Undeniable Redemption

Over the last few weeks as we have been studying God’s favor, I came to the realization that most of the time I get this concept wrong. I have an unhealthy tendency to think about God’s favor as a component I need in order to see my desires come to pass. While often that is a bi-product, the favor of God is really not about me at all. Instead it is all about God and His purposes.

Think about Esther’s life. Over and over we read about the favor she found with both God and men. This favor took her to unexpected places and put her in the midst of unplanned challenges. Ultimately it gave her an opportunity to step out in faith and be a voice for her people, resulting in a series of events that could only be attributed to God. The vision that God was working out was so much bigger than Esther; God was bringing redemption to His people. The way God worked was so profound that the Jewish people established a holy day called Purim to commemorate and celebrate it annually.

Reflecting on Esther’s story, I see a woman who honored God. In turn God’s hand was in her life in an unmistakable way. Esther knew she was not the focus, but put her trust and attention in the right place – on her Almighty God. As a result, God was able to display His redemption in an undeniable way.

What is interesting, is how consistently the Bible connects God’s favor with the story of redemption. Take Joseph for example. He was sent into captivity by his brothers. As a slave and even as a prisoner, God gave him favor. Then, after many years, through uncontrollable timing, events far beyond Joseph’s ability to execute, he rose to a place of power in Egypt. Only God could take a foreign prisoner and make him second in command over night. And the story doesn’t stop there.

A few years later, due to severe famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for help. Little did they know, the little brother they sold as a slave would be used to save their lives. Look at how Joseph describes what happened, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” (Genesis 45:7-8 NASB) Just like with Esther, God used Joseph to preserve the life of His people and to display His redemptive power.

Another example is a woman named Ruth. Like Joseph, Ruth was a foreigner, only she was a Moabite widow living among the Jewish people. In order to provide for herself and her mother-in-law, Ruth went to work in the fields. God gave her favor with a man named Boaz. Because of Ruth’s excellent reputation and his devotion to God’s principles, Boaz choose to marry Ruth. This marriage followed an ancient practice and set Boaz up as what we call the kinsman-redeemer.

Through God’s favor, when Boaz married Ruth, their marriage painted a picture of the coming Messiah. In the future, Jesus would give His life to be the kinsman-redeemer for all mankind. And when the Messiah, Jesus was born, He would be born into the family line of King David, the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. God’s favor on Ruth was pointing to His redeeming love.

Do you see the connection? Ultimately, as God’s children, our lives are meant to tell His story. A life that is devoted to God, will be anointed by the favor of God. And God’s favor will always undeniably point to His redemption.