JOSEPH #51 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #33 | LAST WORDS OF JACOB #22
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3647
JOSEPH #51
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #33
LAST WORDS OF JACOB #22
10. NAPHTALI #3
The blessing pronounced by Jacob upon Naphtali was very short, but the language is obscure, and its interpretation has occasioned considerable controversy.
In the English version, it reads thus, "Naphtali is a hind let loose; he giveth goodly words" (Genesis 49:21).
It was intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future character and history of the tribe.
However, they did not fully conquer their chief enemies the Canaanites, and did not possess all their tribal allotment in obedience to God but lived a compromised life.
They left several enemy cities in the hands of the Canaanites (Judges 1:33). This showed they had no confidence to fight alone. But when assailed they made a noble defense (Judges 5:18), and once united with others, they excelled in pursuing an escaping foe (Judges 6:35).
Their want of self-confidence was chiefly shown in the case of Barak the most famous member of their tribe.
He enlisted the help and moral support of Deborah a lady judge of Israel who prophesied that this role reversal meant that the honour of victory will go to a woman.
But his tribe displayed, in the end, heroic devotion and unwearied alacrity.
Jacob also prophesied that Napthali would give "godly words." The tribe was to be famous for the beauty of its language. It probably possessed poets and writers whose names have not come down to us. But we have one noble ode ( called the Song of Deborah ) ascribed in part at least to a Naphtalite (Judges 5:1) namely Barak.
The Song of Deborah and Barak as a victory song also gives more detail about their victory over the Canaanites: “The earth shook, the heavens poured, / the clouds poured down water” (Judges 5:4). Evidently, God used a flood to disable the iron chariots of Sisera. The victory was thus supernatural (verse 20).
Chapter 5 of the Book of Judges concludes with the statement, “And the land had peace forty years.” This impressive time of peace lasted until Midian took control of Israel, necessitating the rise of another leader Gideon to conquer and to oust the Midianites.
Lessons for today from the lives of Deborah and Barak include the following:
(1) God often calls people to step out in faith to attempt the unexpected,
(2) God often uses unlikely people and sources to accomplish His plans,
(3) God sometimes requires great risk and effort on our behalf as part of His divine plan.
In the case of Deborah and Barak, they risked their lives in war, while the bedouin woman Jael took in Sisera, the fugitive general of the Canaanites, and risked her life to end his and help free Israel from oppression.
(4) Ultimately, this account reveals that God is in control of the nations and changes their leaders according to His desires. To Him belongs the glory!
