Undeserved Favor

Undeserved Favor

¹⁴ Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

 

¹⁶ Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. ¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the ^[c]fat of the land. ¹⁹ Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. ²⁰ Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

 

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During Joseph’s big reveal of his identity to his brothers, his weeping was so loud that all the Egyptians around him could hear. News made it to Pharaoh’s house making him aware that Joseph had long-lost brothers. Pharaoh told his brothers that he would give them the best land.

 

My Observations:

• Pharoah saw the power of GOD through Joseph and probably wanted more power so he gave the brothers the best land.
• Pharaoh was inviting towards Joseph’s family possibly for his own selfish reasons, but little did he know it was part of GOD’s plan.
• Joseph’s family was about to experience a luxurious lifestyle despite their hateful, jealous, lying and blaming ways.

 

Jacob, who was renamed to Israel, was a deceiver. His son’s murdered a town of men and raided the town of everything. They also planned out the murder of their own brother. BUT GOD made a promise to Abraham that HE would keep. HE saw the sins of Israel, his son’s sins, your sins and mine and forgave us through belief in JESUS.

 

Sometimes we try to think that life can be “fair,” but if it were, we would already be eternally condemned. We don’t want fair, we want grace and mercy. Joseph’s pain was now turned into provision for his entire family. Even Pharaoh, who looked at himself as a god, recognized the power of the MOST HIH GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Pharaoh’s decree?
• Have you ever experienced undeserved favor?
• Is your focus on blame or blessings from GOD?

Trusted Blessings

Trusted Blessings

Genesis 39: Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. ⁵ So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. ⁶ Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.

 

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Joseph was given a dream by GOD that his father and brothers would one day bow to him. Some of his brothers wanted to kill him but Reuben and Judah convinced the others to do something less lethal by selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites where he was then sold to the Egyptians. Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph’s story continues from where it left off, after he was sold, but wee don’t know how many years have passed.
• The pre-incarnate LORD visited Joseph daily and helped him be successful.
• Potiphar trusted Joseph because the LORD was with him.

 

Extreme trust was placed on Joseph by Potiphar. He trusted Joseph so much, that he didn’t even count his money anymore. He was only concerned about the next meal he ate. The LORD stayed with Joseph and blessed all he did.

 

Joseph, like many others who had been left alone, probably needed JESUS to walk with him to remain encouraged. He was sold into slavery, never to see his father again, or so he thought. JESUS had to keep him encouraged, so HE stayed with him. Potiphar was only concerned with becoming wealthy. He did not mind JESUS coming around Joseph. He became blessed because of Joseph’s favor.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD emphasize to Moses that “The LORD was with Joseph?”
• Have you ever felt alone and wanted to give up?
• Do you realize that the LORD is with you today and is walking through your troubles with you?

 

Favorable Blessings

Favorable Blessings

Genesis 31: ⁴ So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, ⁵ and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ And you know that with all my might I have served your father. ⁷ Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. ⁸ If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. ⁹ So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

 

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Jacob saw that the situation was getting serious. He called for Rachel and Leah to explain how Laban was acting towards him. He then explained that Laban had tried to cheat him out of wages by changing the criteria.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was with Jacob and was changing him little by little.
• GOD caused the animals to be born with whatever Laban’s wild criteria was.
• Jacob recognized that the GOD of his father protected him.

 

It seemed like this situation was a turning point for Jacob. This is the first time he mentions “the GOD of my father.” He probably reflected on his life and saw that is was a mess. How as he going to get out of this situation? Only GOD could help him.

 

Jacob’s deceiving days were coming to an end. He had eleven children by four wives, and now he felt it was time to go. GOD told him to leave He had to tell Rachel and Leah that everything would be alright. GOD would bless him favorably.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the conversation between Jacob, Rachel and Leah?
• Have you ever come to a place where only GOD could help you out of the situation?
• Will you trust GOD to get you out of the situation HIS way and in HIS time?

Favor Recognized

Favor Recognized

Genesis 23: ⁵ And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ⁶ “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”

 

⁷ Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. ⁸ And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, ⁹ that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”

 

¹⁰ Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, ¹¹ “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”

 

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Sarah had come to the end of her life. Abraham wanted to bury her some place special. Ephron had a cave that would have been suited for a ruler of that day. Abraham offered to pay for the cave, but Ephron wanted to give it to him.

 

My Observations:

• Ephron recognized the favor GOD had on Abraham.
• Even in a land of people who did not follow GOD’s ways, Abraham was seen as special.
• Abraham and Sarah were feared because of the many supernatural things that happened in their lives.

 

The Hittites were powerful from a human perspective. They probably took what they wanted, when they wanted it. But Abraham did not want a gift from Ephron, probably for the same reason he did not want money from the king of Sodom.

 

Ephron and the other Hittites saw Abraham as someone who could bring on destruction to their city and respected GOD’s power, but only out of fear. They still did not follow GOD. Abraham’s relationship with GOD seemed known, even by those who did not believe in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about these conversations?
• Have you ever been in a place where you were the only follower of CHRIST?
• Do you realize that when JESUS called you light, you brighten up dark places just by being present?

Earned Favor

Luke 2: ⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

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“Here… take my keys and lock up” were the surprisingly nice words from a very grumpy boss. I mean he never spoke to me and when he did, he barked at me. “Good job” were his next words. I almost fainted on the bowling balls.

• There were times when I have earned favor.
• There have been people who have granted me favor.
• There were times when I received favor from people and had no idea why I received it.

As JESUS got older, HE became wiser, taller and, more importantly, grew in favor with HIS FATHER. But what does favor mean? Was JESUS laughing at crass jokes that were out of character for HIM? Was HE out to please people by compromising HIS beliefs? No!

• JESUS says to me “Serve people while fearing ME.”
• JESUS says to me “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
• JESUS says to me “Fear GOD and keep HIS commandments.”

Fearing GOD means I don’t want to disappoint HIM. I know I have been saved and HE will not allow me to lose the salvation HE gave me as a gift. I still don’t want to disappoint GOD by being foolish or bending HIS rules to get my way.

GOD has done so much for me that I seek to serve HIM any chance I can. I desire to please GOD more than pleasing humans who, at the drop of a hat, change what pleases them. GOD has already given me full favor but strangely I do not want to take advantage and assume there are no consequences for my actions. I live to please GOD.

• Are you stuck where you are?
• Do you find yourself wanting but not getting?
• Can you give your sins, your desires and your wants to GOD and let HIM do with them as HE pleases?