Dan was fifthborn of the sons of Jacob. He was born to Bilhah, Rachel’s servant and Jacob. Dan means “judged”. He was so named by Rachel who expressed that with his birth, God had heard her plea and given her a son and she now felt that we was vindicated (proved right or justified) by God.
Points to ponder:
Rachel felt that God had judged her and found her justified (proved right) for he gave to her through her servant Bilhah, a son. God gave the world his Son to justify and prove right the world that had fallen due to the sin of man. The sinless became sinful so that the sinless can become sinless for God made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be vindicated i.e., made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Additionally, God has entrusted his Son, Jesus Christ, the absolute authority to judge (John 5:22) all men. It is only by faith in Christ Jesus – believing that he is the Son of God, sent by God, to save and reconciling all mankind back to God, who paid the penalty (wages) of our sins by his death, and was raised by God – that anyone can be made just/righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; Habakkuk 2:4).
Rachel felt that she was proved right? Do you? In other words, if Christ Jesus was to judge you and me today, would he find us vindicated / justified / proved right / righteous? In other words, do you believe in Jesus?
Genesis 30:3-4 (KJV)
3 Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”
4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, 5 and she became pregnant and bore him a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
