O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord; possess the west and the south. (Deuteronomy 33:23)
The land that was allotted for the tribe of Naphtali was some of the richest and most fertile land in all of Israel. In fact, Naphtali’s territory encompassed much of what is called the Galilee, the region in the northern part of the country. The phrase, “possess the west and the south” refers to the Sea of Galilee and the Huleh region. Even today, large tracts of land in this area are devoted to farming which, along with food grown in other areas, is enough to supply the people of Israel and still have surplus to be exported to other nations. It would seem that God continues to honor the blessing placed upon this tribe to this very day.
While these physical blessings are important and should be appreciated, the prophet Isaiah, along with the Gospels, indicated that the tribe of Naphtali (along with Zebulun) would be blessed in other ways. Speaking of this region, and in particular the tribe of Naphtali, Isaiah wrote: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2). According to Matthew, this was fulfilled when Messiah, having left Nazareth, “came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Matthew 4:13).
The lesson we can take from this is, while we certainly desire and appreciate the temporal blessings God bestows upon us, those things do not guarantee we won’t experience darkness and “the shadow of death.” In other words, life happens to all of us — those with and those without. However, we all have the promise that when Messiah takes up residence in “our house,” darkness is overcome; death is defeated. Because of Him the light of hope shines in our life, empowering and encouraging us to endure anything this present life throws at us. May it be that all of us live blessed and favored lives, not defined by the presence of stuff, but defined by the Presence of the Holy One working in us and through us.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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