Read with Me
Genesis 49:19-21 (HCSB)
Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels.
Asher’s food will be rich, and he will produce royal delicacies.
Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
Listen with Me
Even though the Hebrew in these verses is very difficult, the overarching theme is positive.
Gad’s name means something like “fortunate”, but it also sounds like the Hebrew word for “marauding troops”. Using this similarity, Jacob sees that even though Gad’s territory might experience invasions, he would be fortunate, being able to see God’s hand at work to give him the victory over them.
The name Asher means “happy”, and the future foretold for Asher is indeed a happy one. Jacob foresees that his share of the land would be extremely fruitful, not only providing for his own needs, but producing an excess whose quality would be fit for royalty.
Naphtali’s name means “my struggle”, a reference to Rachel’s struggle with her sister over producing children for their husband, Jacob. Naphtali’s territory would be the rich land along the Jordan River north of and along the Sea of Galilee. In that area, Naphtali’s descendants are seen as being free from many of the struggles and invasions that his brothers’ descendants would experience.
Even though few words are recorded regarding the character or actions of these three sons of Jacob, there was nothing in them that cast a negative shadow over them in their father’s eyes. So, he forecast overwhelmingly good things for them.
Pray with Me
Father, it strikes me in reading this and in listening to Your voice that there is something enduringly noble in those who, even though they might not have great deeds to distinguish them, also have few negatives. They are the “steady” ones who know their role and the tasks they are to perform, and they simply do those things without a lot of fanfare or demands for recognition. You are able to bless them because they are not grasping or demanding, just obedient. Help me, Lord, to not seek the spotlight or the applause, but simply to do Your will every single day. Amen.