Day 6

Dan – Discerning Justice

Dan’s name means “to judge.” Jacob’s blessing acknowledges this—Dan will bring justice. Yet the imagery shifts quickly from honor to warning: a snake by the roadside, striking unexpectedly. Justice, when wielded without wisdom, becomes sabotage.

Our children will be confronted with wrongs in the world and will feel the impulse to set things right. This desire must be shaped by discernment, compassion, and the understanding that how we make things right matters as much as making them right.

Jacob’s cry—“I look for Your deliverance, Lord”—is key. True justice comes not only from human systems but from God's heart. We must teach our children to be seekers of God’s justice, not just human fairness. That means slowing down, listening deeply, and acting with mercy.

Prayer: Lord, shape my children to be people of justice—not by the world’s standards, but by Yours. Give them discerning hearts and humble spirits. May they never act in vengeance, but in mercy and truth. Let them seek Your deliverance first before making judgments. Amen.