Finding Your Role on God's Team
What if the key to understanding your purpose in the church was hidden in an obscure list of eleven warriors from the Old Testament? These ancient soldiers have something powerful to say about who you are, what you bring, and why it matters. As we think about our roles in God's future, there's probably no better metaphor we could use than team sports.
Meet the Gad Gazelles: History's Lost Old Testament Football Club
In 1 Chronicles 12:8-15, we meet eleven warriors from the tribe of Gad, a tribe that lived across the Jordan River to the east of most of Israel, who defected from King Saul's army to join forces with the future King David:
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains. Ezer was the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, Jeremiah the tenth and Makbannai the eleventh.
There's your team, right there, eleven men, even listed by position. They are described as fierce as lions and as swift as gazelles. In the ancient world, those kinds of descriptions often became titles for warriors, which means this group even had a mascot. So we have uncovered the lost Old Testament Football Club: the Gad Gazelles.
Our overarching theme is this: Everyone has a role to play. Each one of us plays an important part in the future and function of the church.
Everyone Has a Gift
The Gad Gazelles were brave and experienced, experts in close combat. You don't get to be mentioned alongside David's "mighty men" if you're only so-so with a sword. After all, they are not called David's "pretty good men."
Compare them to the warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, described in 1 Chronicles 12:2 as skilled archers who could use their right and left hands equally. The men from Gad were trained for hand-to-hand combat, a completely different skill set, but equally essential.
In the same way, each one of us brings a unique set of gifts and talents to the ministry of the church. The New Testament contains lists of spiritual gifts, but we also have natural talents, abilities, and skills we've learned in our lives.
We All Must Choose to Join Godās Team
The Gad Gazelles defected to David. The Hebrew word used is badal: to divide out, separate, set apart, come over. These men had separated themselves from those still supporting King Saul, whose downfall is described plainly in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14:
Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Saul was self-serving, paranoid, not the kind of coach a high school senior athlete would want to play for at the college level. You might say these men from Gad entered the ātransfer portalā in order to play for David's team, or for God's team.
Where, when, and how you exercise your gifts is a choice. God does not force us into service. Instead, we choose to take those gifts and employ them in the work of the Kingdom.
We Are Empowered by God
The Gad Gazelles had an impressive reputation. As 1 Chronicles 12:14 tells us, "the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand." This language is not accidental, it echoes directly from Leviticus 26:8, where God promises that those who obey his commands will experience extraordinary power: "Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you."
Their success was a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promise. We take our gifts, make the choice to dedicate them to God's service, and the results belong to God.
Even Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, said in a recent interview: "It's very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me, and He gave me a gift which I tried to take advantage of and did everything I possibly could to make the most of."
We All Have to Put in the Work
But acknowledging God's empowerment is only part of the winning formula. The Gad Gazelles were also willing to put in hard work. They crossed the Jordan River, at flood stage, and then had to fight their way through enemy territory just to reach David. Kingdom work is a partnership. Yes, we are empowered by God, but we also must do our part.
Our Loyalty Is to King Jesus
Ultimately, all of the characteristics of the mighty men of Gad point to one thing: their loyalty to David as their future king. As 1 Chronicles 11:10 introduces Davidās mighty men: "These were the chiefs of David's mighty warriors ā they, together with all Israel, gave his Kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised."
Like the Gad Gazelles chose to place their loyalty in Coach David, we place our loyalty in a higher Coach. Our roles in God's future are to remain loyal first and foremost to God who has called us, gifted us, and empowered us.
Reflection
Take a few quiet moments with these questions. Be honest with yourself and with God.
Everyone has a gift. The men of Gad were experts in close combat, that was their specific skill set. What gifts, talents, or life experiences has God uniquely placed in you? Have you ever thought about how those gifts might be used in service to God and others?
We all must choose to join God's team. The Gad Gazelles defected; they made a deliberate decision to leave behind what was comfortable and align themselves with God's anointed king. Is there anything holding you back from fully committing your gifts to God's Kingdom work right now? What would it look like to "enter the transfer portal" and go all in?
We are empowered by God. When you experience success or make an impact, do you tend to take the credit yourself, or do you genuinely acknowledge that God is the source of your ability?
We all have to put in the work. The men of Gad crossed a flooded, dangerous river and fought through opposition just to get to David. What "flooded rivers" or obstacles are you facing right now that might be tempting you to stay on the bench instead of getting into the game?
Application
Here are some next steps to consider:
Discover your gifts. If you've never taken a spiritual gifts inventory, now is the time. Ask yourself honestly what you bring to the team.
Make the choice. Choosing to join God's team is personal and intentional. Where can you be of the most benefit to the Kingdom?
Do the work. Just like the mighty men of Gad were experts in battle, our spiritual muscles must be honed through spiritual disciplines: prayer, Bible study, and worship with other believers.
Stay loyal. We don't know exactly what God's future will look like, but we must maintain our commitment and loyalty to Jesus.
Prayer
God, thank you for the reminder that you have gifted every one of us on purpose and for a purpose. Like the mighty men of Gad, I want to be someone who shows up brave, skilled, and fully committed to your Kingdom. Forgive me for the times I've sat on the sidelines, waiting for a better moment or a more comfortable opportunity. Today, I choose to join your team. I offer you my gifts, my talents, my experiences and I ask you to use them for your glory. Empower me to do the work you've set before me, and keep my loyalty fixed on you, my King. In the name of Jesus, Amen
