The Favor of Man

When I pray for my little brothers, or my cousins, or my friends, I always pray that their portion is one where they are recipients of both the favor of God and the favor of men.

Jacob’s storyline as a father presents him as a sub-type of God. His love for Joseph is symbolic of God’s fatherly love toward us, His children. But also consider that it is symbolic of the favor of one man to another man. Ultimately, Jacob is truthfully a mere man who has favored his son Joseph, another man, with responsibility and a robe fit for kings.

In addition to the gifts that God favors you with, you may also find that you are favored by men. This is not a favor that you would have positioned yourself to attain, nor is this a favor that you would have sought or chased after. For reasons unknown to you, for simply being you, you will find yourself in places where men – humans – will favor you.

You may consistently find yourself in positions where people expose you to their high-value networks. Others may find themselves in positions where people are always willing to invest in their projects or assignments. You may have the ability to pick up and go to any country in the world because no matter where you find yourself there are people who will freely open up their homes to you. Your favor may be that you consistently find people who will place you in strategic or influential positions even though you do not hold the traditional status, qualifications, experiences, or background that would qualify you.

Whatever it is, take note of the ways in which men favor you, or the combination of favors you have received.

The Practical: Reflections, Journaling & Prayer

1. Pick 5 ways in which you have noted that different people or the same person consistently favor you.
2. Write them down, giving specific examples.
3. Thank God for the ways in which He has allowed man to favor you.

This plan was adapted from my book Dreamer, and its accompanying journal.