JOSEPH #52 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #34 | LAST WORDS OF JACOB #23
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3648
JOSEPH #52
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #34
LAST WORDS OF JACOB #23
10. NAPTHALI #4
NAPTHALI AS MINISTRY PARTNERS WITH DAN AND ASHER
God in His great wisdom placed Naphtali to serve with Asher under the leadership of Dan ( who was Napthali's brother birthed by the same mother Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel).
Dan as Judge was the head of this terrific threesome with the eagle as their common insignia - an eagle that soars the heights with God.
They were also the rearguard brigade whenever the portable Tabernacle of Moses moved and the guardians of the northern side of the Tabernacle whenever and wherever it alighted.
Why Napthali and Asher?
Both Napthali and Asher had special giftings. Naphtali with his spiritual gifting as a teacher as one who speaks "sweet words " was an asset as Dan's advisor. Asher as their rich provider and one who "pours oil" placates the uneven temper of Dan.
Unity among them was the key factor - as for all the other nine tribes they were part of - provided they showed the positive side of their character.
Alas, the perfect pattern of God is not always appropriate for imperfect people in an imperfect world.
This was a hard lesson for them (as it is for us today) to work as team members for the expansion of God's kingdom.
In any church ministry, the team leader has to deal with individualistic members who do not appreciate their leader's sacrifices and patient longsuffering.
What can we learn from these three spiritual partners of the Old Testament?
1. Honour God for His giftings and work together even when we agree to disagree.
Some will say Dan has the Anti-Christ spirit but don't we often move in the flesh ourselves?
2. In the wisdom of YHWH, each of the four leaders, Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan had two supportive ministries to complement them, so that three of them stood on each side of the Tabernacle.
This was purposed so that each one would assist the other to fulfill their function. Like a corporate team in their daily working together, they would fulfill His purposes and reveal His divine character and nature to others and the world at large.
Asher dispenses the anointing of shalom wherever he goes, just by his presence and agreeable spirit.
Surrendered to the Spirit, Naphtali is a source of revelation to assist in gaining the victory over what Dan “sees”.
Dan’s responsibility is to be the rear-guard of the camp and to watch out for the enemy attacking the camp from behind.
Naphtali’s revelations of the enemy’s strategies and Asher’s ability to pour oil on troubled waters acts as supportive roles in his protection of the camp.
What is today's revelation?
Through the fallen nature of man, each potential divine quality is inverted to glorify the flesh instead of reflecting the image of the One in which it was created.
So each tribe has to overcome its flesh to reveal the divine nature so it can flow together in the purposes of YHWH.
Just remember this: the Israelites served as slaves of Egypt for 200 years, and as slaves to sin ( doubt and unbelief ) in the 40 lost years of wandering in the Wilderness. Even when they possessed the Promised Land,
they only came together to oust foreign invaders during the time of the Judges. Otherwise, everyone of the twelve tribes did what was right in their own eyes.
Unity has always been a missing key factor in God's people. We can't even agree on the Book of Revelation. Religious wars and spirits are rampant even in our times even if we mask them under the new fangled word "Terrorism".
Even so, let God's Word encourage us to serve with a servant spirit of submission in unity by reading David's beautiful Psalm of Ascent 133.
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord
commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore."
