As we conclude our series on ‘Favour’, today we explore the connection between perception and divine favour. Our perception of God’s favor influences how we experience it – what we can perceive, we can partake of. The story of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, perfectly illustrates this. In Genesis 25, we read that Rebekah experienced a difficult pregnancy, and in her distress, she sought the Lord (vs.21-22). The Lord revealed to her, “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (vs.23). This prophetic word foreshadowed that Jacob would rise above Esau, despite Esau being the firstborn. Although Esau was favored by their father Isaac (vs.28), Jacob aligned himself with God’s plan.
Esau’s downfall came when he despised his birthright. After returning famished from the field, he traded his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew with a simple verbal agreement (vs.29-34). In a moment of weakness and ignorance, Esau failed to perceive the value of his birthright, and he traded it for temporary satisfaction, saying, “What good is the birthright to me?” Esau escalated his hunger into a life-or-death situation, saying, “I am about to die,” when in reality, he was simply hungry. Temporary, fleshly desires can cloud our perception of God’s promises, and in these moments, we become vulnerable to the enemy, who exaggerates our circumstances to make us feel like we’re on the verge of losing everything. Esau despised his birthright, and it cost him dearly. Jacob, on the other hand, recognized the value of the birthright, and his perception allowed him to partake in God’s blessings. In the same way, we must recognize and value the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ Jesus. Favor is a part of our birthright, but if we fail to perceive its worth, we may forfeit it, just like Esau did. Like Jacob, let us strive to align ourselves with God’s Word, knowing that His favor is available for us to walk in every day.
Expecting favor is not arrogance; it comes from knowing who we are in Christ and having a strong conviction that God has the best intentions for us. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” God is a rewarder, not a punisher; and if we don’t believe this, we hinder our ability to receive from Him. When Israel was preparing to conquer Jericho, God said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its warriors“ (Joshua 6:2). God called Joshua to envision victory before it physically manifested. This highlights the power of imagination – we must visualize God’s favor as if it is already ours, because it is. Proverbs 23:7 echoes this, saying, ‘As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’ We see this principle at work in Genesis 15, where God instructed Abram to look toward the heavens and envision his descendants as numerous as the stars (vs. 5). This provided Abram with a vivid mental image that allowed him to maintain hope of the future that awaited him. The principle is clear: if you can see it in your mind, you can possess it in reality. Like Abram, we must align our imagination with God’s Word. Even when doubts arise, God calls us to shift our focus back to His promises and envision the good things He has in store for us. And while perception is key to activating His favor, we must also confess it with our mouths. Philemon 1:6 reminds us that our faith becomes effective by acknowledging every good thing in us through Christ Jesus. It is important for us to recognise and vocalise the blessings from God. As we consistently declare and acknowledge these virtues, they begin to bear fruit – first thirtyfold, then sixty, and finally, a hundredfold. Therefore, let us not grow weary in speaking and believing God’s Word, trusting that in time, we will see the full manifestation of God’s favor in our lives.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your abundant favor, and for the divine inheritance we have through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, teach us to acknowledge the good things that are in our grace package, and help us to walk confidently in the blessings God has availed to us. In Jesus name, Amen!
