The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Chapter 9) "Gad" Gad was the seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's maid, and a whole brother of Asher. In Gen. 30:10-11 it says, "And Zilpah, Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said, "A troop cometh; and she called his name Gad." Gad means "a troop." On the surface it would appear that all that was meant by Leah's words was that Gad was a troop and would become so, yet there is more involved here than this. Jacob prophesied in Gen. 49:19, "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." As it turns out Leah's words were prophetic as well as explanatory for God spoke the truth through her that a troop was coming against Gad. The name Gad comes from the same Hebrew root, meaning not only a troop but also "to cut." These two different meanings seem to not be related but lets look at them this way. A troop or crowd is something that presses so close together as to cut into another. A cutting by crowding against, as a bank of a river is cut by the crowding of the water, a furrow is cut by the pressing of a plowshare into the earth, and a troop cuts into other troops in the time of war. To carry the analogy one step further, we find that two main cuttings are mentioned in connection with Israel; The cutting of the navel cord and the cutting of the foreskin. We also have learned that Reuben camped on the south side of the Tabernacle along with Simeon and Gad. With Israel pictured in the figure of a man, we have seen that Reuben is located in the area of the loins and this is also where the cutting of the foreskin takes place. We learned in our last lesson on Simeon that he was located in the chest area. Therefore since Reuben and Simeon are located in this area we assume that Gad must be located somewhere in this general area also. The other cutting we mentioned was the cutting of the navel cord and seeing that Gad from the primitive root of the Hebrew not only mans a troop but also a cutting, we can then place Gad in the abdominal area where is located the navel. All this fits very well with Gad's characteristics because Gad is noted for his warlike nature and ability to fight. . The navel is used figuratively to speak of force and strength which are prerequisites for war. The Lord described "behemoth" as a large beast in Job. 40:16, "Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the Navel of his belly." In Prov. 3.8 it says, "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." Couple these two scriptures with the Song of Solomon 7:2, "Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies." Here the navel is likened to a round goblet filled with liquor, in reality, filled with a mixture of blend of liquids. As a pure mixed drink is a stimulant to greater activity, so Gad is shown in the abdominal area, the navel area, as being strong, vigorous, powerful, and a stimulant to the rest of Israel. Not only is the navel a symbol of great strength but it is the result of birth. The Gadites will quite obviously and openly show forth the sign or signs of the fullness of birth when the body is changed and fully redeemed. Gad was the seventh son of Jacob and seven is the number of completion or perfection, and the Gadites are marked by their sense of wanting to see things done to completion. They are not people who do things half way, but completely. Jacob said that a troop would overcome Gad. Isaiah 65:11 gives the answer, "But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number." The word for troop here is 'Gad'. The troop that overcomes Gad is the Babylonia form of worship which is so prevalent in these days. Gad goes all out wholeheartedly for it and is overcome by it. Gadites in their desire for perfection seek it even through the Babylonian form of worship. The Gadites will wake up when the voice of the Lord comes to them and will be made free from the troop of Babylon (confusion) that overcame them. They will then overcome the Babylonian worship that they have been caught up in and will see Babylon for what it really is. Mose had this to say about Gad in Deut. 33:20-21, "About Gad he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader's portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord's righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel." Not only does God enlarge Gad but God uses people to enlarge Gad spiritually, and whoever does this finds himself especially blessed of the Lord. All who help Gad to enlarge in God will receive a special blessing from God. Gad is a real warrior and his battle in spiritual conflicts is not for himself alone but for all of Israel. As a result those outside of Gad become blessed of God by Gad's strength and triumph in their behalf. Gad is likened to a lion and the word for lion in this instance is the Hebrew word, "Labi" meaning a bold lion and is translated as "old lion," or "great lion." Gad is not
just any kind of lion. He is a mature lion with all the wisdom and strength of maturity. Gad "teareth the arm with the crown of the head." This is a very strange statement on the surface. The arm speaks of the strength of a person and that which holds and wields the sword and that which holds any tool for work. This refers to human strength and effort, whether done for God or apart from God. The Gadites learn how to control their human strength. They tear or put to disuse human effort by the crown of their head. The crown, or top of the head is the seat of intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom. The Gadites are known by their ability to use God-given and God-directed intelligence to put an end to human effort either in themselves or someone else. So the strength of Gad includes the strength of the renewed mind. It is said of Gad in Deut 33:21, "he provided the first part for himself." How is this explained? In Num. 32 it tells how Israel fought against Sihon King of the Amorites and Og, the King of Bashan and how they overcame them and took their land. This land was east of Jordan and was very fertile and suitable for cattle which both Reuben and Gad had an abundance. Seeing this, they asked if they could possess this land known as Gilead and Moses gave it to them provided they would go over the Jordan and fight with Israel for the rest of the land. Here we see that Gad chose the first part for himself. Gadites are never satisfied with anything less than perfection so they willingly fight and war for the benefit of the rest of Israel that they might also possess their inheritance in God. On the surface it might seem the Gadites are selfish in making sure of their own spiritual possessions, but actually they are but providing a springboard from which they might spring forth to help others. Now we want to consider the position of some of the Gadites in the days of David when he was in exile because of the fury of Saul. David's position was not recognized by everybody but there were those who recognized him as the anointed of God and they staked their lives on the truth of God concerning David. 1 Chron.12:8-15 says, "Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains. Ezer was the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, Jeremiah the tenth and Macbannai the eleventh. These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west. Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold." We again see in this scripture the strength and warring ability of Gad. When the Gadites who are chosen of God see the truth and catch a glimpse of what God is doing, there is nothing that can stop them. Notice here that these men crossed Jordan when it was flooding. They cared not for difficulties and hindrances. Notice also, they were interested in being with God's anointed and in seeing the establishment of the throne to David. To the chosen Gadites, every difficulty becomes a steppingstone to better things. They do not look for easy ways, but rather for God's way. Notice these Gadites have faces like lions--fearless, strong, undaunted. The nature of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, even Jesus the Christ and Lord was in them. They could face anything without fearing the outcome. But along with this fearlessness is a strong faith and undying love. These Gadites were swift as the roes upon the mountains. The roes is of the deer family whose feet are light and swift and sure. They can scale the exalted heights with ease in spite of the difficulties and will not be satisfied with anything less than the heights. So it is with the men of the Tribe of Gad--they cannot accept anything less than the best. And in the Spirit of God they set their feet upon the heights of spirituality and move upward until they stand on top of the peaks of spiritual reality. Such are the men of Gad who will help usher in the Kingdom of God upon the earth! They know the reality that, "We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom." The Tribe of Gad will begin to make itself felt in these days. As those Gadites who are chosen of God come to the front they will be known by their great strength for spiritual conflict . For their readiness of mind to turn from the Babylonian way of worship and enter into true worship unto God. Their desire is to take the country of giants and position themselves in their inheritance in order that they might step forth and help others. They have undying devotion to see the Kingdom established in completion and perfection. Now let's look at the Gate of Dan to the Holy City. The eighth gate is knowing by experience that you are part of that troop. When you come as far as the eighth gate to the City you will know that you were in the bosom and the mind and the heart and the counsel of God before he laid the foundation of the world. If you go through this gate, nothing will move you. Nothing will offend you. Nothing will upset you. Nothing will cause you to want to bail out. If you ever get a revelation in your spirit that God had you in His heart before you were born, it will change your life. God brought Jesus out of His bosom the Word says and there was more than one Son in His bosom. There was a troop in the bosom of God. God has always had a family in His heart. Gad was the sixth stone on the breastplate. The stone was a diamond. Jeremiah said in Jer. 17:1, "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond; it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of their alters." God is raising up a troop who are going to pinpoint the son of the Church. God is bringing forth a troop that will stand without fear or favor and in humility declare the sin of the Church and prepare her to meet Her Husband. If you ever pass through the gate of Gad you will experience knowing that you were in the loins of God before the foundation of the world as a troop, a people, a family. This will be the evidence of this in the way you live and the fruit you produce. If you pass through this gate, you will absolutely know beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are from God and He has raised you up for just such a time as this. If you pass through this gate you will know that absolutely nothing can come your way, no circumstance, no obstacle, no temptation, no test, and no devil in hell that can ever begin to move you, persuade you from the determination and the dedication and the preservation of this walk with God. I am saying that it is possible to reach a place in God where you will never fall. But you will have to pass through eight gates to get there. As you pass through these gates of experience you will acquire the traits of each of the Twelve Tribes. There is a troop of servants marching out of the bosom of God through out the world demonstrating the nature of God.