The Favor of God is Given to Us for a Reason. Let Us Not Waste It.

Joseph was a favored man, favored by his dad, favored by Pharaoh, favored by God Himself -- yet, the suffering in his life was grand. He was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, and forgotten by the man who was supposed to rescue him from the dungeons. But when you read his story in Genesis 37 & 39-50, one thing you can't deny is that he was favored. In every scenario in his life, the Bible says God gave him success. When he was sold into slavery, he was so good at taking care of his master's home that he put him in charge of his whole household and everything he owned. And when he was thrown into prison, God granted him favor in the warden's eyes that the warden put him in charge of everyone in the prison and everything that went on. He held so much favor from God that even Pharaoh made him second in command and gave him charge over all of Egypt. He was chosen by God, and God's presence with him gave him the favor he needed for God's Will to be done in his life. Joseph realized that all the suffering and persecution were for a reason: to be used to protect God's chosen people from famine and death (Genesis 50:20). 


I think we often only look at the success from favor: being successful at our jobs or in our relationships or at growing wealth. But we may miss what favor means and the purpose behind it. In Joseph's story, favor meant that God was with him and working his life out for, not only his good, but the good of God's people. Even though Joseph's brothers did an evil thing by selling him into slavery, God worked it out. 


When we believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, we are grafted into God's family and become a part of His chosen people. And God sent His Holy Spirit to dwell with us, in us, so that He is always with us, as God was with Joseph. That means that we have the favor of God. And that also means that God will work out our lives for, not only our good, but the good of His people. So when God grants us favor in the eyes of our bosses or people around us or investors or whoever, it's not so we can live lavishly and be comfortable. It's so that we can be used to strengthen, protect, and provide for the body of Christ. When the favor of God follows us, let us not take it for granted by living large in our possessions or puffing up with pride, thinking that it was all by our own hand. Let's surrender to the Will of God, however He wants it to look, knowing that what He's doing in our lives is to protect His body (the Church) from the schemes of the enemy and that it's all for a reason.


Joseph probably wondered why God allowed him to be enslaved and then thrown into prison. But what a reward it was to find out exactly what God was doing when his brothers came begging for food and he was actually able to provide it for them, for his whole family. Whatever you're going through right now, if you've surrendered to God and are asking His Will in your life, trust that, in 20 years, you'll see it was all for a reason and that He's working things out for your good and the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). 


If you want to hear more about favor, check out my YouTube video on favor here: https://youtu.be/jxNWUKApI74

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