Genesis 49:21

Naphtali

The blessing of Naphtali

In Gad we have the Christian, soldier fighting the good fight of faith, and more than conqueror over all foes.

In Asher we have the Christian living upon Christ, and giving out Christ to others. In Naphtali we have the Christian enjoying his liberty and freedom and happiness in Christ, and testifying of Christ to others. In Joseph we have the Christian bringing forth much fruit from abiding in Christ, the well of living waters, and also showing forth that fruit to all around. As we look at these passages, we find they are a chain. Each one is a link depending upon the other. You must fight the good fight of faith if you would enjoy Christ as the “fatness” of the Living Bread; and the enjoyment of Christ brings with it true liberty and freedom; and there must be all these, with the addition that you must abide in Christ, the roots of your life ever drawing from the “well of living waters,” if you are to “bring forth much fruit.” It is surely not without design that the Holy Spirit has placed these passages thus in this consecutive order. May we dwell upon them continually in this light, and test our souls by this Divine standard. Our subject now is the third of these four passages--the tribe of Naphtali. He is brought before us under a most striking symbol--that of a hart or gazelle “let loose.” It brings before us the liberty and exultation of the soul in its new sphere of existence. It has been “let loose” from its prison-house of sin, and darkness, and misery. Its prison-doors have been flung wide open by the great Emancipator, Christ Jesus the Lord. Its debt has been fully paid. All its guilt, and sin, and transgression has been cancelled by the blood of Christ. “Let loose!” No other word in the English language could so fitly express the effect of the grand redemption-work of Christ (see Isa 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:1; John 11:44). Turning again to Jacob’s blessing on this tribe, we see another truth: “He giveth goodly words.” It is so always. St. Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another: in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Asher lived upon the fatness of the Bread of Life, and as a result gave out “royal dainties.” Naphtali is “satisfied with favour and full of the blessing of the Lord, and so gives out goodly words.” Joseph is a “bough,” whose roots go down into the Well of Living Waters, and so brings forth “much fruit.” “Royal dainties,” “goodly words,” “much fruit.” “Out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Let us only be living upon and abiding in Christ, and such will ever be our testimony. It is not dainties, but “royal dainties”; not words, but “goodly words”; not fruit, but “much fruit.” Oh, reader! this is the kind of life God asks for! This is the Christianity we need. Not your just Christians and no more. No; God wants a high order of Christianity. “Royal dainties,” “goodly words,” “much fruit”--mark it well! Not only to be engaged in the work of the Lord, but abounding in it; nay, more, “always abounding” in it. (F. Whitfield, M. A.)