdom - which Gad somehow failed to do as his tribe was more interested in establishing their own territory than share the concern for the well-being of the tribes of his brothers.
It is good to heed Paul's advice to Timothy.
2 Tim.2:15
"Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth."
2 Tim. 3:17
"so that the man of God may be complete, having been fully equipped toward every good work."
