Have you ever landed a job you weren’t the most qualified for? How about a promotion you didn’t expect, or a blessing you didn’t anticipate? You probably called it the “Favor of God.” You weren’t wrong, but you weren’t entirely right, either. God’s favor is not limited to tangible blessings. If you’ll read on, I’m going to challenge your theology on this topic, but bear with me. You’ll be glad you did.

What is Favor?

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Favor isn’t fair”? It’s often used in reference to Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons. He was supposed to lay his right hand on the oldest son, Manasseh, and his left hand on Ephraim. The right hand signified the blessing of the first born, which was a double portion of that of the other sons. But, instead:

“Jacob crossed his hands, and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, even though he was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, who was the older.” (Genesis 48:14).

Why did Jacob cross his hands? Why did Ephraim get the blessing intended for his brother? Was it favor? Why does God bless one person differently than another? Doesn’t it seem unfair? The short answer is, God is sovereign. The longer answer involves our faith in a God who is entirely good, Who is no respecter of persons, Whose good pleasure it is to bless His people, Who daily loads us with benefits, and Who gives rain in due season.

Maybe the reason Jacob gave his grandson, Ephraim the first born’s blessing had something to do with the meaning of his name. Joseph called his son Ephraim saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (Genesis 41:52). When Joseph brought his sons to their grandfather to be blessed, he knew Jacob’s eyes were dim. Therefore, he intentionally placed Manasseh near Jacob’s right hand and Ephraim near his left. In other words, Joseph put his sons in the correct positions. But when Jacob crossed his hands, he illustrated that position and blessing are not interconnected. You can have a position without blessing, and likewise be blessed without a position.

The blessing that Jacob was about to pronounce upon Ephraim would be almost identical to the one his father, Isaac pronounced over him in Genesis 27:28-29.

Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you! (NKJV).

Before he laid his hands upon his grandsons, Jacob crossed his right hand over his left–disregarding their birth order, their positions, and the wishes of their father–and pronounced the blessing of the first born upon Ephraim instead of Manasseh. With this blessing came the promises of provision, power (authority), and protection. That is the favor of God.

Favor is Connected to Purpose

You can be blessed and not necessarily have God’s favor. David said,

For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:3 NKJV)

But it is impossible to have God’s favor and not be blessed. Remember the meaning of Ephraim’s name? Fruitful. Again, when Joseph named him he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” When Jacob pronounced the blessing upon Ephraim, he must’ve remembered the favor of God upon Joseph during his captivity in Egypt.  God gave him provision, power, and protection for his purpose.

Now, Ephraim’s unexpected double portion blessing was a symbol that the favor of God is not based upon one’s birth order, one’s position, one’s accomplishments or some other measuring stick. The favor of God isn’t about what’s fair or who is first in line. Just as in Joseph’s case, the very purpose of the favor of God is about preserving your purpose. Joseph’s purpose was to save his family in the famine, and ultimately the national of Israel. Despite Joseph’s suffering, everything he touched was blessed. He became a slave, and was blessed. He was falsely accused and imprisoned, and was blessed. He was brought before Pharaoh, and was blessed. Joseph’s purpose would’ve been aborted, and his life taken, had it not been for the favor of God upon his life.

Now let me apply this principle to your life. Your adversary was about to unleash hell on you, but your Heavenly Father crossed his hands like Jacob, and blessed you when it wasn’t your turn. Suddenly, your lack turned into plenty, your weakness turned into authority and your vulnerability turned into protection. You felt like you were losing ground, but now you’re moving forward with Favor!

When God lays His favor upon you, it’s not just so you can remain passive and enjoy the fruit of His hand. His favor is connected to a calling, and therefore a purpose. You may ask, “How do I know if I have a calling and a purpose?” The answer is, If you are experiencing uncommon attacks from your adversary–the devil–you have a purpose he is trying to extinguish. You can obviously never repay God for his favor and blessings upon your life, but you can honor and glorify Him by pursuing your purpose!

FAVOR ISN’T WHAT YOU THINK IT IS

Let’s keep goin. I found something interesting in Psalm 5:12.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

I’ve read this a thousand times. But, one day I read it and the word, “shield” jumped off the page at me. I thought, “Wait a minute. A shield is a defensive weapon. A shield blocks the arrows of the adversary from striking me. What does that have to do with favor?” That’s when the Lord gave me this revelation, “Favor isn’t what you think it is.”