Reverberations from Disobedience

Scripture: About Dan he said:
“Dan is a lion’s cub,
springing out of Bashan.”
Deuteronomy 33:22

Observation: Just before he dies, Moses makes a statement about most of the tribes. Some are long and some are short, and Dan's is very short, and simply makes this description of Dan being a lion cub in Bashan.

The oddity here is that ... Dan's inherited land is nowhere near Bashan. Dan will receive its allotment in the southwest of the promised land, along the Mediterranean near what it today called the Gaza Strip. Bashan is actually northeast of the promised land, an area north of the Sea of Galilee and extending east along the top of what is already Menasseh's trans-Jordan territory.

However, once again, we see the prophesy, as actually Dan WILL move themselves to that region, as we read very far in the future in the book of Judges. They reject the territory given them by the Lord, take a small piece of land about as far away as possible, and commit terrible acts of idolatry as they do so. It is presumed it is for these reasons that, when the tribes are called together as a remnant at the end times in Revelation, Dan is not included.

Application: I remain fascinated by, of all things, the long-term implications of the behavior of the tribe of Dan. This is documented by many smarter than me, but effectively ... Dan refused to stake their claim that the Lord gave them, leaving a place where the Philistines could establish themselves in Canaan. These foreigners became the greatest foreign problem throughout the time of the judges, were a key reason the people wanted a king like Saul, and continued to contend with Israel for centuries. Even today, it is the place where Palestinian terrorists strike against Israel.

Dan refused to obey the Lord, and for 3,000 years that remains a problem.

Prayer: Lord, there are times on a daily basis that I do not obey you. Certainly I am not as bad as fully rejecting your word and promise, but I willfully sin and disobey your instructions. I see how such behavior, even when forgiven, can leave lasting damage. Please do forgive my sins. Also, please never lose patience with me, but continue to show me your will for my life and for my daily actions. I desire to obey. Amen.