He had been diagnosed with a rare and brutal type of cancer

Our friendship went back many years, so we were relaxed in each other’s company

In that hospital room he asked whether God had given me a word for his situation.  At the time I had been reading through Deuteronomy where I had come across verse 6 of chapter 33.  The chapter was on Moses giving a final blessing to the tribes of Israel, he names them, then prophesies.  Joseph receives the longest with Dan the shortest prophecy.  It is from this chapter which comes the saying “as your days, so shall your strength be” and the more known verse “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms”

However as good as they were neither of these felt appropriate at this time, but there was one prophecy of which the first 6 words stood out for me

Let Reuben live and not die, nor let his men be few

With some hesitation I told him of this verse letting him make the decision as to whether it was a rhema from God for him

That was in the 1990s, it is now October 2011

Pondering that scripture I have wondered whether this tribe was struggling for survival due to a low birthrate or a large amount of sickness unto death.

I came across Moses’ comments again just recently and it was in the context of wondering whether we as a fringe inner city church had a future, whether we will be able to courageously adapt to the century we are now 11 years into, whether our low birth rate (conversions) will be reversed to fill the chapel seats with new life and vitality thus birthing programmes and activities which reach far beyond our suburb of Annerley allowing us to be a regional church with a positive impact with in our community for good and for God and thus the answer came ACC shall not die BUT live

Blessings

Bruce Docker