Daily Devotions
Napthali and the God Who Loves to Exalt the Humble
Reading for May 3rd: 1 Chronicles 7-8
The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shallum, the descendants of Bilhah.
1 Chronicles 7:13
There's not much to write about in chapters 7-8 of 1 Chronicles (genealogies from the tribes of Israel), but I did find something interesting. Naphtali only has one verse. Issachar has five verses. Benjamin received seven. Manasseh has six. Ephraim got ten and Ahser eleven.
Poor Naphtali.
It's a tribe we don't know that much about. Naphtali was the second son born to Rachel's maidservant, Bilhah (Gen 30:7-8). Perhaps the most famous hero from the family of Naphtali wasn't much of a hero at all: Barak (Judges 4:6-9). The only reason he led Israel in battle against the Canaanites was because Deborah agreed to go with him (and thus the honor went to a woman, not Barak).
Naphtali's land was in northern Israel, bordering Asher's territory, and the Sea of Kinnereth (or Galilee) touched the southern portion of its territory (Josh 19:32-39). In the time of Christ, this region was considered by the Jews in Judea as a place of dishonor, full of pagan Gentiles. However, Isaiah had prophesied that this region would be honored: "In former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations." (Isa 9:1)
This prophesy was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus and all of his disciples (with the exception of Judas) came from Galilee. Much of Jesus' ministry took place in this region, and thus, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isa 9:2).
What we can learn from Naphtali is that God enjoys exalting the humble. If you feel insignificant, you can find comfort in this one verse recorded in 1 Chronicles 7 about Naphtali. God has a lot more He wants to write in your story.
Father, thank you for exalting the humble!
