So, I’m reading Revelation 7. I’ve read it a more than a few times before over the course of the years . . .so it’s not like it’s unfamiliar ground. But something happened this morning, which often happens, but which, nevertheless, always amazes me. This morning, I noticed something that I have never noticed before. And it’s not that I am amazed that I had missed something . . . no, that’s not such a rare occurrence . . . not the brightest bulb often. No, the amazing part is that I think I noticed this . . . for the first time . . . this morning . . . because the One who leads us into all truth, the Teacher dwelling within me, decided that this morning was a good time to bring it to my attention.

So, here’s what I noticed. I’m reading of the 144,000 servants who will be sealed, and thus protected, during the tribulation. These 144,000 are “of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev. 7:4). And I start reading through the list . . . Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher . . . yeah, yeah . . . it’s kind of easy to get to a point and skip over it . . . 12 tribes of Israel, right, got it. But, for some reason, I don’t skip over the list but read through it. And then I notice that Joseph’s name is listed here. And I think, “Wait a minute . . . if Joseph’s here, then who’s not here?” You see, what I recalled is that Joseph gave his blessing and his place to his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim . . . making 13 tribes . . . and that, because they had no inheritance, Levi is omitted . . . thus, twelve tribes.

But Joseph’s here . . . and then I go back and see Manasseh’s in the list . . . and so I pull up a listing of the twelve tribes from Genesis 49 and after my little audit I realize that Levi’s included too . . . but that Ephraim’s missing . . . and Dan’s missing. And the thought that forms is, “Where’s Dan?” How come the tribe of Dan (and Ephraim) are not here?

And I don’t know how come? It’s not intuitive to me. But what I do know, is that their names are not here . . . they’re not represented in this sealing . . . for this purpose, at least, they are not included . . . not on the roll . . . not invited to the party.

It’s at this point that I pull out my two one-volume commentaries sitting on my desk for a little help (maybe I should have prayed about it and asked the Holy Spirit to reveal it to me directly . . . but that’s another devotional thought . . . ). And, it seems, the most common speculation is that it may be because these tribes were among the first to plummet into idolatry. I don’t know . . . what I do know, is they are not here.

At first I think, maybe it’s like their names have been dropped from the Book of Life . . . and God’s disowned them forever. But, as I look at the the different listings of the 12 tribes, in Ezekiel 48 I think I see both Dan and Ephraim mentioned in describing some of the aspects of the millennial kingdom . . . so it’s not like they are gone forever. So what’s the deal?

And here’s where I am at on this, at least for right now. How easy is it to presume that because I was “on the list” once, I’ll always be on the list. Now I’m not talking about the Book of Life and the list of who’s saved . . . once we’ve been given to Jesus by the Father, He loses none . . . so that’s not the list. But I’m thinking about those “lists” where God determines to bless a fellowship . . . or to do something in the midst of a group . . . or raise up a ministry team to accomplish some purpose of His . . . and because we were “on the list” before we figure we will be again . . . but, because of neglect, complacency, compromise, or sin, we find that we’ve been excluded. Does that make sense?

I probably have some thinking to do on this to properly form the thought, but for right now, I’m just feeling that I don’t want to take for granted that my name will be on “the list” because it’s been on “the list” before. God will assemble His “lists” in His sovereign will and grace and that might not include me, and that’s ok. But to be excluded because of presumption or complacency . . . that kind of causes me to shudder.

Father, I don’t know if I’m exactly getting what the Spirit is teaching this morning, but I do sense that noticing that Dan’s not on the list is no accident. And the thought of presuming on Your grace, or resting on some past blessing or victory, is a warning to me, and fuels my desire to pursue the things of God. By Your grace, keep me from disqualifying myself from those “lists” You want to put me on . . . for my blessing . . . for Your glory . . . amen.