Favor Comes From God

I. EXORDIUM:

Have you plundered someone before?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

General

III. OBJECTIVES:

GOD gives the favors

IV. TEXT:

Exodus 12:36

The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!

Pray:

Oh Father, GOD of all favors, give us favors even with our enemies, cause them to act favorably toward us and give us what we want.

V. THESIS:

Favor comes to us thru GOD.

VI. TITLE:

Favor comes from GOD

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author and Central Character: Moses

B. Key Thought: Deliverance

C. Symbolisms:

1. Egypt - sin/slavery of sin

2. Exodus - deliverance from sin

3. Israelites - type of the believer

D. Main Theme:

History of Israel from death of Joseph to the erection of the tabernacle.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Highlights:

1. The LORD causes the favor.

- if we please the LORD, He makes our enemies to live at peace with us. (Proverbs 16:7)

Proverbs 16:7

When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.

2. The Favor:

Egyptians gave what Israelites asked for.

- Gold and silver are owned by GOD. (Haggai 2:8)

Haggai 2:8

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

- Gold and silver are to be requested from the egyptians (Exodus 3:21-22)

Exodus 3:21-22

21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.

22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.”

= gold and silver jewelries

= fine clothing

3. The Israelites are like victorious army.

- they plundered their enemies (Exodus 12:36, Exodus 3:21-22)

Exodus 12:36

The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!

Exodus 3:21-22

21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.

22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.”

- 600,000 men (Exodus 12:37)

Exodus 12:37

That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children.

4. The Israelites plundered the egyptians.

- slaves plundered their masters

- the weak overcame the strong, the foolish overcame the wise. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

Result: Other people who were not Israelites joined them (Exodus 12:38, Esther 8:17)

Exodus 12:38

A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.

Esther 8:17

In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.

- they also plundered the people from the egyptians.

- unruly people willing to change their nationality just for an exchange of the blessings.

IX. CONCLUSION:

The LORD gives the favor.

- The LORD gives success and favor (Psalms 90:17)

Psalms 90:17

And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

- The LORD is the source of all favors (Proverbs 8:35, Proverbs 18:22)

Proverbs 8:35

For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 18:22

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.