C O N C LU D IN G MESSAGE
Naphtali: the jasper /
i T U 7 e b r in g t o y o u , now, the closing ’ W study of “The Breastplate” of the High Priest and the meanings in which it is all couched. This, the final subject of this group for our consideration, is of Naphtali, the tribe under his name, and the Jasper, the stone which rep resented the tribe on the Breastplate. A review of several verses of Scripture will serve us well in this connection. 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.” Genesis 49:21 — “Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words” — this was said of Naphtali by his father Jacob as he was dying. Deuteronomy 33:23 — “And of Naph tali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south” — such were the words of Mos es. It is interesting to note that Naph tali, like Dan, was bom of Bilhah, and he was adopted by Rachel also. Rachel felt that her strugglings to maintain the favor of her husband, against the ri valry of her sister, had not altogether been in vain — thus she said, “with great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed.” Wrestling is an interesting word as you study it out at this point. One feels doubtful as to whether they can accept this issue as a prevailing through wrestling. Some commentators suggest that this reference is to a prevailing in prayer that would be expressed as a (Continued on Page 29) 24
by Dr. Lloyd T. Anderson
Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, California
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