How Will They Remember Me?

O.T. #110  "How Will They Remember Me?
August 20, 2013
Genesis 49-Part 6
I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.  Genesis 49:18

LET IT GLOW

How will they remember me? Was it the homemade rolls, biscuits, banging the hall walls on Saturday morning with the mop, the week's leftover vegetables in stew, white snack cakes? Or my reading them the Bible at night, saying prayers, a bedtime storybook? Or a kiss and a hug, an I love you squeeze of the hand, extra help with homework? When they look at my picture, will they say something good or bad about me? How are the tribes of Dan and Gad remembered? Let's check it out.

In our key verse, we see the first mention of the word salvation, which means something saved, deliverance. Jesus Christ alone can bring us salvation. Christ alone can deliver us from the penalty of our sins. He was the perfect sacrifice, the blood sacrifice, which He offered in our place, so we don't have to pay for our sins. Such love! Have you trusted Him as your Savior and salvation today?
We will understand why Jacob said what is in verse18 as we read in our text.

Dan, whose name means judge.
He fathered an aggressive tribe that would also judge in the nation but would not be known for moral stature or religious faithfulness. Dan would later abandon its land allotment and migrate to the extreme north of Israel. (Joshua 19:40-48, Judges 18:1-31) Jacob's closing cry expressed hope for Dan in the day when salvation would indeed come to Israel. Dan, however, is omitted in the list of tribes in Revelation 7:4-8. (MacArthur)

It was partially fulfilled, Dan judged his nation, when Samson judged for 20 years (Judges 16:31). The tribe was unable to conquer its territory; so 600 families moved north to Laish and encouraged idolatry among the people (Judges 18:17). They lacked moral commitment and spiritual stability. Dan finds no place among the tribes in Revelation.  ( Falwell)

Dan's tribe became idol worshipers, as the heathen nations surrounding them. They became the center of idol worship in Israel (Amos 8:14). Although Dan is left out of the listing of tribes regarding the 144,000 in Revelation 7, it is the first tribe listed in Ezekiel's millennial roll call of the tribes in chapter 48. This is a remarkable sign of God's redemption. [Reference: David Guzik]

In spite of  the futuristic idol worship, the tribe of Dan was still allotted their portion of the Promised Land.
Will our grandchildren's grandchildren worship only God or will they turn to idols? What role are we playing in this? Which path am I leading mine down?


LET IT GROW

Gad is a name that means troops.

When the inherited territories were distributed among the sons of Jacob by Moses' command and Joshua's carrying it out, the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half-tribe of Manasseh inherited land on the east side of the Jordan River, which was by casting lots. (Joshua 18:7)

As the other tribes established Shiloh as the place of worship for them, these three tribes set up the city of Gilead as their place of the altar of worship of God.

Although little is said about Gad, Jacob indicated that it would be constantly attacked and harassed. It was vulnerable to attack because it settled east of the Jordan and needed strong warriors (1 Chron. 5:18, 12:8). It was prophesied that he would overcome at the last. (Falwell)

Little is said about the tribe of Gad. Though I found a squabble between the easterners and the westerners. Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of  Manasseh built an altar unto the Lord and the others rebuked them for this. The priest of the westerners agreed that it was acceptable and talked no more of war nor disowning them as part of the family of Israel. The story is found in Joshua 22. The name of the altar was A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.

Why are there splits in churches?

LET IT GO

Don't let idols take God's place in my life.

Love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.