Genesis 49:21
The Bible4Jesus.com Podcast
About this episode
We come now in Jacob's final prophetic oracle to the blessing on his sixth son, Naphtali. These are not the sentimental ramblings of an old man on his deathbed, doling out equal portions of well-wishes. Each blessing is a seed, and in the subsequent history of Israel, we see that seed grow into a particular kind of tree, bearing a particular kind of fruit. These are not astrological predictions; they are covenantal assignments. And as with all Scripture, these assignments are not just for the historical tribe of Naphtali. The Old Testament is not a dusty attic of expired artifacts; it is the living room of the Christian faith, filled with furniture we are meant to use. The story of Naphtali is our story, because the story of Israel is the story of the Church in its minority.