The Favor of the Faithful
I’m reading through the Bible this year. I’m at the early part of Exodus where Yahweh is definitively distinguishing Himself and His people from the Egyptians and their gods. There are some obvious things He does like His grace, mercy, and sovereignty extended over the Egyptians—e.g., hardening then relenting; warning but still reckoning; revealing then prolonging; mighty acts of wonder. However, along the way, I noticed, and have loved, God’s caveat of “favor” (i.e., ‘a special privilege from God’) for His people that would accompany their deliverance.
God’s Favor > the Threat
Moses and Aaron were never in danger in their many face-to-face interactions with Pharaoh. It never came up in their conversations with God. It also never came up as a thought to Pharaoh. Even his officials questioned him on how long this would go on.
“Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long must this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Don’t you realize yet that Egypt is devastated?”” (Exod. 10:7, CSB)
God’s Favor > the Judgment
God spared the Israelites from every single plague that touched Egypt. We would say that’s grace. I wouldn’t argue against that. However, God kept repeating that He was singling out His people to make a point to the Egyptians (Exod. 8:22; 9:4-6, 25-26; 10:22-23; 11:4-7). The land of Goshen where Israel lived during their enslavement was distinctly and intentionally covered by Yahweh’s hand.
God’s Favor > the Lack
The Israelites were told to ask the Egyptians for items when they were leaving for their journey. God granted those requests in such abundance that it looked like Egypt was pillaged by Israel.
“35 The Israelites acted on Moses’s word and asked the Egyptians for silver and gold items and for clothing. 36 And the Lord gave the people such favor with the Egyptians that they gave them what they requested. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.” (Exod. 12:36, CSB)
My takeaway from this was:
The Faithful One enjoys bestowing His favor on His faithful ones because He is faithful.
How more true is this for those of us in Christ?
“31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?” (Rom. 8:31-32, CSB)
We live in Christ’s faithfulness and receive His favor in our daily lives. So we can be faithful to God because it’s not unobtainable. We can also pray for and look for God’s favor, but not in response to our faithfulness but because of Christ.
“11 This saying is trustworthy: For if we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (2Tim. 2:11-13, CSB)
Be encouraged to be faithful.
His grace is sufficient.
Trust Him when everything feels and looks like it’s falling apart.
Always remember He’s working on your behalf.
The Faithful One enjoys bestowing His favor on His faithful ones because He is faithful.