On Sunday nights I have been teaching a series called, The Tribes of Israel. Each of the twelve tribes have a banner, and each of the sons of Jacob was given a name with special meaning. When we look at the blessing that was upon Abraham's life, the keys to this blessing was spoken in the names of these great-grandsons.
Most everyone has heard of and knows that the name Judah means "praise the Lord" and his banner is the LION. We learn from the name and banner of Judah that our strength is found when we praise the LORD. And the Scriptures declare the joy of the Lord is our strength. But, do you know the meaning of the name Naphtali, and the banner of his house. Naphtali was the fifth son of Jacob. His name means, "my struggle, or my wrestling" and the banner of his house is the gazzelle.
What can we learn about his name that will help us walk in the blessings and favor of his great-grandfather Abraham?
Ephesians 6 tells us that our 'struggle' is not with flesh and blood but against principalites and powers, wicked spiritual beings in high places. And Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith." Furthermore in Ephesians 6 we are told to put on the whole armor of God. We are told these things because we have an adversary. Your struggles are not against flesh and blood. What are you made of? What are the people around you made of? We are all made of flesh and blood, but this is not the struggle, the struggle is with the dark forces of this world, the wicked spirit beings that tempt all of mankind.
The banner for the house of Naphtali is the gazzelle. Look at the gazzelle. This is the opposite of the lion. Large cats and cougars and such chase and eat things like gazzelles. So also, we have an adversary that wages war against us, that chases us, that tries to wear us down. The gazzelle is blessed with great speed. If a gazzelle is alert and sees it's predator in time a gazzelle is fast enough to outrun a larger predator, even though the gazzelle is a small animal by comparison. So also we must be alert and sober, and ready to move quickly when God gives us direction so that we can avoid the enemies pitfalls.
Naphtali's father Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord all night, he refused to let go until he received a blessing. Here again, the blessing doesn't come from our efforts, but comes when spiritual beings in high places put their help and blessing upon our lives. Yes there are wicked spiritual beings, but there are also angels that help us. Often we are unaware of the help they bring.
What is your struggle and your wrestling today? You must stay alert, and quickly move in obedience to God to escape the trap of the enemy just like the graceful gazzelle. You must be willing to resist (wrestle against) the adversary, and also to ask, seek and knock (wrestle with) the Lord until he comes and rains down a blessing upon your life. Sometime like Jacob you have to pray for a long time before you see your break through, but you must be willing to wrestle in prayer, in the spirit realm if you want to see God move!
No comments:
Post a Comment