Sermon # 23 - Finding Favor With God Series

We read in Judges 6:17-19, So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. Please do not depart from here, until I come back to you, and bring out my offering and lay it before you.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.” Then Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an each of flour; he put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, and brought them out to him under the oak and presented them.” (NASB)

Gideon and the people of Israel were going through a period of tumult, degradation and danger at the hands of the Midianites. The reason for their predicament was their sin, willful disobedience, and rejection of God in their lives. The consequence was that God abandoned them, and handed them over into the hands of the destructive Midianites. The Israelites had experienced God’s mighty hand of deliverance as they crossed the Red Sea, and witnessed God’s power as they saw the huge walls of Jericho crumble before them. However, they failed to remember God’s faithfulness, His mighty deeds, and chose to walk in rebellion against God. It was in the midst of their overwhelming affliction that they cried out to the Lord, who heeded their cries and chose Gideon to deliver the people of Israel from the clutches of the Midianites.

David says in Psalm 23:1, ‘the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’, so whenever like the people of Israel, we are faced with those situations of lack and inadequacy, we must analyze ourselves to see if we are displeasing the Lord in any area of our lives.

We read in Judges 6:17, Gideon wanted to be sure that the favor of the Lord truly rested on him. There may have been many in Israel who may have been qualified for the task, but only Gideon found favor with God.

The life of Joseph is also a beautiful example of one who found favor with God and men. He was hated by his own brothers, sold into slavery, but even as he labored as a slave in Potiphar’s house, Joseph found favor in the eyes of his master. Joseph was falsely accused, and thrown into prison, but even there he found favor in the eyes of the jailer. This was possible only because, the favor of the Lord was on Joseph.

God’s word of encouragement came to Gideon, which changed his mindset from fear to faith, but he wanted to be sure that God’s favor absolutely rested on him. We will study to see the reason God chose Gideon in particular, and as to why God favored him.

If God’s favor rests on us, we can be certain that we will gain the approval from others wherever we go, and whatever our hands purpose to do will surely prosper. For those who are going through a season of prolonged discouragement, shame, lack, failure and disappointment, we can learn lessons from Gideon’s life to consider what we must do for God’s favor to rest on us as well. It is only when God favors us, will we find all our labors being fruitful and all our relationships being blessed.

God favors the humble

Gideon’s humility

In Judges 8:22-23, we see, then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” (NASB)

Gideon obeyed the word of the Lord, and brought about astounding victory for the people of Israel from the hands of the Midianites. The Israelites were so overjoyed that they wanted Gideon and his sons to rule over them. Gideon replied to them, I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” The first quality of Gideon that won God’s favor was his humility. The Lord used Gideon to break the yoke of the Midianites, but even after the great and miraculous victory, Gideon did not take advantage of the fact that God used him, and did not take any credit for his success.

Many people take pride even over simple things like building their own house or owning a car. When God chooses to bless us we must decide to honor God, and not become self-centered and selfish. We live in times when even those who minister in God’s name, advertise themselves, and all that they do through social media. If we do so, we will only receive favor from men, and not find favor with God. The protection over our lives, our jobs, our health and the fact that we are alive is purely because of God’s favor on us. It is only when we honor God in everything will the Lord honor us.