What can we learn from the tribe of Naphtali's offering in Numbers 7:54? Setting the Scene “On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near.” (Numbers 7:78) Though every tribe’s gift was identical, Scripture singles out each day and each leader, showing that God notices and records every individual act of obedience. What Naphtali Brought • One silver dish (130 shekels) filled with fine flour mixed with oil • One silver bowl (70 shekels) filled with fine flour mixed with oil • One gold pan (10 shekels) filled with incense • One young bull, one ram, one male lamb (burnt offering) • One male goat (sin offering) • Two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old (peace offering) (See Numbers 7:79–83.) Key Take-Aways for Us • Obedient Giving: Naphtali offered exactly what God prescribed—nothing less, nothing more (Numbers 7:4-5). Obedience, not novelty, pleases God (1 Samuel 15:22). • Equal Standing: Every tribe, regardless of size or prominence, brought the same gift (Romans 2:11). In Christ, no believer is second-class (Galatians 3:28). • Cheerful Sacrifice: The offering was costly—precious metals, animals, fine flour—yet given willingly (2 Corinthians 9:7). God still loves a cheerful giver. • Atonement First: The sin offering preceded the peace offering, reminding us that fellowship with God is possible only after sin is dealt with (Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:9). • Fellowship Celebrated: The peace offering was eaten in community (Leviticus 7:15). Our giving fosters unity and shared joy in the body of Christ (Acts 2:44-46). • Memorialized Forever: Naphtali’s gift is recorded for all time, showing that God remembers every act of faithfulness (Hebrews 6:10). Snapshots of God’s Character • Faithful Provider—He supplied the resources each tribe returned to Him (Deuteronomy 8:18). • Precise and Orderly—He outlined the offerings in detail and received them in sequence (1 Corinthians 14:33). • Personal—He called each leader by name; He knows ours as well (Isaiah 43:1; John 10:3). • Unifying—He drew twelve diverse tribes to one altar, foreshadowing one body in Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6). Putting It into Practice Today 1. Inventory God’s blessings and acknowledge Him as the source. 2. Give intentionally—set aside specific, first-fruits resources for the Lord. 3. Keep motives pure: offer in gratitude, not in pursuit of recognition. 4. Remember fellowship: view giving as a way to strengthen the church family, not merely meet a budget. 5. Trust that no act of obedience is overlooked; the Lord records and rewards (Matthew 6:4). |
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