“I’ll take lesser-known sons of Jacob for 400, Alex.”
(I guess that’s Ken now. Whatever.)

“He is the 6th son of Jacob, the son Moses blessed as ‘sated with favor'”

“Who is Naphtali?”

“That is correct!”

That is amazing!

And of Naphtali [Moses] said,

“O Naphtali, sated with favor,
and full of the blessing of the LORD,
possess the lake and the south.”

(Deuteronomy 33:23 ESV)

Sated with favor . . . That’s the phrase I’m chewing on this morning.

Some translations say satisfied with favor. But it’s more than satisfied, it is satisfied to the full. It’s abounding with favor (NIV). It’s rich in favor (NLT). As Peterson puts it, “Naphtali brims with blessings.”

And in that respect, Naphtali pictures those who are in Christ. We too are sated with favor.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

(John 1:14, 16 ESV)

Grace upon grace. Sated with favor. That’s who we be. That is the blessing of Naphtali that we possess in Christ.

More than a promised inheritance, we have been given God Himself. The Father betrothing us to the Son through the Spirit. Our Bridegroom being Him who laid down His life for us, and rose victorious from the grave on the third day, so that we might live in Him. Without merit of our own. Covered by His robe of righteousness. Grace upon grace.

More than waiting for entrance into a promised land, we live, walk, and breath each day in His always present, overflowing favor. Grace greater than our sin (Rom. 5:20). Grace present and sufficient for every weakness (2Cor. 12:9). Grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). Grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace that will lead us home (John Newton).

Sated with favor.

Always filled to the full with His grace.

To God be the glory!