Leviticus 26:9 – ‘For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. NKJV
In my previous post, I made mention of the grace of God being distributed to the children of Israel through His favor. Again, grace means to be favored by God or to be acceptable to Him. In the Old Testament, this definition is sufficient, but in the New Testament, we will look at a more complete description that is encapsulated in the person of Jesus Christ!
God’s favor to the children of Israel was displayed in Exodus through preferential treatment when He would not allow the plagues upon the Israelites that were on the Egyptians. Again, His favor was demonstrated in divine protection when He passed over them on the night of the Passover. His favor was seen when He told them to borrow gold and silver from the Egyptians, knowing full well that He would cancel their debt. And His favor was shown when He brought them out of 430 years of bondage to have a relationship with them in the land He had promised to Abraham.
I would be remiss to have you think that I believe that the precious grace of God is about us being loaded with material goods. It’s not far-fetched to see that His grace will bring material prosperity to our lives, but as I have already said, it is so much more!
Our key text is taken from Leviticus, and in this verse, God states that He will look on the children of Israel favorably and make them fruitful, cause them to multiply, and confirm His covenant with them. This promise was fulfilled naturally and spiritually for them, and He wants to do the same for us!
As they journeyed in the wilderness, it was evident that He caused them to increase. Formerly enslaved people were now warriors, artisans, worshippers, leaders! They multiplied as a people, multiplied in influence, and multiplied in the land. Over and over again, He fulfilled that promise to them because of His abundant grace. He chose them and set His love and favor upon them. And He hasn’t changed!
Jeremiah 32:40-41 – And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’ NKJV
Again, God promised His favor on His people. He said that He would make an everlasting covenant with His people and that He would not turn away from doing them good. This sounds like favor, and it sounds like God’s heart towards us. He even said that He would rejoice over His people to do them good. And if that’s not enough, He promises to plant them in the land with all of HIs heart and with all of His soul! This is some good stuff! It’s a totally different picture from the God that you probably heard about “who works in mysterious ways” or “who you never know what God will do” from religious people. For here, He promises to make an everlasting covenant of doing good to His people! And He did! That’s for another day!
In Psalms, chapter 30, David said that God’s favor is for life! (V.5) Isn’t that amazing? God promises us His favor, to do good for us, and it’s for life! David also said that God will surround us with His favor!
Psalm 5:11-12 – But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. NKJV
When God extends His grace, it’s always abundant grace. There’s no slacking on His ability or His release of favor towards His people. He’s not stingy, nor is He withholding good things from us. Not when grace is His idea! God’s word says that His favor would surround us as a shield would surround us. That definitely sounds a lot like divine protection! I’ve seen it again and again!
Looking at the concept of grace is eye-opening. Many see grace as “carte blanche” to live life as they wish and still be okay with God. It’s not so! Neither is it a ticket to wealth and fame and living life in self-indulgence! It’s God’s deepest desire to shower His favor on our lives, starting at the door of salvation and reaching throughout eternity. We can’t earn His grace! We don’t deserve His grace! It’s not given based on our merit! It’s given as a free gift! More next time! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 