Are We Naphtalis? Rachel's Son

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Genesis 30:8  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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God is pleased at times to teach us very sweet lessons in His Word from the characters of men, and one such as Naphtali comes home to us with such force and fullness that should make our hearts rejoice and long to be much more like what is said of him. Gen. 30:88And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. (Genesis 30:8) gives what is first said of him—his birth—"Rachel said, With great wrestlings [wrestlings of God] have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali." Naphtali means "my wrestling." We may forget things, but our names we never do; so his name would always keep fresh in his memory the wrestling through which he received it. Do we, in our souls, beloved, ever forget the "great wrestlings" of our adorable Lord on the cross—the deep travail of His soul in the day He took our place in death, that we might sing together, "Happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away"? His wrestlings are pictured in Heb. 5:77Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7): "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from [out of] death." (R.V.)
Next, Gen. 49:2121Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. (Genesis 49:21)—"Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words." And Hab. 3:1919The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:19)—a hind walks upon "high places." Beloved, if we have been born of God (from above), our walk should be "as our native clime—above the fading things of time," "heavenly," on high places. A high standing calls for a high state. First, then, our birth is heavenly (John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)); our inheritance heavenly (1 Pet. 1:3, 43Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3‑4)); our blessings are heavenly (Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)); and also "our conversation [or citizenship] is in heaven.; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20). Thus our new birth, and His Spirit given to us, is to us a setting free, "a hind let loose"—free, not to serve self, but free to live and speak for Christ. "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!" (Prow. 15:23). And Naphtali "giveth goodly words," and we are exhorted to hold "forth the word of life."
Beloved, this is what is said of Naphtali—can it be said of us? are we daily walking on those high places before the world, before our brethren, in our families, and at work? And while walking on "high places," we are "let loose," free from bondage, shackles, and all of the flesh—free to serve, obey, and speak "goodly words" until our pilgrimage is over; then to be with Himself forever.
[Beautiful it is to find, in a dark day of Israel's history (Judges 515And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. (Judges 5:15)), that Naphtali was "a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field." How plainly suggestive of the devotedness of soul which becomes those whose life they owe to the "great wrestlings" of Another! "We thus judge," says the Apostle, "that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:14, 1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15).]
We need much to appear before Him empty, walk on high places, speak goodly words, learn that His grace is sufficient for us, become satisfied with favor; then, out of all its fullness, thou wilt be filled, 0 my soul, with the blessing of the Lord (Psalm 16:11; 23:511Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5)).