Dan is a lion’s whelp; he shall leap from Bashan. (Deuteronomy 33:22)
The name Dan means “to judge,” and so very often, the tribe of Dan is represented on banners with a scale symbolizing justice. When Jacob blessed and prophesied of this tribe, he referred to Dan as a serpent: “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward” (Genesis 49:17). Here in Moses’ blessing of the tribe, Dan is likened unto a young lion who is ready to pounce upon its prey. Putting this all together, the different descriptors suggest that the tribe of Dan would be quick to strike at its enemies and defend its domain. They would not be an aggressor, however, always acting in a just manner when it came to war.
One of the most famous members of this tribe was Samson, a staunch defender of his people. Throughout his life he was a constant threat to the Philistines because of the incredible strength he possessed when the Spirit of the LORD moved upon him. No doubt this was connected to the fact that Samson was called to be a Nazarite from birth. And though he was called to live by the highest standards of holiness, Samson didn’t always follow through on his commitment. In fact, he broke all three of the primary prohibitions given to a Nazarite. He ignored the abstention from wine, especially when he was around foreign women; he touched a dead carcass (the young lion that had pounced on him) and he allowed Delilah to cut his hair which brought about his capture. In short, Samson was not the greatest spiritual example to hold up before men.
That being said, though blind and bound, God used him to bring about a great defeat of Israel’s enemies. One last time, the spirit of God moved upon him to bring judgment upon the uncircumcised Philistines in the house of their false god (Judges 16:30). As I said, Samson wasn’t always the best spiritual example, and yet, it is clear that God did not abandon him altogether. In his blindness, Samson could finally “see” and that is when he called upon the LORD. Hearing his cry, God moved upon him to bring about the purpose for which he had been raised up — sacrificially, he leaped upon his enemies.
All of this brings me to this thought: like Dan and like Samson, God has a purpose for us all in spite of the fact that we all tend to stray from the path that leads to that purpose. Furthermore, God’s purpose for us isn’t necessarily derailed just because of our missteps; because He is just, when we call upon Him, he will hear. We may have crossed lines at some point in the past that causes us to doubt whether God can still use us but Samson, the man from Dan, reminds us that what has been prophesied and determined for us, God can always brings to pass.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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