Gad and the year of the warrior

Ministry Testimonials, Teaching Resources

As we pray and seek Jesus for direction at the beginning of 2025, there is an interesting prophecy in Genesis 49:19 NASB95 to consider:

“As for Gad, raiders shall raid him, But he will raid at their heels.”

There are many relevant aspects to this word but one inescapable facet is the conflict that was to always mark his life.  “…raiders shall raid him,” is another way to state a disquieting truth: Gad could not get around being attacked in life.  While it is a challenge to constantly be looking over your own shoulder, what if it is a necessity in the world that you live in?  The History of Israel, for example, from Genesis to the present day, could be accurately described as a series of conflicts.  Enemies have set their hearts against her very existence and are unrelenting in trying to harm her.  If Israel wasn’t aware and vigilant toward this reality, she could not survive.

Romans 15:4 NASB95 tells us,

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Is there an application that The Holy Spirit can make from Gad’s prophecy to our lives as Christians today?  Consider one of many scriptures that further expounds on the familiar theme of battle:

Ephesians 6:10-17 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [14] Stand firm therefore, having GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING put ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, [15] and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; [16] in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

For all the detail found in this description, focus on a few different phrases that convey the same idea.  Stand firm, struggle, resist all indicate the regular presence of conflict for every Christian.  Like Gad, we need to be aware of this fact in our daily lives and it stands to reason that being prepared will give a much greater chance for success in any battle.  Why else does every iteration of military strategy throughout history value painstaking preparation and catching an opponent unaware?

Going beyond a basic understanding of the existence of our battle

Vs. 12 above gives a vital clarification, “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  In natural warfare, you have an enemy you can see, touch or define by natural parameters.  Spiritual warfare, on the other hand, involves an enemy that you can’t entirely describe with or is bound by natural measures.  

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB95 says,

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God made people with a spirit and everywhere we go, the spiritual world remains very real. 

There is a strong tendency in Western Christianity to compartmentalize the spiritual world to events that have an obvious, spiritual component. 

Church services, Christian concerts, believer’s breakfast fellowships are all presumed spiritual (and should be), with resistance to their proceedings not at all thought to be unusual.  But what about the ordinary experiences in everyday life, like a traffic-filled work commute?  Do we approach those encounters with a view toward the presence of spiritual activity that can be potentially hostile?

Spiritual responses to spiritual problems

Look at the life and experience of Jesus for part of the answer:  

Matthew 4:1-4 NASB95

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. [3] And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” [4] But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'”

Jesus wasn’t battling jealous pharisees or power hungry Roman government officials in this encounter.  He was tempted, not by something that is described as overtly bad in scripture, but to walk outside of The Holy Spirit’s leadership for His life at that point in time.  His answer wasn’t to call on His disciples to physically subdue this tempter (good thing because they almost certainly would have been stumped at not being able to see him with their natural eyes).  He quoted a scripture that makes no sense to the natural mind but precisely addressed the spiritual problem.

Let’s take another step toward dependence on The Holy Spirit by looking for Him in all situations. We can be more prepared for spiritual conflict by predetermining that we will engage The Holy Spirit first when such a conflict arises.  Vulnerability is greatly decreased when we start viewing ordinary situations from the same spiritual paradigm as we approach a prayer meeting.  Gad was attacked and he knew, at least in general, that it was coming.  This one step of preparedness helped him not just to withstand, but ultimately overcome the challenges that he faced.  The Lord is encouraging us all to follow his example.

Some Teaching on Gad for 2025

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