In this post, we shall be looking at provoking the grace and the favor of God for success and breakthrough in life. The Bible is full of stories of people who were huge successes because the favor of GOD worked mightily upon them.
The first time or place we saw the operation of GOD’S favor inaction was in Exodus 3:21 “And I will give these people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
Exodus 11:3 “And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.” Exodus 12:36 “And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.”
The favor of God can be described as “tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord.” When this is upon anyone, the person works through life, moving from glory to glory.
One of the people that enjoyed a remarkable favor from God was Joseph, Genesis 39:21 “But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison”.
The second person was Daniel, 1:9 “Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” It is obvious; that we usually favor people who also favor us. In the same way, God shows favor to the ones who HE delights in, connects with, and gives honor to Him.
We see this in Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word” In the story of Joseph as we saw in Genesis 39:7-10 “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
“There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
In other words, the reason Joseph refused to sleep with her was his fear of God, and he saw it as great wickedness and sin against God. Also, see 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”
In Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
When all our actions please GOD, HE showers us with His favor. So let us strive to please GOD. Also, one way to obtain favor from the Lord is to seek wisdom. We see this in Proverbs 8:35 “For those who find me (wisdom) find life and receive favor from the LORD.”
Also in Psalm 5:12 “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” As said above, finding favor with the Lord keeps our lives and thoughts pure because we desire to please Him more than we desire to please ourselves.
Joseph and Daniel pursued pleasing the Lord; no wonder God did great things for them and through them. Another character we shall look at that really pleased God was Moses, as can be seen in Hebrew 11:24-26
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. Can you really please God like the people mentioned above? If you succeed to please the LORD, heavenly rewards (the favor of God) will be your portion. What do you think? Shalom!
