Responding to Divine Favour

When reading the Old Testament, many people encounter stories that can seem morally puzzling at first glance. Why does Abraham leave Egypt richer while Pharaoh suffers plagues? How do we reconcile God's love for all nations with narratives where some prosper while others face judgment? These accounts often challenge our modern sensibilities about fairness and divine justice.

However, a closer examination reveals a profound spiritual principle at work: wherever God's people go, divine favour accompanies them, creating opportunities for blessing that can extend far beyond the covenant community itself. This reflects God's original promise to Abraham:

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse" (Genesis 12:3).

The key factor determining whether others experience this blessing or face negative consequences lies not in God's favouritism, but in how people choose to respond to His presence and favour.

When Divine Favour is Received Well

The story of Joseph provides a compelling example of what happens when foreign rulers recognise and honour God's anointing on His servants. When Pharaoh elevated Joseph in Egypt, both Joseph and the entire nation prospered tremendously during seven years of devastating famine. Pharaoh didn't respond with jealousy or suspicion to Joseph's God-given wisdom; instead, he embraced it and made Joseph second-in-command. The result was that Egypt became the salvation of the known world.

Daniel's experience in Babylon demonstrates this same principle. When King Nebuchadnezzar honoured Daniel's divine wisdom and spiritual gifts, both Daniel and the Babylonian kingdom flourished. The king recognised that Daniel's abilities came from God and elevated him accordingly. His willingness to receive what God had placed in Daniel created a mutually beneficial relationship.

In both cases, these foreign rulers made a crucial choice: rather than seeing God's favour as a threat, they saw it as a resource to be embraced. Their openness positioned them to participate in divine blessing rather than oppose it.

When Divine Favour is Rejected or Exploited

The story of Laban and Jacob illustrates what happens when someone initially recognises God's blessing but then allows jealousy and greed to corrupt their response. Laban explicitly acknowledged that "the LORD has blessed me for your sake" (Genesis 30:27) and witnessed firsthand how everything Jacob touched prospered. However, instead of maintaining gratitude and partnership, Laban repeatedly changed Jacob's wages and tried to manipulate the situation to his advantage. His jealousy and dishonesty ultimately led to Jacob's departure—taking substantial wealth with him. Laban had the opportunity to be a long-term partner in divine blessing, but his response transformed potential partnership into eventual loss.

Egypt's relationship with Israel demonstrates this pattern even more dramatically. The Egyptians had witnessed God's extraordinary favour through Joseph, which had literally saved their nation from famine. However, a later generation chose to forget this history and instead enslaved the very people through whom they had been blessed. This rejection of God's people became a rejection of God's favour itself. The plagues and the exodus represented the natural consequence of Egypt's choice to oppose rather than partner with divine purpose.

The Principle in Christian Life

This same principle operates in the New Testament and continues to apply today. When Jesus sent out His disciples, He gave them specific instructions that reflect this ancient pattern:

"Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you... But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you'" (Luke 10:8, 10-11).

Jesus understood that His disciples carried divine favour wherever they went. Communities that received them well would experience the blessing of God's kingdom, while those that rejected them would miss out on what God wanted to do in their midst.

This principle is further clarified in Jesus' words:

"He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward" (Matthew 10:41).

The blessing isn't automatic—it comes through recognition, reception, and honour given to God's anointed servants.

Today, this same dynamic continues as believers carry God's presence and favour into their workplaces, communities, and relationships. The question isn't whether God wants to bless those around us—He does. The question is whether people will recognise, receive, and partner with what God is doing, or whether they'll respond with jealousy, exploitation, or rejection. Our role is simply to faithfully carry His presence and hope that others receive the blessing that God desires to bring.