Pastor John shared about Aaron’s prayer for his people in Numbers 6:24-26. In Numbers 6:25, God shining His face upon us is to have God focus His attention on us and shower favour upon our lives.
Pastor John shared a few things about the favour of God. It is God’s approval and preference for us that causes His extraordinary presence, goodness and blessing to manifest in our lives. It also has the effect of causing others to also prefer us and want to bless and do good towards us (Exodus 33:16). The favour of God upon our lives are marked by His manifest presence with us and His supernatural blessing upon us that distinguish us from all other people who do not have God (Exodus 33:17-18). The favour of God releases His goodness, grace and compassion upon us, revealing His glory upon our lives (Isaiah 60:10, Psalm 119: 58)!
Many examples of biblical characters were cited to illustrate how they had enjoyed favour with other people including their enemies due to God’s favour in their lives. They are:
a. Jacob (Gen 33:1-16)
b. Israelites (Exo 12:36)
c. Esther (Es 2:15, Es 7:3)
d. Joseph (Gen 39:4, Gen 39:21, Acts 7:9,)
e. Daniel (Daniel 1:9, 17,19)
f. David (Acts 7:46)
God gives favour freely. God's favour is for us to glorify Him and to point others to Him. As we walk in step in His will, He enables our paths to be straight and we walk under an open heaven of His grace. Through the example of Mary, Ps John shared the example of how God's favour is upon our lives to enable us to accomplish His purposes.
Lastly, Ps John mentioned about corporate favour. God's desire is for His church to grow as people come to know Him. As His church, may we be lovers of His presence and wise stewards of His favour.
Discussion Questions
1 What does ‘favour’ mean? What is your understanding of the word ‘favour’ in the bible? [10 min]
Leader’s Notes: A recap question. Ask members what comes to their mind when someone approaches them and ask: “May I please ask you for a favour?” What could have prompted that asking? Who would you normally approach for favours?
The most common Hebrew word in the OT translated as ‘favour’ is ‘gracious kindness’ or ‘approval’ or ‘free act of kindness’. Refer to Genesis 6:8; 39:4; Exodus 33:13; Esther 7:3. It is used in reference to seeking the favour or the attention or respect of God with the end of receiving His benefit. As New Testament believers, God’s favour is already with us. The New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew meaning is ‘charis’ which can be translated as ‘grace’. It is used in the context of describing what is due to grace. It refers to the spiritual condition of one who walks under grace is experiencing the favour of God. Refer to Luke 1:30; Acts 2:46-47. [notes partially adapted from ‘Walking in God’s favour’ by Arrows Resources]
2 What can we learn about God’s favour from the scriptures below?[10 min]
a. Numbers 6:24
b. Exodus 33:13
c. Exodus 33:16
d. Luke 1:30
Leader’s Notes: How does the favour of God look like? Is favour the tangible material blessings of God, or it is something more? God does not have favourites, but He can be intimate with us as we choose to grow deeper in our walk with Him. He hopes that we will delight in His presence and not merely His presents.
a. Numbers 6:24 “The LORD make His face shine on you - It means to have God’s favour rest upon your life.
b. Exodus 33:13 “..so that I may find favour in Your sight - Is to have Him focus His attention on you to shower His favour upon your life. Favour is God’s approval and preference for you that causes His extraordinary presence, goodness and blessing to manifest in your life.
c. Exodus 33:16 “ .. Is it not by Your going with us - Is marked by His manifest presence with us and His supernatural blessing upon us that distinguish us from all other people who do not have God.
d. Luke 1:30 “..for you have found favour with God - The favour of God that is already upon your life when you host the presence of Jesus in you! God’s favour is upon you for His purposes to be accomplished through you.
3 How does the favour of God benefit us? [15 min]
Leader’s Notes:The prayer for the favour of God is one of the most common petition recorded in the Old Testament. There are many examples in the OT on how God’s favour was marked with the supernatural manifested presence and blessings of God.
Exodus 33:17, Isaiah 60:10, Psalms 119:58 > The favour of God releases His goodness, grace and compassion upon you, revealing His glory upon your life! When the favour of God is upon you, people are also drawn to want to do good to you and be gracious to you including those people who were your enemies!
Daniel 1:9, 1:17, 6:23 > Daniel along with his 3 friends had supernatural knowledge and intelligence, understanding all kinds of visions and dreams and were even protected from harm.
Genesis 39:4, Esther 2:15, Acts 7:46> Each of them found favour in God’s sight and lived a significantly impactful life. The favour of God even causes people who want to do harm to you to do good to you instead!
4 How would you like to walk in the favour of God? [10 min]
Leader’s Notes: A response question. Read Luke 2:52 “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men (NASB95)”. You can increasingly walk in this supernatural favour as you grow in the knowledge of God and in intimacy with Him. Take time to reflect on how we can endeavor to be like Christ who knows the importance of relating to God His Father deeply and greatly. We return to the basics of Christian living that is to put time aside to know Him (through His Word) and to relate to Him (through prayers). The deeper the relationship, the more confident we are when we come before God to ask for His favour!
