"And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with men." (1 Samuel 2:26)
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men." (Luke 2:52)
"And Esther won the favour of everyone who saw her." (Esther 2:15b)
'Favour' has always been, in our everyday life, a facilitator for greater blessings and opportunities - a means to access several privileges. It opens doors that hitherto would have barred our progress. One characteristic that we should not lose sight of is that it is God who grants favour through men.
Many people go hustling or jockeying for favour, trying to twist people’s hands with undue pressure to literally force closed doors open. That is known as manipulation in everyday parlance. There is no need for any excessive activity to push for favour. A Krio adage states that “The water in the river that is for you will never run past you.”
No need for all this fuss. We should not be running helter-skelter literally going all out to be blessed. God grants favour like in the case of prophet Samuel, our Lord Jesus and Esther through men because we all need favour in our work life and in our daily lives.
If God did not favour Joseph, he would not have had access to Pharaoh to be able to save the Children of Israel from famine. Jesus' ministry needed money for his operations and the women disciples took this upon themselves. “These women Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Suzanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:2-3) God is our Provider; if He provides for the ravens and the lilies, would He not provide for humans as well? (Matthew 6:26)
The Hannah Case.
Hannah needed help from God badly. She was barren and her mate Peninnah who was blessed with children was pestering her life. "Her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat." (1 Samuel 1:7) Now every year, the family went to Shiloh to offer prayers, yet nothing changed for Hannah. The provocation continued, unabated. On the last occasion, it is recorded that Hannah prayed her heart out and even made a vow; that if God should give her a son, she would "give him back to God all the days of his life." (v. 11b) That did it!
All along Hannah had been praying amiss. Her desire had always been to settle scores with her mate to prove that she also could become a mother. It was a personal agenda. Not until she caught the vision to advance God's kingdom by offering the child she had been praying for as a prophet, would God open her womb. Hannah's answer lay in an unselfish prayer.
Remember God has needs too. Your destiny will never overtake you.
The thought of being made King of Israel had never crossed David's mind - that would have been one of David’s wildest dreams. Actually he had three counts against him to disqualify him: he was the youngest in the line-up of eight brothers; he was in the woods tending sheep and worst of all he was an illegitimate child. "... in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)
Yet God sent Prophet Samuel to go to the home of Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons as king. The parade of David's seven brothers turned fruitless, as none of them seemed to have met the criteria. God then ordered the Prophet to ask Jesse whether those were all his offspring. "There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep." (1 Samuel 16:11b) What does that remark tell us? Jesse did not think David would have qualified. Imagine a shepherd boy as king!
However, David was sent for and Prophet Samuel did not sit until he arrived looking "... ruddy with a fine appearance and handsome features." (v12) Then God told Prophet Samuel: "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." (v12c)
David was anointed in the presence of his brothers and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power." (v13) confirming God's choice despite what others thought or were saying about this youngster.
David never had a clue he would one day sit on the throne as Israel’s king, but God made it possible. He became one of Israel’s most renowned kings from whose lineage Jesus Christ would emerge.
Only God qualifies the unqualified.
