Background

Read Genesis 30:1-9

Here is real rivalry. Because Leah had four sons, Rachel was bereft, so she said, ‘Well then, I will have a child through Bilhah.’ Why didn’t Jacob suggest to his disappointed and embittered wife that she seek help in prayer, as his own parents had done after 20 years of waiting?  Jacob’s acceptance of Rachel’s proposal was sinful, especially as he had the experience of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar before him.

Leah, accustomed to bearing a son each year, became impatient when it seemed she was to have no more children. She now became a victim of envy like her sister and says, ‘Right then, my maid is going to give birth to some of my children too, seeing that my womb has been closed up.’ And Jacob played along with it. His laxity in marriage began with polygamy and ended in concubinage. How easily he consented to the devious suggestions of his wives in order to increase their offspring. If he had some excuse for taking Bilhah in order to satisfy his beloved Rachel who had no children, what excuse could he give to quieten his conscience in regard to the proposal of Leah, who already had four sons? 

So it was that Leah’s maid, Zilpah, gave birth to Gad. And this is the man, the tribe, we are studying now.

What sort of beginning did Gad have? These were all Jacob’s sons but from different wives. Isn’t that a problem today? Can God do anything with these children? This is a very important study as it shows God’s mercy in dealing with children from polygamist and adulterous situations.

“. . . everyone should realize how cruel is the spirit of envy, rivalry, distrust, fault-finding, and dissension.” {4T 221.4}

This is what these children inherited – the spirit of envy. The spirit of rivalry, or conflict, comes from envy, distrust, faultfinding, and dissension. They were born with a combative and competitive spirit.  It is something so cruel, so ungodly - and it is happening amongst those who profess to follow God.

As we try to comprehend the dysfunctionality of Jacob’s household and the strife and envy that existed between family members, we see that the man God had chosen to inherit the covenant blessing was the father of multiple children born through this strange procedure.

Look at how such influence affected Gad.

Deuteronomy 33:20

‘He dwells as a lion and tears the arm and the crown of his head – The cruelty of this rivalry affected Gad. What happens wherever such a spirit is displayed?

There should be no rivalry between our publishing houses. If this spirit is indulged, it will grow and strengthen, and will crowd out the missionary spirit. It will grieve the Spirit of God and will banish from the institution the ministering angels sent to be co-workers with those who cherish the grace of God. {7T 173.4}

The spirit of rivalry, if indulged, grows. Can you identify with that in your experience? Rivalry grows until it finally tears people apart because the true missionary spirit is eclipsed. It grieves the Spirit of God. The church family cannot flourish wherever the spirit of envy is cherished.

In Genesis 37:2 we see this spirit of rivalry between the various brothers manifested.  

Joseph was more closely associated with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, who were nearer to his age, and who perhaps were less haughty than those of Leah. It may be that Bilhah, who had been his mother’s maid, cared for Joseph after Rachel’s death. 1BC 428

The Bible doesn’t enlarge on what evil was being practiced by the sons of the concubines, but their behaviour was predictable. The conflict of their parents was played out in their experience. Joseph was so upset that he came and told his father, and the bitterness, envy and strife between the brothers was magnified.

The restless spirit naturally inclines to mischief; the active mind, if left unoccupied with better things, will give heed to that which Satan may suggest. The children need . . . to be instructed, to be guided in safe paths, to be kept from vice, to be won by kindness, and be confirmed in well-doing. {CG 33.2}

The children of these concubines were in a restless state because rivalry creates restlessness in the home. And the children were affected by Satan. Whatever Satan suggested they did.

This is what we see with our own eyes, don’t we? We see families of this calibre even within the ranks of Adventism. And even though one is born with such a heritage, does God have a place for them? Is there any hope for those who have grown up with this kind of rivalry and conflict in the home, and as a result are now dead spiritually? Can they have any hope of being part of the 144,000? Does God have a place for them?

God’s plan of life has a place for every human being. {Ed 225.4}

In God’s plan there is no place for selfish rivalry. Those who measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12). Whatever we do is to be done “as of the ability which God giveth.” (1 Peter 4:11). It is to be done “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23, 24.) Precious the service done, and the education gained in carrying out these principles. But how widely different is much of the education now given! From the child’s earliest years, it is an appeal to emulation and rivalry; it fosters selfishness, the root of all evil. {Ibid.}

Rivalry fosters selfishness, the root of all evil. So here were these women selfishly vying for the love of Jacob with children as the currency. So, the inheritance of these children, through no fault of their own, was one of jealousy, distrust, bitterness, and competition.  But ‘God’s plan of life has a place for every human being.’ So, wherever you may have come from, whatever dysfunctional reality you inherited, it doesn’t matter; God has a plan for you. And whenever you feel overwhelmed by a past which makes you feel like trash, remember, God has a plan for you.

Read Deuteronomy 33:21 – The first territory conquered was divided by Moses between Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. Afterwards the children of Gad crossed over the Jordan and did their part in the conquest of Canaan.

God obviously had a purpose for Gad. He became a leader, and the men of his tribe held high positions in judgment and justice. God had a place for them. In God’s plan of life, people have a place regardless of where they have come from.  And we are to honour them, no matter what their background has been.

Read 1 Chronicles 12:8, 14 – This tribe produced mighty men of valour with lion-like strength and courage. They were the captains of hundreds and thousands.

But while the descendants of Gad were ‘mighty men of valour’, characteristics which God could use, they also possessed the spirit of rivalry which fostered selfishness.

Read Deuteronomy 33:21 - And he provided the first part for himself.

What does that say? That rivalrous and envious mentality that Gad grew up with affected him in such a way that he wanted the first things for himself. He was totally selfish. Although God can use and work with people no matter what their background, they nevertheless are affected by their negative inheritance. And this ‘me first’ mentality was inherited by the tribe of Gad.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to choose their portion of the Promised Land first even before they crossed over the river Jordan.

Read Numbers 32:2, 5

To cross over the Jordan, meant that they had to fight until the whole land was conquered and all the other tribes had received their inheritance; so, they decided to stay on the other side. This was the mentality of Gad. God is not pleased with such a selfish attitude. There is a consequence to this ‘me first’ attitude.

Genesis 49:19 – ‘a troop shall overcome him.’

Read Jeremiah 49:1 – ‘Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?

What happened to the tribe of Gad? The Ammonites came and inherited the land of Gad. They conquered them and dwelt in Gad’s cities. A troop overcame them. They wanted their land first and their selfishness caused them to be placed in a vulnerable position. 

Read Genesis 49:19 - a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at last.

This is a beautiful story. Although that rivalrous spirit has its consequences, yet the people of this tribe, though shot down in flames and overcome by the enemy, are not totally bereft.  ‘But he shall overcome at the last.’ This is a tremendous comfort to us. We don’t need to give up. Gad does not give up, even though his mistakes have led him to being overcome by a troop.

“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.” How careful is the Lord Jesus to give no occasion for a soul to despair. How He fences about the soul from Satan’s fierce attacks. If through manifold temptations we are surprised or deceived into sin, He does not turn from us and leave us to perish. No, no, that is not our Saviour. Christ prayed for us. He was tempted in all points like as we are; and having been tempted, He knows how to succour those who are tempted. {7BC 948.2}

Read 1 Chronicles 5:18, 20 - In our battle against the enemy, in our battles to conquer our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil, we can learn a lesson from the tribe of Gad. What did the Gadites do? They cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them; because they put their trust in Him”. This is the conquering element. Whatever my past has been, even if I received a terrible inheritance like that of Gad, I am to entreat God and put my trust in Him, no matter what.

Judges 11:1 - Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he [was] the son of a harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

The Gadites were at that time the Gileadites.  Jephthah was from the tribe of Gad. He is listed in Hebrews 11 among the mighty men of faith. By studying this experience of the Gadites we can take courage if we are given to rivalry.

A deliverer was raised up in the person of Jephthah, a Gileadite, who made war upon the Ammonites and effectually destroyed their power.

Oh, the long-suffering mercy of our God! When His people put away the sins that had shut out His presence, He heard their prayers and at once began to work for them. {PP 558}

So, when the Gadites, despite their rivalry and their “me first” attitude which is so offensive to God, cried out to Him in their extremity, He heard their prayers and helped them. Is not this the same God who is sealing His people? If you, with your background, find yourself in the position of the Gadites, then be assured that you can be among the 144,000.

Of great significance is the story of Elijah. Do you know where he came from? He came from Gilead as well. So, he was a Gadite. You know the story of Elijah. He called to the people of Israel, ‘If God be God, then worship Him; but if Baal, worship him.’ And he is the prophet who is to come in these last days – the people who give the Elijah message are the 144,000. And the children of Gad are among them.

Elijah, amid the general apostasy, did not seek to hide the fact that he served the God of heaven. Baal’s prophets numbered four hundred and fifty, his priests, four hundred, and his worshipers were thousands; yet Elijah did not try to make it appear that he was on the popular side. He grandly stood alone. {5T 526.3}

Here is described the wonderful victory we can have in these last days, even if we are from the tribe of Gad, (1 Kings 17:1). In the history of Elijah, we have a precursor to the 144,000 who will proclaim the three angels’ messages, the Elijah message, for the last days. In the midst of surrounding apostasy there will be those faithful ones who have had a bad beginning but are conquers, crying unto God, and gaining the victory.

Let us take courage from this story; and as we pursue these studies, we see how God hates sin, but is longsuffering and compassionate to the sinner, despite our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil. And whenever you feel overwhelmed and the enemy comes in like a flood and tells you, “Look at you! You’re as bad as Gad;” then God’s Spirit comes to you and says, “You can conquer too, just like Gad did”.