By John Thiel, The Characteristics of the Twelve Tribes of the 144,000 Conference, study 5, mp3

Scripture reading: Revelation 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The 144,000 are a people whose beginnings were far from holy. But they are going to finally stand pure and holy. However, how do they get there?

We are studying tribe by tribe all the tribes of Israel which comprise the 144,000; and we have seen and will continue to see the process by which these people will be made perfect: They come out of great tribulation, and wash their robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Jacob fought with God, and he became Israel because he persevered through this purifying exercise. Because he wrestled with God and prevailed, he was called Israel; and it is this that constitutes those who come out of Jacob’s trouble as the purified 144,000. They did not give up; they persevered to the end like Jacob did; and Jacob’s trouble is their experience.

The tribes of the twelve sons who have done this, are the ones we are closely studying. Let us recall

The Dark Beginnings of These Twelve Sons

The sin of Jacob, and the train of events to which it led, had not failed to exert an influence for evil {PP 208.3}

What was the sin of Jacob? It was what he did in embezzling the birthright from his older brother. It was a sin that caused him to flee from home, and it unfolded a train of events in his life which finally did not failed to exert an influence for evil,

…an influence that revealed its bitter fruit in the character and life of his sons. As these sons arrived at manhood they developed serious faults. The results of polygamy were manifest in the household. This terrible evil tends to dry up the very springs of love, and its influence weakens the most sacred ties. The jealousy of the several mothers had embittered the family relation, the children had grown up contentious and impatient of control, and the father’s life was darkened with anxiety and grief. {PP 208.3}

We see here another segment of this horrifying experience – the jealousy of the several mothers had embittered the family relations, the children had grown up contentious and impatient and out of control. And as they grew to manhood, the serious faults were brought forth, and they had to be purged and cleansed from those serious faults.

Birth of Dan and Naphtali

We now look at another segment of these twelve sons in the story of the conflict into which they were born by the various mothers.

Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, [Am] I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Dan and Naphtali – this is now our study. We will learn why those of the tribe of Dan were not in Revelation chapter 7. Indeed, Dan was not included in those twelve tribes. There is no 144,000 segment from Dan at all. We want to know why Naphtali is there but not Dan his older brother.

Family Feud

You can see from that inspired record above that there was real strife, a wrestling between the two sisters. This is a terrible state of affairs for a family – two sisters being married to one man… can you imagining the picture? And then, because one doesn’t have any baby she gives her maid for the birth of her children. What is written in reference to jealousy and envy and stubbornness?

Jealousy and stubbornness are the natural fruits of selfishness. {2T 545.1}

Selfishness was stirred by this contest between sister and sister. One wanted to have the love of Jacob and she was upset because she didn’t receive as much love from him as the other one. There was jealousy. And look what is associated with this as a legacy to the two sons, Dan and Naphtali. Both Dan and Naphtali were born from Bilhah, Rachel’s maid.

The conflict between the two sisters would affect the children as a legacy. Isn’t this often the case? One of the most horrifying experience of my live was that I was exactly like my father, the very one that I despised. It’s a reality; we can’t get away from it. What the mothers were, and what the father is, is passed on as a legacy to the children. And these children, Dan and Naphtali, were born to this conflict.

Envy, jealousy, evil surmising, and evil speaking are of Satan, and they effectually bar the way against the Holy Spirit’s working. {6T 42.1} 

So how much of the Holy Spirit could be working in that family, if envy and jealousy effectually bars the working of the Holy Spirit? One would think that with such a dysfunctional circumstance there could be nothing good coming out of that.

Dan’s Legacy

What was Dan’s legacy from this envy and jealousy, which have the consequences of evil surmising and evil speaking?

Genesis 49:16 Dan shall judge his people,

The marginal reading of the word judge is: avenge. Dan shall avenge his people,

Genesis 49:16 …as one of the tribes of Israel.

He was a judge; he would avenge the people. Now, is that necessarily something bad to be a judge? Then all the judges would be bad. But no. This is what Jesus said:

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Wise as serpents – a serpent has a smart way of dealing with things. In this story the serpent attitude of Dan is seriously negative, but we are to be as wise as serpents. It is good to be wise and to be judging; but we are also to be harmless as doves though. The two have to be blended together.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

Knowledge and wisdom are required when you become a judge; and this is a gift of the Holy Spirit. But this gift of the Spirit is something that could be twisted by the background from which these people came, this dysfunctional evil scenario.

It is impossible for anyone to foresee to what he may be called. He may be placed in situations where he will need quick discernment and well-balanced arguments. {FE 256.3}

To be a judge, to be someone who can really exercise wisdom in judging, it is a good thing to have quick discernment, a smart ability to discern what is right and what is wrong, and to be able to give a well-balanced argument.

Tact and good judgment increase the usefulness of the laborer a hundred-fold. {GW 119.3}

Tact, good judgment, quick discernment, well-balanced arguments.

A Gift of Judgment

Dan was a judge; he was given this particular quality. But in this giftedness of judgment, can it be perverted? and can it be perverted to eternal loss?

Genesis 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 

Dan was as smart as a serpent; but what was the problem? His background of envy and of this dysfunctional circumstance between the mothers, and especially with Bilhah, had an effect upon him. Can you imagine the kind of situation between Rachel and Bilhah, and Leah and Zilpah? The children are growing up in this conflict and Dan has the smart ability to discern and watch what is going on. Can this smart ability be terribly contorted by that background?

A Judgmental Spirit

James 3:13 Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.

In dealing with the subject of wisdom and knowledge that a judge must have, there is this other side of that experience with is bitter envying and strife in the heart. If you combine a judgmental spirit – a spirit of judging and having the gift of discernment and having knowledge and wisdom – with bitter envying and strife, what do you have? Something sensual and devilish.

Dan had that background of bitter envying and strife that he grew up with. And this was combined with the sharp mindedness of the gift of the Spirit, which is, being able to judge and having wisdom.

He who opens his heart to the suggestions of the enemy, taking in evil surmisings, and cherishing jealousy, frequently misconstrues this evil-mindedness, calling it special foresight, discrimination, or discernment in detecting guilt and fathoming the evil motives of others. {7BC 936.11}

Here is this sharp-mindedness, this discernment, but it is affected by the negative experiences of his background; and now it is regarded as something good.

He considers that a precious gift has been vouchsafed to him; and he draws apart from the very brethren with whom he should be in harmony; he climbs upon the judgment seat, and shuts his heart against the one he supposes to be in error, as though he himself were above temptation. Jesus separates from him, and leaves him to walk in the sparks of his own kindling. {7BC 936.11}

Here we have a developing understanding of Dan. He, with his smartness, and affected by the bitterness of his background, is now, in the process of this, separated from Jesus.

Let no one among you glory any longer against the truth by declaring that this spirit is a necessary consequence of dealing faithfully with wrongdoers and of standing in defense of the truth. {7BC 936.12}

Are you picking up this statement? How many people in the church think that because there is wrong being done, they need to look in this spirit of Dan. They examine people in this smart discerning spirit and say, We have to deal faithfully with wrongdoers; we are standing in defence of the truth, so we must exercise this spirit. What does that become?

Roots of Bitterness

Such wisdom has many admirers, but it is very deceptive and harmful. It does not come from above, {7BC 936.12}

This thing does not come from God. But in the church it is often regarded as coming from God. They think, We have to deal with the heretics, with those who are sinning; we have to deal with them in a judgmental way, instead of in a harmless-as-a-dove way.

It does not come from above, but is the fruit of an unregenerated heart. Its originator is Satan himself. Let no accuser of others credit himself with discernment; for in so doing he clothes the attributes of Satan with the garments of righteousness. I call upon you, my brethren, to purify the soul temple of all these things that defile; for they are roots of bitterness. {7BC 936.12}

What an object lesson of the problems that are found in legalistic church fellowship. This is serious material.

Observe this shrewd mindedness in the tribe of Dan. The whole tribe of Dan has got it. Let us see the shrew mindedness, the very capable nature of this tribe. It is a legacy that has been passed on from Dan to the whole tribe.

A Land to Call Their Own

Judges 18:1 In those days [there was] no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day [all their] inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

The Danites felt out on a limb, Where is our land? Watch how smart they are.

Judges 18:2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

Here were these smart spies; they were going to spy out the land, because they were second-rate Israelites. “We don’t have a land of our own, let’s deal with it.” This is what happened:

Judges 18:26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they [were] too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. 27 And they took [the things] which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people [that were] at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. 28 And [there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Zidon, and they had no business with [any] man; and it was in the valley that [lieth] by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city [was] Laish at the first. 30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 

We see here some very cruel behaviour. They came to spy out the land, and if you read the full story you can see that they were actually using a very shrewd way of dealing to make sure that they could have some of that land; and they destroyed the city which was far away from the centre. They were smart. None could come to save the city; it was too far away. “Here we are; this is ours now.” They were very shrewd operators.

Very Skilled People

We now see the wisdom, the sharpness, and the mind ability of this tribe.

2 Chronicles 2:1 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. … 11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them. 12 Huram said moreover, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. 13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s, 14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, …

The tribe of Dan here comes into the picture as having skill and artisan capabilities.

God-given Skill Perverted

The descendants of these men inherited to a large degree the skill conferred upon their forefathers. In the tribes of Judah and of Dan there were men who were regarded as especially “cunning” in the finer arts. For a time these men remained humble and unselfish; but gradually, almost imperceptibly, they lost their hold upon God and His truth. They began to ask for higher wages because of their superior skill. In some instances their request was granted, but more often those asking higher wages found employment in the surrounding nations. In place of the noble spirit of self-sacrifice that had filled the hearts of their illustrious ancestors, they cherished a spirit of covetousness, of grasping for more and more. They served heathen kings with their God-given skill, and dishonored their Maker. {2SM 174.3}

Because of the skill that the tribe of Dan had, they wanted to get more wages for their skills, and they went to the world. Here you get a picture of how a God-given skill, as the one possessed by the people that made up Dan’s tribe, is perverted. As this smart capability is in Dan, how does God deal with this relentless mind? How does God deal with people like that?

God’s Judgment

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

How does God react? This kind of activity shuts the Holy Spirit out. And as they pursue this wisdom, this smartness, these people will not escape the judgment of God.

James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 

Skilful judgment is something which relentlessly turns against God’s way, and it becomes a backbiter, so that it bites the heel of the horse and causes the person to fall down backwards. This is what you call backbiting. Dan was a backbiter.

Psalm 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 

Can you see now why Dan is left out? The people who are like Dan will not be among the 144,000; they will be cut off. We don’t want to be Danlike, do we? Judgmental, backbiting, wise in discerning the wrong of others; but, as we read in Romans, doing the same thing themselves. The fact is that we have all come from a sinful state of mind, and if we have the attitude of Dan, we will inadvertently fall into this sort of thing of bitter jealousy and surmising and judging in a way that cuts us of from the Spirit of God.

The worldling is ever on the watch to criticize and accuse those who serve God. This will reveal itself in the querulous complaining of professed Christians, who have never been transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. {TM 266.1}

Dan needed to be transformed; but was he? These people are not transformed.

Satan Uses the Danlike Character

They are deadly enemies to those who believe. They despise the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and if they can make it appear that those who are striving to obey the commandments of God are faulty, Satan has cast his arrow, and now what? He has shown his accusing power; but his cruel thrusts will do little harm if the professed believers will stand true to the words of Christ, and be doers of His word and not hearers only. Those to whom these complaints are made are under bonds to Jesus Christ to love and respect and be faithful to one another who are united to Christ in church fellowship. To unite with the faultfinding element, to be accusers of the brethren, to take up the reproach they lay at your door is seconding the work of the enemy by playing yourself into his hands to make his work a success. {TM 266.1}

This is the detrimental thing that Satan and the world will even use to point at certain things in the church. Then, if those in the church are of the Danlike mentality, they are used of Satan to be the accusers of the brethren, to lay complaints, and to take up a reproach.

What does it mean to take up a reproach? Someone is telling someone else, Look at this condition in the church; and the person says, Oh, yes. He is paying attention to the complaint. What is he doing? He is taking up a reproach. And he thinks he is wise; he can deal with this. This is all so foreign to the way of God.

The Lord Is Appealing To Us

For your soul’s sake, my brethren, have an eye single to the glory of God. Leave self out of your thoughts as much as possible. We are nearing the close of time. Examine your motives in the light of eternity. I know you need to be alarmed; you are departing from the old landmarks. Your science, so called, is undermining the foundation of Christian principle. I have been shown the course you would surely pursue should you disconnect from God. Do not trust to your own wisdom. I tell you, your souls are in imminent peril. For Christ’s sake, search and see why you have so little love for religious exercises. {5T 97.1}

What a thought… To have little love for religious exercises.

The Lord is testing and proving His people. You may be just as severe and critical with your own defective character as you please; but be kind, pitiful, and courteous toward others. Inquire every day: Am I sound to the core, or am I false-hearted? Entreat the Lord to save you from all deception on this point. Eternal interests are involved. While so many are panting after honor and greedy of gain, do you, my beloved brethren, be eagerly seeking the assurance of the love of God and crying: Who will show me how to make my calling and election sure? {5T 97.2}

Can you actually hear the Spirit of Prophecy appealing to the Danites here? He is pleading so that they would change their position and maybe become members of another tribe; because the Danites are shut out.

As you search for the name of Dan in Revelation 7:5-8, you won’t find it. It is not there.

Psalm 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 [He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 

This is what Dan was known for – backbiting and taking up the reproach. These people cannot be in God’s holy hill. No place for Dan among the 144,000. The counsel is, Do not engage in this smartness. It creates dearth. But observe the other brother, Naphtali. What was he like?

Naphtali

By comparing these two you can decide to be part of the tribe of Naphtali. There is a direct contrast there. In spite of the terrible beginning of Naphtali and Dan, Naphtali responded in a different way as time went on. How is he described?

Genesis 49:21 Naphtali [is] a hind let loose:

What is a hind like out in nature? If you come into its path, what does it do? It’s timid, it scatters off. It is scared of you.

The timidity that developed in Naphtali can be a negative condition. Timidity is also the fruit of self-protective selfishness, a legacy from birth. But look how it can be overcome. Timidity, like judgment, is a good thing if correctly handled. Dan did not overcome his judging ability, but this man was timid and he could overcome his timidity.

The Timid Can Become Resolute

God has chosen you for a great and solemn work. He has been seeking to discipline, to test, to prove you, to refine and ennoble you, that this sacred work may be done with a single eye to His glory which belongs wholly to God. {2SM 167.2}

It is a work that belongs wholly to God.

What a thought that God chooses a man and brings him into close connection with Himself, and gives him a mission to undertake, a work to do, for Him. A weak man is made strong, a timid man is made brave, the irresolute becomes a man of firm and quick decision. What! Is it possible that man is of so much consequence as to receive a commission from the King of kings! Shall worldly ambition allure from the sacred trust, the holy commission? {2SM 167.2}

A timid man, under God’s discipline, will become resolute, brave. To be a deer is precious; a deer is a lovely creature; and it can become strong in God’s school. Timidity is something that Naphtali inherited from his experience in that dysfunctional family; but under God’s tuition he could develop other traits of character.

Sister Pierce has not much self-esteem and self-confidence. She has many fears, yet does not come under the head of the fearful and unbelieving, who will find no place in the kingdom of God. {2T 630.1}

So she is fearful and timid.

Those outside of the city are among the most confident, boastful, and apparently zealous ones who love in word, but not in deed and in truth. Their hearts are not right with God. His fear is not before them. The fearful and unbelieving, who are punished with the second death, are of that class who are ashamed of Christ in this world. They are afraid to do right and follow Christ, lest they should meet with pecuniary loss. They neglect their duty, to avoid reproach and trials, and to escape dangers. Those who dare not do right because they will thus expose themselves to trials, persecution, loss, and suffering are cowards, and, with idolaters, liars, and all sinners, they are ripening for the second death. {2T 630.1}

But those who are timid and are not of that can be made strong. When Moses was blessing Naphtali, these are the words he uttered:

Deuteronomy 33:23 …O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.

What was Naphtali’s timidity? He would not push himself, but he would be satisfied. Under God’s tuition Naphtali could develop bravery, and such like.

Barak

This is the story of Barak, who came from the tribe of Naphtali:

Judges 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, [saying], Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, [then] I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh. 12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, [even] nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that [were] with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this [is] the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all [his] chariots, and all [his] host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off [his] chariot, and fled away on his feet.

Judges 5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali [were] a people [that] jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

Barak was a very timid man. It was Deborah who had to say to him, Do I have to go out and fight with you? He was a very timid man, but he was exonerated in Hebrews 11:33-34, because he did go out and was strengthened to be strong in the Lord to fight the battles of the Lord.

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, … 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

In spite of the slant of Dan being judgmental and turning his judgmentalism into backbiting, the timidity of Naphtali prevented him from getting the effect of that.

Goodly Words

Consider in the words of Genesis what it is that he did not permit himself to be affected by. He was different to his brother by the use of his language:

Genesis 49:21 …he giveth goodly words.

He giveth goodly words – he doesn’t express judgmentalism. He is timid, he is carful, and he turns that awful characteristic of his into a blessing (because even the timid can become careless and not go forward). But he chose to use godly words, and not judgmental words.

Our ministering brethren are too often imposed upon by the relation of trials in the church, and they too frequently refer to them in their discourses. {5T 96.3}

Don’t refer to the trials in the church; be timid.

They should not encourage the members of the church to complain of one another, but should set them as spies upon their own actions. None should allow their feelings of prejudice and resentment to be aroused by the relation of the wrongs of others; {5T 96.3}

Be a Naphtali; choose not to allow the feelings and prejudices and resentments to be aroused by the relation of the wrongs of others. Don’t take up a reproach.

…all should wait patiently until they hear both sides of the question, and then believe only what stern facts compel them to believe. At all times the safe course is not to listen to an evil report until the Bible rule has been strictly carried out. This will apply to some who have worked artfully to draw out from the unsuspecting, matters which they had no business with and which would do them no good to know. {5T 96.3}

To be among the 144,000 we should be like Naphtali; not to give in to the poisonous roots of bitterness of the wisdom of his brother Dan. We have here a very clear representation of growing up in a bad background but letting only the good develop under God’s direct intervention.

We are not to be tattlers, or gossipers, or talebearers; we are not to bear false witness. We are forbidden by God to engage in trifling, foolish conversation, in jesting, joking, or speaking any idle words. {FE 458.1}

What was Naphtali? He only had goodly words.

We must give an account of what we say to God. We will be brought into judgment for our hasty words, that do no good to the speaker or to the hearer. Then let us all speak words that will tend to edification.{FE 458.1}

Be a Naphtali!

Remember that you are of value with God. Allow no cheap, foolish talk or wrong principles to compose your Christian experience. {FE 458.1}

The people of Naphtali are included among the 144,000. The church is called upon to heed the comparison between Naphtali and Dan. They were both brought up from the same mother, under the same circumstances; but one is assured a place among the 144,000, while the other is not.

This is a wonderful object lesson. May God help us to take these lessons and let all those words of the Spirit of Prophecy sink in, so that we do not fall into Dan’s situation. Let us be of the tribe of Naphtali. And for those who are timid, who are of that nature of Naphtali, if you will overcome the timidity, and be brave like Barak, be brave like God has said He will help those become who are of the timid nature, then there is assured a place for you among the 144,000, to enter into the gate of Naphtali.

May God bless us as we take these things to heart.

Amen.