We took a break from our teaching on the covenant benefits of
walking with God for a holiday post, but now we’re back on course. Although we’ve stayed on topic, I’d like to
backtrack and pick up from the beginning lesson.
First, we briefly covered that there are many types of covenants - agreements between two or more parties, and they aren't all necessarily good ones. Rules or laws are agreed upon between individuals who are involved in the making of a covenant. If broken the benefits are no longer binding, and in some cases the breaking of the covenant may result in consequences. We'll look at an illustration of that in this teaching.
I also described how it is to our benefit that we learn more about what a covenant between God and man looks like through some examples given to us in the Bible. These individuals walked in the favor blessings promises because by faith they obeyed the laws or "rules" of the agreement.
Our first case led us to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and his story which I titled, "The Messenger of Hell or Hope" based on what God told him to tell the people. Let's continue with a few more who asked for and received favor from the Lord.
Read part one of the series here.
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They Obeyed and Asked
1 – Jeremiah (the weeping prophet) we learned about last time, so let's move to the rest of the lesson.
Next, we're going to take a quick look at what was happening in the life of an earthly country and how its leadership needed a major act of mercy in order to survive.
2
– King Jehoahaz of Israel asked for favor concerning the oppressive behavior
from the King of Syria and the LORD listened.
“Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened
to him (granted his request), for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king
of Syria oppressed them.” (2 Kings 13:4 ESV).
A
little background info on Jehoahaz tells us that he was the eleventh king over
the nation of Israel, and his Hebrew name means Yahweh has held. As a ruler He allowed false God’s to be
worshipped and the people fell away from the LORD. (See 2 Kings 10:34-13:1 for more on his
reign.)
From
the beginning of their formation, Israel has always been a praying nation. When Israel was about to be overtaken the king quickly repented before God for breaking the covenant by
allowing idols, false teaching and satanic worship to enter into the kingdom causing them to fall into captivity.
Jehoahaz
asked for God to show them mercy and be gracious, restoring the covenant He
made with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by sending a deliverer.
God answered a cry of distress and sent help and spiritual blessings. (2 Kings 13:1-9)
Exactly
who was identified as the “deliverer” is in question, but all agree it was the
Lord who saved them when they repented and turned from their wicked ways. (2
Kings 13-14) We know that a final Savior and Deliverer was sent - Jesus, but this was before He came to earth.
Instead
of giving up Jehoahaz pressed in, calling on God to move on behalf of the
people. When he realized his own sin
added to the problem in his kingdom, Jehoahaz repented and pleaded for God to
intercede with favor for Israel.
It
is encouraging how God showed us that even when we have forsaken His covenant,
He is willing to restore it if we return to Him and repent of our sinful
ways. Forgiveness is always available,
even for entire nations.
Let
me ask you something … what is holding you back from being all God wants you to
be? Is fear or being oppressed part of
it? Who are you calling on for help, man,
false gods or God?
Nope,
Not Gonna Do It
Now
we’ll take a glimpse into the life of a trail blazer who God gave a tremendous
task to in leading over a million people on a journey. Frankly, Moses didn’t want to deal with a bunch
of whiny, cranky, disobedient, complaining, ungrateful people for who knows how
long. He’s retirement age at eighty
years old, has a nice comfy farm with a loving wife and now God wants him to
start another career!
We
think we have problems with our kids when they don’t obey and get mouthy, can
you picture being bombarded with a zillion questions, problems and unruly
adults along with their offspring swarming around you at the same time all
wanting answers NOW! No wonder Moses ran
double speed to the Lord in seeking help.
In
my sanctified imagination …
Moses got right to the point and wasn’t afraid to
be blunt in saying,
“Look I’ll go, but who are You going to send with me to
accomplish this?
If You don’t send me
someone, I’m not Your man!”
Or like the
former president George H.W. Bush once said,
“Nope,
not gonna do it! It wouldn’t be prudent
at this juncture.”
When
he gave them a command all they did was complain or disobey. Finally, Moses knew that if he was to finish
the assignment God would have to show Him how through His favor.
3
- When Moses faced overwhelming challenges leading a million plus Israelites
out of Egypt, he prayed for grace and favor in the sight of the LORD. His desire was that God would show him His
ways so that their relationship would grow closer. It wasn’t about gaining favor, but improving
their fellowship so he would gain wisdom in knowing what to do. Take a look at the
conversation he had with Jehovah.
“Moses said to the Lord, see, You say to me, bring up this people,
but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You said, I know you by name and you have
also found favor in My sight. (God telling
Moses that he has His favor, blessing and provision for the assignment.)
Now therefore, I pray You (Moses speaking to the Lord), if I have
found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You
(progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You,
perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly) and
that I may find favor in Your sight. And
(Lord, do) consider that this nation is Your people.
And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give
you rest.” (Exodus 33:12-14 AMP)
God
not only made a way, He was with Moses every step of the journey. Jehovah showed
mercy, favor, goodness and extended compassion when Moses needed a little extra
TLC (tender loving care) during troubles or frustrating periods. Who couldn’t use that?
“So
the LORD said to Moses, I will also do this thing that you have spoken (asked);
for you have found favor (grace) in My sight, and I know you by name.
Moses
said, “Please show me Your glory.”
Then
God said, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the
name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and
I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (verses 17-19)
Like
Moses, the current situation of the world over the pandemic, economy, religion
and politics certainly are causing each of us to face challenges we never
thought we would encounter. If we are to
get through this, we cannot do it alone and definitely must have God’s favor in
showing us how.
What
challenges have you been dealing with that are so overwhelming you cannot find
a way out of them? Have you sought after
God’s grace for guidance, having a desire to know Him and His ways?
Hopelessly
Devoted to Yeshua
Lastly,
let’s take a look at Solomon who wasn’t just a king, but a “prophet” and the
wisest man that ever lived according to scriptures. His name means peaceful friend of God. That pretty much describes the favor on His
life doesn’t it?
Despite
being the builder, author, wisest and richest man who should have known better
in doing some of the things he did, King David’s son Solomon did his share of
falling away from the Lord. Following the steps of his father, he repeatedly
found his way back to the prayer altar to repent.
You
might think that having all that knowledge would keep a person from sinning,
but that would be false. Being hopelessly devoted to His God wasn't exactly a priority at times.
First Kings
chapter 11 reveals that Solomon had hundreds of “royal” wives (700 princesses plus
300 concubines whose main purpose was to produce heirs without all the perks of
being a wife), despite God forbidding intermarriage between certain nations
because they would ruin his relationship with Him out of unbelief.
Solomon
didn’t listen and in his lust for women he allowed them to bring their false
gods and practices into his kingdom. Why do you think he spoke out so much on the topic of being led astray in the book of Proverbs? He wrote from experience to warn future generations.
Solomon fell into idolatry through marrying outside his faith. He wasn’t “hopelessly devoted” to Yeshua –
his Savior, Rescuer and Deliverer as his father King David.
Even
though Solomon did repent, his disobedience to God had major consequences. Sadly, turning his back on God ultimately led
to the division of the kingdom under the reign of his son Rehoboam, that would
never be reunited even to this day. In
fact, Solomon’s sins caused Israel to lose its favored royalty status, leaving him as
the last king of the unified nation with his son never being accepted by the people as their ruler.
Having
developed a close relationship with the Lord after having fallen from God’s
grace, Solomon offers advice in hearing from God and seeking His wisdom
(counsel) for favor.
“Blessed is the man who listens to me (God’s wisdom),
watching daily at my (wisdom’s) gates.
Waiting at the posts of my (wisdom’s) doors.
For whoever finds me (God’s wisdom) finds life,
And obtains favor from the LORD;
But he who sins against me (wisdom) wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me (wisdom) love death.”
(Proverbs 8:34-36 NKJV)
Walking out all his ungodly fantasies and desires, Solomon learned that when he
didn’t listen to the instruction of God, he violated the covenant and broke off
relations with Him. Basically, he chucked
favor out the window for a few good times.
Sinning
against God is actually sinning against yourself, because it destroys the
relationship and covenant promises that were once given. Not walking in wisdom will shorten your life
and that’s exactly what happened with Solomon who died at barely the age of
sixty, half the age of Moses!
Now
how did all that wealth benefit his life in the end? Solomon was wealthy because God kept His promise to His Word despite Solomon's behavior. It was based on the original unselfish prayer request for wisdom in ruling the nation at the beginning of his reign when he was about fifteen - twenty years old (the age depending on discrepancies between scholars).
Favor on a life isn’t about gaining wealth but being blessed by walking closely with God, who out of that devoted relationship
extends favor being pleased in the covenant fellowship.
It’s
About Relationship
What
we learn from these examples of covenant relationship is that those who listen
to God and seek His ways not only grow in relationship with Him, but that He will
grant wisdom to discern every situation we might face. In seeking Him the promise from the covenant
here is that we will, not might, obtain (receive) favor. It’s a sure thing.
Let
me make this clear, those who reject the wisdom of God running only to the Lord
for His favor to bail them out of a situation, they cannot expect to be
rewarded for their selfishness.
Instead
those who do so will receive evil, because their sin remains when they do not
repent or have the desire to seek good.
“He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
but trouble will come to him who seeks evil.” (Proverbs 11:27 NKJV)
Having
the will to return to God’s favor isn’t about getting more stuff from Him, but
it is His reward to those who diligently seek a relationship with Him.
King David knew that kind of relationship
with God and his hope was always in the Lord, not those around him or his
situation. He regularly prayed for God
to show him favor because the LORD promised it to him, and to all who are
His.
Only
those who are heirs to the promises of God through salvation receive the covenant
favor of God. It’s a gift given to
believer’s (those who believe and accepted Jesus as God’s Son) by Jesus through
the power of the Holy Spirit. You cannot
earn it, buy it or receive it any other way.
It
is by the Righteousness of Jesus through His shed blood for the forgiveness of
sins that we become the children of God, thus making us heirs to the favor
promises through covenant relationship.
“But as many as received Him, to them (those who believed) He gave
the right (authority) to become children of God, to those who believe in His
name.” (Read John 1:12)
As
we look back on the blessings of being in covenant favor with God, let us be
thankful that it has been extended to anyone who will believe in Jesus, God’s
Son.
This Week's
Prayer Challenge:
Pray for Wisdom in Returning to God's Favor
Jeremiah sought the Lord for his life to be spared and Moses needed tremendous help in handling an enormous amount of people with all their problems. Finally, even kings humbled themselves before
the Lord by reaching out for God’s hand of mercy as we learned Solomon did when
he asked for wisdom in decision making and Jehoahaz concerning oppression.
We have hardly scratched the surface of covenant relationships. These were only a few
cases that are mentioned in the Bible where God’s covenant blessings were given
through His mercy and favor. I selected
them to demonstrate how God hears the plea of His children of covenant regardless of their background, and
gives favor to those who seek it for unselfish reasons.
What these individuals in common
is prayer, repentance and the desire to remain in fellowship with their
Creator. They all sinned, fell away from
God, walked in their own abilities and failed in some way, but they didn’t
remain in their sin.
God’s promises are for
everyone who will believe and obey His Word through the salvation covenant in Jesus Christ. You don’t have to be a prophet, king or head
of a large group … you only have to be a faithful child of His through covenant.
Taking heed to the words of another prophet, Isaiah, pray for wisdom in returning to God and be blessed in His covenant favor.
“I will recount the LORD’s faithful acts (loving
deeds);
I will sing the LORD’s praises, because of all the
LORD did for us
(you and me).
For God’s great favor toward the house of Israel
(and those grafted in through salvation).
God treated them compassionately (according to His
mercy)
and with deep affection (with loving deeds).
God said, Truly, they are My people, children who
won’t do what is wrong, God became their Savior.” (Isaiah 63:7 CEB emphasis
mine)
Song by John Wesley
Until next time, return to covenant favor!
“Favor waits for those who covenant with Me.”
- Jesus Christ
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as
treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
What’s
New This Week: Click on links below.
Walking
Wisely: Real Guidance for Life’s Journey
Real
Life Solutions for Everyday Situations
Dr.
Charles Stanley
Available
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