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.

Acts 2:46-47 (TLB) “They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God. The whole city was favorable to them, and each day God added to them all who were being saved.” We should be worshiping together regularly at church, meeting in small groups, and sharing meals together. The results will bring great joy and thankfulness.

Exodus 12:36 (NKJV)  “And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” The Egyptians had kept the Children of Israel in bondage for years, then they finally cried out to God. He not only showed them favor but blessed them with much of the Egyptians wealth.

This is Lot talking to God who had been living in Sodom and  Gomorrah. These two cities had become so wicked God was going to destroy them. Yet, in spite of Lot not converting one person, including some of his children, God still showed him favor and mercy.  Genesis 19:19-22 (NKJV)  “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.

Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)  “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Our friend, God, is with us because of His Son. There’s nothing we can ever do to make Him leave us.  Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)  “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” What about when we fail? Doesn’t Jesus leave us? No! You might say, “but I don’t deserve it!” That’s right, we don’t deserve it. That’s what makes it His unmerited favor in our lives.