Day 617: The 'also rans' - Deuteronomy 33 vs 18 - 21

18-19  And of Zebulun Moses said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20 And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. 21 He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgements for Israel.” Deuteronomy 33:18-21 (English Standard Version)

Not every one comes in the first three places of a race - many will just be 'also rans'. And not everyone is called to a big part of God's plans. But that doesn't mean we won't experience His kindness. Having spoken of the important roles the tribes of Levi, Judah and Ephraim would have, Moses speaks more briefly on some of the other tribes. Zebulun and Issachar had been the last of the six sons born to Jacob's wife, Leah. It's likely they’d been close as brothers, now their descendants were going to settle alongside each other in the land God was giving to Israel. What’s the blessing Moses pronounced on them? (vs 18-19)

Zebulun wasn’t far from the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and it seems the two tribes would develop a trade route for the sea's harvest. Moses' blessing implies that it was possible that people from the other tribes would go up to their region to join in festivals with thanksgiving offerings to God. It's important to note that they offered 'right' sacrifices. They didn’t invent some new way of serving God.

The tribe of Gad is mentioned next. Their forefather was the first of two children born to Jacob through Leah's maid, Zilpah. Zilpah later gave birth to his brother Asher. What appears to be the substance of the blessing Moses spoke over this tribe? (vs 20-21)

They were going to have a large portion of land and, unlike many of the other tribes, they got to choose the land they wanted. We read in the Old Testament book of Numbers that when Israel had conquered cities on the East side of the Jordan river the tribe of Gad saw that the land was good for livestock. As they had large herds they asked Moses if they could settle in that region. Moses gave them that land on condition that their fighting men would still cross the Jordan river to help the other tribes drive out the Canaanites there. Many years later, in the days of King David, we’re told that “the Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand.” (1 Chronicles 12:14) So they were blessed with much land and great strength.

I was reminded in these verses of the less mentioned tribes of Israel of the story Jesus told of a man who went on a journey. Before setting off he gave five valuable coins to one servant,  two coins to another, and one coin to yet another. Jesus said the man “gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability.” (Matthew 25:15) When he returned he called the servants to see how they had used what he entrusted to them. In the case of the first two, they had doubled what he had given them to use, and the Master said to them: “Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.”

Sadly, the third man came and gave a batch of excuses as to why he'd not used what had been entrusted to him. He had nothing to offer the Master. The Master spoke harshly to him and said: “Take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. Those who have much will receive more, and have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them.” (Matthew 25:28-29) Notice that the Master knew at the start what he was doing and gave each one 'according to their ability'. God will put us where He wants us to be. And if ours is a small role, just one of the 'also rans', let's serve Him to the best of our ability. We will find blessing in doing what we can.