Written
by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
My son, forget not my law; but let thine
heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall
they add to thee. Let not mercy and
truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of
thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of
God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It
shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs Chapter 3
verses 1 to 8.
Favor
has leverage when it is from God. Otherwise, it is the whims and caprices of
human beings which is not sustainable. But the favor which comes from God has
leverage because God uses it to accomplish divine purposes through the favored
one. S/he has unlimited, unrestricted access to whatever resources are required
to accomplish divine purpose; is sheltered, safe and secure in God and by God
from all the flying darts of the enemy.
Divine
favor is aromatic, has pleasant smells which explain why anyone with divine
favor is always warmly and lovingly received by people, families, institutions,
nations and governments. Divine favor also guarantees access to God, the
blessings of God as well as to people and whatever resources are required to
achieve divine purpose. Please read Deuteronomy Chapter 33 verses 13 to 29 and
Isaiah Chapter 60 verses 10 to 11.
God
in His infinite mercy encompassed Joseph with uncommon favor such that even
while in prison in a foreign land, the divine favor of God encompassed Joseph.
The keeper of the prison left everything to Joseph’s care just as his erstwhile
master Potiphar left everything in his care when he served under Potiphar
before he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and unjustly put in prison.
But despite being in prison in a land where Joseph had no one to speak up for
him in his favor, the Bible records that God was with him and gave him favor
before the keeper of the prison. Beloved, the Presence of God in the life of a
person is also a contributory factor to being encircled by divine favor. Please
read Psalm 5 verse 12.
Joseph
was loved, trusted by Potiphar on account of the divine favor he enjoyed. This
was also the reason God promoted him by making Potiphar make Joseph the
overseer of his house. Even in prison, divine favor opened doors for Joseph.
The keeper of the prison entrusted the prisoners to Joseph; significantly, a
foreigner. This was the platform which connected Joseph to the imprisoned
officers of Pharaoh – the baker and the butler. Thereafter the butler connected
Joseph to Pharaoh and Joseph became Prime Minister after he interpreted the
dreams of Pharaoh correctly and even proffered solutions to the challenges
posed by the interpretation of the
dreams. In this position, Joseph served divine purposes to preserve
Israel from extinction through the severe famine which lasted seven years.
Please read Genesis Chapters 45 verses 3 to 9, 50 verses 18 to 22. Joseph
became Prime Minister for the purpose of staving off hunger so that Israel
could be preserved in Egypt during the period of great famine. Please read Genesis
Chapters 39 verses 1 to 6, 21 to 23, and 41; and Acts Chapter 7 verses 9 to 10.
Divine
favor always brings about addition, multiplication and increase in any and
every area of life. Divine favor ensures that a person, a family, an
organization or institution, community or nation does not labor in vain. The
labor of the early Church in planting the word of God was rewarded with the
salvation of souls and the souls were not left to wander aimlessly for
spiritual growth. God planted them in the Church; to increase the Church
numerically, financially, materially, intellectually etc as these people would
also bring their resources to the Church to serve the purpose of God for the
Church.
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