THE PRINCIPLES OF ASHER AND

NAPHTALI
( Gen 49:20; Deut 33:25)

By Robert Burgess

Foreword

The following brief notes represent one study in a series on the Twelve Tribes of Israel; This was originally done in 1995.. A more expanded version of this study, as well as the remainder of the articles in this series will follow shortly (As time permits). This study is based on the Prophetic Blessings of Jacob over his twelve Sons (Gen 49:etc.), and Moses' Prophetic Blessing upon the twelve Tribes of Israel (Deut 33).

Jacob and his Twelve sons are a type of the "Tree of Life" bearing Twelve manner of Fruit. We must realize that these sons of Jacob each represent a mini-type of Christ, who is both the "True vine" and the "Branch" man (See John 15:1 & Zech 3:8). The twelve Apostles of the lamb are also in view, for they are "The Branches." Every born again believer has a position also as one of the branches of the tree of life, and is therefore an hier to the blessings and promises made concerning him as one of the "Sons of Jacob, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16)." When we are born again, we are a Spiritual Son of Abraham; and as such, there are certain "Tribal Characteristics" that we bear. It is our hope that the readers might discover more about their gifts, callings, and placement as Spiritual "Sons of Jacob,"as they study these articles.

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THE PRINCIPLE OF ASHER:

A. ASHER. Strong’s 4836, "Happy".

1. Asher is the EIGHTH son of Jacob. He represents THE NEW CREATION MAN, whose NAME or NATURE is BLESSED (Happy). Of Asher, it is written:

a. "Out of Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties Gen 49:20."

B. Everything that comes OUT of him will be BREAD for the hungry. All that he produces or REPRODUCES is the WORD of GOD. This one is like a SPIRITUAL OVEN, for he is a FLAME OF FIRE. He is also the CORN OF HEAVEN, the HIDDEN MANNA. His BREAD, or WORD, will be OILY ... SATURATED with the POWER and ANOINTING of the HOLY GHOST. The ROYAL DAINTIES of the KINGDOM are HIS SPECIALTY. Those who SIT AT HIS TABLE are a HIGH ~ PRIESTLY PEOPLE after the ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC, the KING-PRIEST. His word is not for the COMMON man, but for those are SPECIAL, PECULIAR TREASURES IN GOD'S SIGHT.

a: "And of Asher, he said; "Let Asher be blessed with children;
let him be acceptable to His brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil (Deut 33:24)."

C. It is God’s desire that Asher be FRUITFUL and MULTIPLY himself in the
earth. The Psalmist said, "Children are an HERITAGE of the LORD. As ARROWS in the HAND of the MIGHTY MAN. Happy (Asher) is THE MAN that hath his QUIVER FULL OF THEM, they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with (or, Lit CONTEND, SUBDUE, AND DESTROY) the ENEMIES in the GATE (Pss 127:3-5)."

The phrase "Let him be acceptable to his brethren" reveals that his Word and Ministry are not always EASY to ACCEPT by the church in general; Jesus said, "Blessed (Asher) is he who is NOT OFFENDED in me (Mat 11:6)."

The next phrase, "Let him dip (or, Lit BAPTIZE) his foot in OIL" speaks to us of an ANOINTED WALK that leave SIGNS and WONDERS wherever he goes. Asher has not only received an anointing to TALK, but also to WALK. In Acts 5:15 we see the Apostle Peter walking in a realm of the Spirit where SIN, SICKNESS, POVERTY and even DEATH had NO POWER.

a. "Thy shoes shall be Iron and Brass, and as thy days,
so shall thy Strength be (Deut 33:25)."

4. Iron represents strength and brass represents judgment. This Anointed walk, therefore, shall produce "Strong Judgments:" Immortality is in view, for the days of his life shall be as the "Durability of IRON and BRASS."

THE PRINCIPLE OF NAPHTALI

Gen 49:21 ~ Deut 33:23

A. NAPHTALI Strong's #531 My Wrestlings; Obtained through Wrestling.

"Naphtali is a hind let loose, he giveth goodly Words."

B . Naphtali was the SIXTH Son of Jacob, thus we consider the fact that six,
the number of man is associated with "WRESTLING" or, "TO WREST." We should be mindful of the fact that the MAN Jacob "WRESTLED" with the ANGEL of the LORD before his NAME or, NATURE was CHANGED to ISRAEL, which means; ISH- a man of HIGH DEGREE, ROY- who HAS POWER (or, KINGSHIP ), EL- WITH GOD.

In the Naphtali experience, a great CHANGE is appropriate after years of WRESTING with OUR HUMANITY, finally a BREAKTHROUGH occurs! As it is so well put "There will be a SON-RISE at DAY-BREAK!!" At LAST a BREAKING of the old, marred vessel (yet MARRED in the POTTERS HAND), and the FORMING of the NEW (See Jer 18:4 & 2Tim 2:21).

Naphtali is a hind let loose

Thus we see the HIND, or the SURE-FOOTED MOUNTAIN SHEEP moving steadily upward having been loosed from all of the "weak and beggarly elements" of the EARTHLY ENVIRONMENT of whom it is promised "HE GIVETH GOODLY WORDS."

He Giveth Goodly Words

What a tremendous heritage, that this one will bring the WORDS of THE KING unto his people! It should be the hearts desire of every Son of God to bring forth GOODLY (or, GODLY) WORDS, Words which will "REMOVE MOUNTAINS; HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS and RAISE THE DEAD!!" The LORD said to the prophet Isaiah "I have put MY WORDS in THY MOUTH... that I may "PLANT THE HEAVENS, and LAY THE FOUNDATION of the EARTH, to say unto ZION THOU art MY PEOPLE (See Isa 51:16)!!"

2. "And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour,
and full of the blessing of the LORD.," Deut 33:23a.

C. Great "SATISFACTION" is promised to those men who WRESTLE until
daybreak. They are FILLED with the BLESSING of the LORD, and so much so that their walk is unalterably CHANGED.

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3."Possess thou the west and the south" Deut 33:23b

The West

D. The west is the place which is known in the Hebrew mind as the "PLACE of DARKNESS". It was the destination of the SUN (SON) in it's daily circuit. It SIGNIFIES the MOST HOLY PLACE; for the Holy of Holies was located in the WESTERN END of the TABERNACLE where God said, "HE would DWELL in the THICK DARKNESS (2Chr 6:2 & Lev 16:2)." David said, "He made DARKNESS HIS SECRET PLACE (Psa 18:11)."

The light of the outer court was of course the NATURAL light of the SUN. This relates to the PRINCIPLE OF "THOMAS FAITH", or SEEING is BELIEVING (See John 20:24-25 & John 4:48).

The Light of the Holy Place was the CANDLESTICK which more relates to "Faith cometh by HEARING which is a more "BLESSED' kind of faith.

In the HOLIEST of ALL however, LIGHT could NOT be PERCEIVED by ANY NATURAL MEANS.. This PRINCIPLE pertains to "MOST HOLY FAITH", or that which "EYE hath NOT SEEN, nor EAR HEARD..." but which is REVEALED ONLY by the SPIRIT (See 1 Cor 2:8-10).

The association of DARKNESS with the SECRET PLACE, or "Place of Secrets", shows the manner in which God's WORD will be opened unto this blessed one. His heritage is that "HIDDEN MANNA" KEPT SAFE in the "SECRET PLACE of the MOST HIGH (or, the HOLY of HOLIES ~ See Rev 2:17 & Pss 91:1)."

The South

The "South" spoken of here refers to the WARMTH of God's Spirit as a COMFORTING and PRODUCTIVE influence in his life. When facing Eastward, toward the direction of the Sun Rising (or, Place of Light), the South is on the "Right Hand;" The Principles of the "Right Hand of Blessing, Honour, and Authority" are shown here.

It takes WARM WEATHER to produce GOOD FRUIT in abundance and this is the Principle in view here. Solomon said, "Awake thou NORTH WIND (of JUDGMENT) and come thou SOUTH (Winds of Blessing); BLOW upon my GARDEN, that the SPICES (or, the NINE FRUIT of the SPIRIT) thereof may FLOW OUT. Let my beloved COME INTO HIS GARDEN & EAT HIS PLEASANT FRUITS (Song of Solomon 4:16 ~ See also Rev 3:20)." ~ "I will COME IN to him and SUP with him and he with me".

Robert Burgess
3/29/2000

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