Jasper- Naphtali
1. His Birth
Genesis 30:7-8- And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. Naphtali means wrestling.
Again, this child was Rachel's attempt to secure her desire apart from God's will. She though she was wrestling her sister, but in all actuality she was wrestling God and His will. Rachel was successful in her scheme, but success doesn't always mean it was God's will, nor does it mean that God has changed His mind about His will. Ezekiel 14:3-5- Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Having our way will always prove to be a thorn in the flesh.
Man is always wrestling, unfortunately this means that one person is defeated and the other is strengthened as he gains the victory. Galatians 5:17; 6:8- For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
2. The Patriarchal Blessing
Genesis 49:21- Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. The hind is graceful, gentle, and agile. This hind was caught, or trapped, and was released from that captivity. Psalm 18:33- He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. When a hind is let loose, he goes up to a high place. Moses received God's law on a mountain. Christ was transfigured on a mountain. This hind was let loose from some captivity and found a victory from the captor by getting close to God.
God is not the only one on the mountain! Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on a mountain. Christ defeated the temptations of Satan on a mountain. Ephesians 6:12- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Spiritual wickedness can also be found in high places. So, how do we defeat this spiritual wickedness? Just like Christ did- with goodly words! Psalms 12:6; 119:11- The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Only through God's Word can wrestle the world, the flesh, and the evil and come forth a stronger Christian.
3. The Mosaic Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:23- And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south. Naphtali has found favour, and he is satisfied with it. Why? Because it's full of the blessings of the Lord. When we come away from a battle knowing that we sought God's will and have acquired the blessing, we will say like the Psalmist in Psalms 17:15- As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
4. The Stone Jasper in the Breastplate
This stone is the most versatile with many different colors and degrees on transparency. Jasper was also used to describe the one who sat on the throne, and the walls and foundation of New Jerusalem in Revelation. There is much to say about the wrestlings of the Christian life, but is it possible that New Jerusalem reflects the victories of those battles?
