“Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.”
(Gen.49:19)
Gad was a warlike tribe, 1 Chron. 12:8; Moses likens them to lions, Deut. 33:20; they were reckoned among the valiant men in scripture, 1 Chron. 5:18. But because of their geographical location on the east side of Jordan, they were the first to be subjected to the enemy’s assaults, which almost always came from that direction. You might say, “They were in the front lines.”
Jacob warns them of many skirmishes that they would face but not to be discouraged, for at the last they would be victorious. They would ultimately spoil their spoilers! No conquest of the elect, says he, would be final in the life of God’s people. It may seem futile at times and not worth the fight, but losing a battle doesn’t mean the war is lost; it's only a setback.
The Bible is filled with underdogs who became overcomers. Examples include: Job, Joseph, Peter, the two witnesses in Revelation, and especially our own dear Lord. Because Christ overcame (Jn. 16:33), He bequeathed to His followers the same spirit, (1Jn. 5:5). Thus we can say with Micah, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise.” (7:8)
“It can truly be said of every sold-out servant of God, ‘You can’t keep a good man down.’”
(rds)
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