Exodus 33:17 (ESV) “And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” What a relationship Moses had with God that the very thing Moses spoke, God wanted to give to him.  God knows us by name and wants us to have such a relationship with Him that the things we speak pleases Him. He wants to give them to us. When we have the favor of God, our words have power.

1 Samuel 16:18 (NKJV)  “Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.” 

An important insight to remember about the favor of God: Favor has a lot more to do with purpose than it does pleasure! Jesus had the favor of God. He was nailed to a cross for our sins where we could be saved.  Luke 2:52 (NKJV) “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Daniel had the favor of God. Daniel 6:22-24 (NRSV)  “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me because I was found blameless (found favor) before him; and before you, O king, I have done no wrong. Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.” Daniel 6:26 (TLB)

Most people think the favor of God is just for a few special people, but it’s not. It’s for everyone willing to accept it. God wants to take the ordinary and do the extraordinary. That’s what is so exciting about the favor of God.  Luke 4:19 (NIV) “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Jesus is proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.  Luke 4:18-21 (NIV)  “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Then, he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.

Genesis 39:4 (NKJV)  “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.” Favor first led to Joseph being the overseer of the house. Genesis 41:41 (NKJV)  “And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’” Then favor led to Joseph being overseer over the country.  Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Then favor led to Joseph’s protection over those who were trying to hurt him.

Genesis 4:3-7 (NIV)  “In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? (If you do what’s right, Cain, you will find favor – add jwg) But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

Deuteronomy 33:23 (NKJV)  “And of Naphtali he said: “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the west and the south.”  Naphtali’s favor brought satisfaction, blessings, and physical land/possessions. Moses did not just come up to Naphtali one day and say “Gods favor is upon you so let’s bless you with land and bring great satisfaction upon your life and family.” When they battled the Canaanites, the family of Naphtali brought a little help with them. 

Psalm 84:11 (NRSV)  “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows (grants) favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.” It is God who wants to bestow favor and honor on us. It is God that wants to protect us and provide for us. God does not want to hold any good thing from us.  Sometimes we need to change our mindset about God and see Him as a God who is with us and for us.

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) “For His anger is, but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” I love this verse because it says, “His favor is for life.” It’s not just when I’m good; it’s when I’ve done wrong. It’s when I’m on top, and it’s when I’m on the bottom. It’s when I’m weeping and when I have joy. God’s favor helps turn our weeping into joy!  God’s favor is when God takes the Ordinary and does the Extraordinary. This verse tells us God is always looking for the opportunity to do the extraordinary in our lives.