Sons Series - Gad The Fighter

“Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. ". (Genesis 49:19)

We have looked at:

• 1st born Reuben. Turbulent in character lacking self control and lacking in command to protect his younger brothers thus losing his father's trust.
• 2nd and 3rd born Simeon and Levi. Lacking wisdom and having an untamed anger. Vengeful with devastating aftermath.
• 4th born Judah. A leader, protector, negotiator, mediator and reconcillor. He had the gift of persuasion and knew the right buttons to press. He was a royalty and he lived and acted like it.
• 5th born Dan (born of Bilha). A judge. Endowed with strength but misused it. Later on restored.
• 6th born Naphtali (Bilha’s 1st son). Signified triumph over struggle. He was disobedient in executing God’s command just like Zebulun. Despite their ups and downs, they received a blessing from the Lord.
• 10th born Zebulun (Leahs 6th son). A haven of of rest for voyagers battered by life's storms. He was a safe harbor for those tossed by the strong winds in the seas. He also portrayed a conduit for the great commission, being the port of entry exit to other nations.

Today we examine Gad. He was the first son of Zipha, Leah’s servant, and the seventh son in order of birth. His name means fortune. Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad. (Gen 30:11). Leah finally saw wealth from her womb and that of her servant, having given Jacob 70% of the sons born so far.

 
The tribe of Gad is portrayed as obedient unlike Zebulun and Naphtali, not sparing any Canaanite in the land. As a result, their inheritance was much larger. And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander’s portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel. (Deut 33:20-21).

The tribe of Gad was also unselfish, going the extra mile to help their kinsmen in fighting the enemy. The Gadites fought valiantly for this land but did not stop there. They crossed the Jordan with the other tribes and assisted them in following God’s order to take the inheritance He provided. Gad could have stopped fighting once they had received their own dwelling place, but they did not: “We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance (Numbers 32:18)

Many of us are quick to ask God for what we don’t have. As soon as we get it, job done, we move on. Are you obedient to God’s call? So passionate that you don’t stop just because God has answered your prayers but keep going that He would answer your brother’s? At the mount of transfiguration, while Peter saw a moment to rest and enjoy the experience, Jesus saw it differently. He knew downhill there was a man possessed with an evil spirit that required casting out and further up another hill, He knew the cross was waiting for Him.


Do you have the fighting spirit of Gad? That you will not return until this nation has received its inheritance? Have you been praying for the nation? Don’t rest, keep going. It’s not like God is incapable of answering all our prayers at once. But rather, it is that He wants to build character in you as you trust Him through prayer. So the battle is not so much with the enemy outside, but the enemy within. To build a character that pleases God through total surrender to Him. Don’t fall asleep on the wheel.