ABUNDANT LIFE

 

Abundant Life

 

Intro:  Today we are looking at the two more of Jacob’s sons.  They are Gad and Asher.  Let us first look at Gad. 

 

Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.  Gad is the seventh son of Jacob through Zilpah.  His name means fortunate or blessing.  He lives to be 125 years old and had 7 sons.  Being the seventh son and the son of a handmaiden was said to have forced him to assert himself. He had to become confident and make himself a part of the family. Like his brother Asher, however, he was also characterized by a very friendly temperament towards his siblings.  With his confidence and strength, Gad seemed to be a natural warrior. In fact, some sources claimed that Jacob hid Gad from the Pharaoh out of fear that the young boy would be conscripted as a royal bodyguard.

Gad's tribe became herders of cattle but also retained a reputation as some of the fiercest warriors amongst the Israelites. It's worth noting that they were renowned for the strength of body, as well as the strength of mind.  In Jacob's blessing and through history we know the Tribe of Gad knew that they would be invaded and tested, but that they would fight and ultimately prevail. Rather than hiding from this fate, they voluntarily occupied the lands most likely to be invaded. Like their founder, they asserted themselves, accepted their role in the Israelite community, and lived with confidence in their ultimate victory.

Here are some great lessons we can learn from Gad. 

1.       Be a blessing to all who come into contact with you.  Walk in love acceptance and forgiveness.  Be that fortunate person in people’s lives.  A person people are glad to see not go.

2.      Be confident and make yourself  a valuable part of a family of God.  Always be learning, take on

new challenges, be creative, faithful, obedient to the Lord, walk in wisdom, honest and integrity.

3.      Gad was known as friendly temperament and work within his family.  Gad could be trusted and relies upon.  This is so important in times like this.  Talk about Larry Knutson

4.      Be a warrior.  As Christians we are warriors for Christ.  Be a person that the enemy is afraid of.  He a person of the word and prayer.  Remember we are more than conquerors in Christ.  Resist the devil and he will flee.  Be strong in the Lord.  You can take your world for Christ. 

5.      Be a person of person of strength.   Remember you will always prevail when you rely on the strength of the Lord. 

6.      The last lesson is that you will be attacked and tested but in time you will prevail.  Testing, trials, temptation comes to all but how you act and react will determine it you prevail.  Never quit or give up.  Winner never quit.  A test becomes a testimony.  A conqueror is someone who has conquered something.  An overcome has overcome something and a victor chooses not to be a victim. 

Asher’s food will be rich, he will provide delicacies fit for a king.  Asher is Gad’s younger brother  his mother was also Zilpah and his name also means happy.  Leah said that about him in Gen 30:13.    Asher had four sons and one daughter.  Moses said of Asher: "May Asher be blessed above other sons; may he be esteemed by his brothers; may he bathe his feet in olive oil." (Deuteronomy 33:24).  Asher was the very one whose endeavor it had always been to reconcile the brothers.  Asher's motivation is described, by classical rabbinical sources, as being entirely innocent of evil intent, and always in search of harmony between his brothers.  Asher's descendants in more than one regard deserved their name ("Asher" meaning "happiness"). The tribe of Asher was the one most blessed with male children;[ and its women were so beautiful that priests and princes sought them in marriage.  The abundance of oil in the land possessed by Asher so enriched the tribe that none of them needed to hire a habitation.  The soil was so fertile that in times of scarcity, and especially in the Sabbatical year, Asher provided all Israel with olive-oil.  This is why Jacob looking propheticly said they would be rich.  In some translations they are called the royal dainties tribe.   The Asherites were also renowned for wisdom.  They had an abundant life. 

Lessons we can learn from  Asher

1.       Joy and happiness is the root of Abundant life.  It makes you blessed and esteemed.  Jesus promised to give us and abundant life.  You know your source is God.  You are generous with yourself and others.  You are a giver and love to bless others. 

2.      Being abundant is you are a peacemaker, Jesus says this give you a title of a son of God.  You have the nature and character of a son of God.  Your desire to reconcile other gives you as Paul says the ministry of reconciliation.  You are not an enabler but a go between, a diplomat or ambassador. 

3.      This makes you rich.  Not just materially but in character and nature.  You are the person be want to be like and be around.  You are fertile and blessed even in times of scarcity.     

4.      You have wisdom and you know this comes from having a respect, fear and awe for God.  You also know then when you lack wisdom you can ask of God who will give it liberally.