01/03/12

Naphtali the Hind

Numbers 26:48 - Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:


Today's message talks of the family of Naphtali. Naphtali was the fifth son of Jacob second by Bilhah, Rachel's maid.

Rachel had not borne any child while her sister Leah had four. It came to a point that Rachel pleaded with Jacob to give her a child or else she would die. Jacob had to tell her that he was not God and bearing a child or making a womb fruitful was in the hands of God and not him. So she proposed Jacob to bear her a child through her maid Bilhah by taking her wife (meaning being one with her).

In those days a maid was not just a slave, they were part family part servant. They were well taken care of, but had to perform their duties. Their children were considered children of their master.

Jacob bore first Dan through Bilhah and then bore Naphtali. The name Naphtali means wrestling, Rachel considered she had wrestled with her sister to receive a son. She considered God had judged her but yet heard her cry and gave her a son through Bilhah. Leah on seeing this offered Jacob her maid to also take as wife and bear her more sons.

We may wonder why this foolishness between these two women. We see nothing in the Bible just happen especially in the Old Testament. I must have told you before the 12 tribes represent the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit. If one studies the Fruits then one will understand why the 2 women had borne some sons themselves and some through their maids. Everything was connected to Christ (Jesus and the Holy Spirit).

When Naphtali was blessed by Jacob he said "Naphtali is a hind let loose, he giveth goodly words." Hind symbolized a swift messenger and this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus preached more often in the land which was given unto the families of Naphtali.

In today's message the Lord is telling us like the birth and life of Naphtali we may feel why are we born in the family we are in or why did we come from a specific background or with a certain past. We may not be born in a believer family but a family under bondages. We may have been worshiping other gods once upon a time.

The Lord is telling each one of us He does all things for good and our lives have a purpose, like Naphtali. We too will one day be glorified in Jesus Christ when we become a part of His Body but this will happen only when we become one with the Holy Spirit allowing Him to grow His Fruits in us and preaching the message of Good Tiding of the Lord Jesus Christ.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, eve before we were put into the flesh in this world You knew us and knew the plan and the end results of our lives. We believe Lord You have our names in the Book of Life and that is why You are giving us this message today. We thank You Lord even though we were born in family who did not know You or were lost in this world for a period or were under great bondages You had us under your protection and did not let the breathe of us to go until You finish your plan in us. Holy Spirit, You are our Husbandman and we surrender to You help us bear Fruit and make us a part of our Lord Jesus Christ for His glory through the Father...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Genesis 29:1-9
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.
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Genesis 49:21 - Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Matthew 4:13-15
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Isaiah 9:1-2
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Please read the old post to understand the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit: http://www.savedbyfaith.info/messages/270510.html

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