“Moses said this about the tribe of Naphtali: ‘O Naphtali, you are rich in favor and full of the Lord’s blessings; may you possess the west and the south.’”

Deuteronomy 33:23 NLT

The favor of God changes your identity and your destiny. All throughout Scripture, we learn that God does not always begin working from the top. He often begins from places that seem like nowhere and through people who appear to be nobodies in the eyes of the world.

Naphtali was a son born to Jacob through Rachel’s maidservant. Rachel named him Naphtali, meaning “my struggle,” because she was humiliated by her sister Leah for being barren, and she wrestled through deep sorrow and shame. His name was connected to pain, rejection, and struggle.

Yet when the sons of Jacob were allotted their lands, Moses blessed the tribe of Naphtali to be rich in favor and full of the Lord’s blessings. He allotted to them a fertile and beautiful landscape. The one whose name was born out of struggle received a prophetic word of favor. The one considered slightly inferior because he was born to a maidservant became a carrier of divine blessing. God showered His favor upon that tribe.

The territory that Moses allotted to Naphtali later became the very region of Nazareth, Capernaum, and the Sea of Galilee—the primary places where Jesus Christ conducted His ministry, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah about a “great light” shining in that land. The land once associated with struggle became the land where the Light of the world revealed His glory.

What a great encouragement to know that nobody is forgotten. Humans may discriminate. People may look down on you and see you as inferior in their eyes. But the eyes of the Father are full of mercy, full of compassion, and full of favor.

The place where you were humiliated may become the very place where God reveals His glory. The tribe of Naphtali may have seemed lost and forgotten over time, but it is remembered forever because of our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The blessing and favor spoken by Jacob and Moses did not rest only upon that tribe. Through Jesus Christ, that blessing extends to everyone who believes. Jesus suffered, shed His blood, died, and rose again to unite Jew and Gentile as one.

For the Scripture says:

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Galatians 3:27–29 ESV

Every promise, every blessing, and every favor spoken over the children of Abraham belongs to you as you believe in the finished work of the Cross. The favor of God changes your name. The favor of God changes your story. The favor of God changes your destiny.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You that Your favor rewrites our identity and restores our destiny. Thank You that You do not forget us in our struggle or humiliation. Let Your light shine in every place of pain in our lives. Help us walk confidently as heirs of Your promise through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.