Deuteronomy 33:20-21 - Moses' Blessing.

Gad; or, a place in the Church and the world for lionlike strength.

"The territory of Gad lay in the east of the Jordan … it included several cities remarkable in the history of the patriarchs and of the judges, as Mahanaim, Ramoth, Mizpeh, Succoth, and Peniel; but it was pre-eminently remarkable because it contained the grave of the great general and lawgiver, Moses—a fact which so decidedly invested the province with a character of holiness that, though situated on the east of the river, it was regarded as one of the most honored parts of the Promised Land, from which the leaders of the people might legitimately arise" (Kalisch on Genesis 49:19 ).

The blessing of Moses, like that of Jacob, upon Gad, has a warlike ring about it. He is spoken of here as lionlike in courage and strength, and also as being charged with the execution of the justice of the Lord and his ordinances with Israel. "The clause, 'He came to the heads of the people,' expresses the thought that Gad joined the heads of the people to go at the head of the tribes of Israel (camp. Joshua 1:14 ; Joshua 4:12 , with Numbers 32:17 , Numbers 32:21 , Numbers 32:32 ), to conquer Canaan with the whole nation, and root out the Canaanites" (Keil, in loc .). The character of this tribe is described with remarkable vividness in the Book of Chronicles. It was strong, hardy, fierce, warlike, magnificent in heroism, invaluable to friends, terrible to foes. Among them were "strong men of might, men of war for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, their faces the faces of lions, and like rues upon the mountain for swiftness:" "the least of them more than equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand" ( 1 Chronicles 12:8 , 1 Chronicles 12:14 ). And amid all the conflicts which were inevitable to the Hebrews with the nations round about, such lionlike courage and hardiness would be invaluable in leading them on to victory, and in helping them through great crises of their political and military history. And when such courage and valor are animated by the right spirit, and engaged on the side of righteousness, upon them an aged saint may well pronounce his blessing. It is indicative of the spirit, which pervaded this tribe that such men as Jephthah, Barzillai, and (probably) Elijah were of it. Our theme for homiletic teaching is— That the special qualities of courage and strength have a valuable place in carrying out God ' s work both in the Church and the world .

I. THERE ARE NOT UNFREQUENTLY GREAT CRISES WHICH ARISE IN THE CHURCH OR IN THE WORLD . Work has to be done which requires no ordinary amount of independence and assurance; as e . g . when a way has to be opened up through new and untried districts; or a step has to be taken on which the weal or woe of ages may depend. Sometimes in the military career of a nation a giant foe has to be grappled with, or, in the progress of a Church, some heresy has to be attacked, and battles, harder than any on a nation's battle-field, have to be fought in the name of the Lord of hosts. Perchance some Ahab with his pride and covetousness, or some Herod or Felix rioting in lust and splendor, may have to be sternly addressed for righteousness' sake. Or there may come a time when the flood-gates of iniquity are burst open, and sin rushes forth in torrents, and the wicked ride high and triumph over the righteous, and the greater part of men are cowed before the storm-blast.

II. THE WORK OF GOD AT SUCH TIMES MAY BE STERN AND HARD . It may be that some special form of service is just then imperatively needed. "Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" The quiet souls, precious as they are, will seem to be at a discount then. There requires:

1. Leadership in the cause of the right.

2. Men who can venture all, to clear the way to an unknown region.

3. Men who can endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.

4. Men who can fearlessly rebuke ill, and fear the face of neither man nor devil.

III. FOR THIS SPECIAL FORM OF SERVICE , ENTERPRISE , COURAGE , BRAVERY , AND THE STERNER VIRTUES ARE REQUIRED . Those who are naturally timid and retiring will probably be out of sight at such times. Their work, indeed, is not lost. Their sighs and cries and prayers do enter into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. But still there then is need of the shaggier spirits to come to the front. There was time when evil so overspread Israel, and persecution was so sore, that it seemed as if virtue would soon become extinct unless God arose in his might. There were seven thousand souls hidden in obscurity. But one man, stern and strong, must be to the front. It was Elijah (cf. also John the Baptist).

IV. GOD IN MERCY , AS HE FORESEES THESE CRISES , PREPARES MEN FOR THEM . The Hebrews could not have dispensed with the men of Gad. Their strength was required as much as the sanctity of the Levites. Every virtue, every grace, has its own distinctive sphere of service. God gives some more of the kindlier graces, that they may be comforters; and others more of the hardier ones, that they may be awakeners. One is a Barnabas; another a Boanerges.

V. THEREFORE , WHATEVER OUR NATURAL GIFTS MAY BE , LET US BE SUPREMELY CONCERNED TO SANCTIFY THEM FOR GOD . Let no one reset that he cannot be anybody else. Rather, "as much as in him is," let him use his powers, whatever they may be, for his redeeming God. The meek, quiet, gentle, retiring souls have their work. The rougher, sterner ones have also theirs. " Each one in his place is best." Be it ours every day to ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man, therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work.