The Son’s of Zilpah, Gad, Asher

2/14/2008 8:47 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The Son’s of Zilpah, Gad, Asher

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Genesis 49:19-20

            Message of the verses:  “19  "As for Gad, raiders shall raid him, But he will raid at their heels.  20  "As for Asher, his food shall be rich, And he will yield royal dainties.”

            Zilpah was the handmade of Leah and she gave Zilpah to Jacob in order to have more children; however Leah did have three more children later on.  I believe that Leah did this just because Rachel had given her handmade to Jacob to bear children for her and Leah became jealous. 

            Gad’s name could mean “good fortune” or “troop,” and Jacob made a play on words when giving this blessing to Gad.  “Troop (Gad), a troop will troop upon him, but he will troop on their heels.”  This could be the literal translation of verse nineteen.

            Moses wrote of Gad, “20  Of Gad he said, "Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; He lies down as a lion, And tears the arm, also the crown of the head.”  (Deu. 33:20)

            Gad settled on the East side of the Jordan river.

            Asher’s name means “happy,” and his tribe settled on the Northwest part of the land of Israel right next to the Great Sea, however they were not able to drive out the inhabitants of their territory so they settled down to be an agricultural people taking advantage of the rich and fertile land that God had given them.  As Jacob told his son Asher his food would be rich, fit for a king.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  All of the blessings that Jacob gives to his children are actually prophecies that were given to them because God’s Spirit was speaking through Jacob.  This shows me that God already knows and for that matter plans the things that will take place in my life and for that I am grateful. 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to teach me contentment and whatever else He wants to teach me as I go through these trials and tests so that I will be more and more conformed to the image of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

Memory verses for the week:  Philippians 1:9-11

9. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
10. so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11. having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.