I am excited to share the second part of our lesson on God’s Favor with you today. We will be looking at some of the Old Testament Biblical characters to discover the ‘what’ they did and ‘why’ God poured out His favor upon them. They are our examples of living and walking in faith! Eric

In our last blog post on 4-3-24, “God’s Favor Can Be Yours! Part 1,” we started to examine what it means to have the favor of God in our lives. If you have not had the chance to read it, I recommend you take a few minutes to read it before you read this post.

In continuing to look at this subject, I believe we first need to realize that none of us ‘deserves’ the favor of God. Romans 3:10 (NASB20) reads, “ as it is written, “there is no righteous person, not even one.” Then, verse 23 declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are instructed that God, in a demonstration of His righteousness, justified us through a gift of His grace or unmerited favor and provided for our redemption through the blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24-26). When we choose, in faith, to accept the sacrifice of Christ, we receive the ‘favor of God,’ which is defined as a “divine kindness, an act of true compassion on the part of God toward the needy and undeserving!” (Justin Holcomb).

We discovered last time that Christianity is not a one time experience or encounter with God. It is entering into a personal relationship with the Creator and God of the Universe! We also saw that in order for us to walk in the favor of God, a relationship with Him must be established. God looks at the heart to see if we are ‘fully devoted’ to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

The truly beautiful thing is that everyone who comes and establishes a personal relationship with God, will walk in His favor. What does that mean for us? If we have established a personal relationship with Him and walk in His favor, we will do His will. Then, when we come face to face with the Lord at the close of our days here on this planet, we will be in His presence and be able to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

To continue our study, we will look at the lives of some of those who fulfilled a special part of God’s eternal plan because they were ‘favored’ by Him.

As we look at Luke 1:26-30 (NKJV), “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” The angel Gabriel came to Mary with a message from God. Gabriel begins by informing Mary that she is ‘favored’ (pursued with grace and compassed with favor and was to be honored with blessings or endued special honor) by God. Notice though, the next thing the angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid.” Afraid, phobeo in the Greek means to fear, be afraid, struck with fear, to be seized with alarm (startled by strange sights or occurrences). Then, the angel goes on to tell Mary that she is going to birth the Messiah (as a virgin) when the Holy Spirit comes upon her. This indeed was something that had never before occurred. She could have been stoned to death for the offence of adultery according to the Jewish law.

Sometimes when we have the favor of God in our lives, He may approach us with plans which could startle or frighten us. However, we discover in verse 38 why Mary was so highly favored. She responded with: “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” In using the word ‘maidservant’ (doube), Mary told Gabriel she is “one who worships God and submits to Him.”

Enoch ‘walked’ (halak) with God. Halak describes a walk that is a way of life concerning God. He walked in the same way with, had close fellowship, and an intimate relationship with God, probably similar to Adam and Eve’s pre-fall relationship. (Genesis 5:22-24). Hebrews 11:5 reveals that Enoch “pleased” God and did not see death because God translated him!

We read in Genesis 6:5 that in the days of Noah, the Lord saw that “the wickedness (depravity) of man was great in the earth and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.” The sin and evilness of man was so great that it grieved the Lord deeply and He determined He would annihilate mankind, the animals, crawling things, and the birds of the air. (verse 7) together with the land. However, we see these words in verse 8 (Amplified Version), “But Noah found favor and grace in the eyes of the Lord.” With God’s favor upon him, Noah obeyed God, built the ark, (even though it had never rained before) took the animals, his wife, sons, and their wives into the ark where they survived the destruction the rest of mankind faced. Like Enoch, Noah had an intimate relationship with God and found the favor and grace of the Lord and began to repopulate the earth after the flood.

Abraham, at the age of seventy-five, in faithful obedience to the Lord, left his family without knowing where he was going. Through Scriptures, we read that Abraham believed God, obeyed Him, became the ‘father of our faith’ and was called the Friend of God.’ (Genesis 12:12, Romans 4:20-22; Hebrews 11:8 and James 2:23) Micah 7:20 (NASB20) reads, “You (Lord) will give truth to Jacob and favor to Abraham.”

Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob was hated by his brothers because of jealousy. The Lord gave Joseph some prophetic dreams when he was young. Even though his path to the fulfillment of those dreams was complicated by many detours, Joseph remained faithful to God. In each detour he encountered, God gave him favor. Because of the Lord’s presence in Joseph’s life, he had favor with Potiphar (Genesis 39:4); favor with the prison warden (Genesis 39:21); and favor with Pharaoh. Pharaoh made him second in command in all of Egypt! (Genesis 41 through chapter 44). In that position, God fulfilled the prophetic dreams and used Joseph to save his family from famine. (Genesis 46:31).

Why did the Lord pour His favor out on Moses? Moses was described as the most humble man on the earth. God’s usual method of speaking to the prophets in the Old Testament was through dreams and visions. However, with Moses, because of his faithfulness and humility, the Lord not only spoke directly and openly to him, He also allowed Moses to see the Lord’s form. (Numbers 12:6-8 CSB). Then we read in Exodus 33:17 (CSB), “The LORD answered Moses, "I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name." What an amazing recounting of the character of Moses.

Solomon, when told by the Lord in a dream to ask for whatever he wanted, asked for wisdom to govern God’s people. (! Kings 3:5,7-9 and 12 NIV). The Lord was pleased by that request. Look at what Proverbs 8:35 (NIV) reveals,” For those who find me (wisdom) find life and receive favor from the Lord.”

James 1:5 (NKJV)), “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Isn’t that awesome? God provides what we need in order for us to be able to receive His favor!

Daniel was faithful to the Lord through the strongest opposition when he refused to pray to Darius the King. Daniel was spared, by God’s favor, when he was thrown into the lion’s den. (Daniel 6:22).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego also refused to bow to the golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. They saw the favor of God when they faced the fiery furnace and walked out of the fire with no singed hair, with their garments not affected, and not even smelling like smoke! (Daniel 3).

Realize something though. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not ‘free’ from great trials … they were put in the lion’s den and thrown into the fire! However, the Lord met them there, intervened, and by His favor upon them, delivered them from the attacks from the enemy. He will do the same for you.

The Lord supplies us with His favor totally at His initiative because of His love for us.

Psalm 84:10 and 11 (NIV), “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Proverbs 3:1-4 (ESV), “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”

How do we pursue God’s favor?

Humbling our hearts before Him - (2 Kings 22:19a and c)

Seeking righteousness - (Psalm 5:12 CSB)

Honoring God’s favor above everybody else’s favor, including our own. Seeking first the Kingdom of God. - (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)

Loving The Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength - (Mark 12:29,30 NKJV))

Seeking wisdom - Proverbs 8:35 (NIV)

Obedience to God - (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT)

From Kingdom Dynamics in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, “ When it comes to pleasing God and operating in line with His Kingdom principles, heart motivation is still what matters.” Remember, He is looking for a heart that is wholly devoted to Him!

Micah 6:8 (NKJV) instructs us in what the Lord requires of us, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 16:24 (NIV) reveals, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Lastly, Romans 13:14 (NIV) states that we need to clothe ourselves with the Lord.

Are you ready?

God desires and is ready to pour His favor out on you!

Live in a way that delights the Lord!

NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020

NKJV New King James Version

CSB Christian Standard Bible

NIV New International Version

ESV English Standard Version

NLT New Living Translation