RR Favor for Friends of Friends By David Harwood

Shavuah Tov,

We considered Yeshua demonstrating favor to His immediate friends Martha, Miriam, and Lazarus. Favor is also illustrated in relationships that are a step removed from a favored friend. 
 
We’re going to look into the favor demonstrated to Lot, Hagar, Israel, Mephibosheth, Peter’s wife’s mom, Onesimus, and us.
 
Consider Lot and Hagar. Both received favor due to their relationship to Abraham. 

God so loved Abraham that He sent angels to rescue His friend’s nephew. Lot and his daughters were delivered from the destruction of Sodom. Why? He was Abrahan’s nephew and the subject of the patriarch’s intercession. God also sustained Hagar, Abraham’s concubine, and her son who were at the point of death. (Genesis 21:15-19)

Those are examples of favor extended to others for the sake of Abraham, God’s favored friend. (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23b)
 
Consider the favor given to Israel for the sake of the patriarchs. 

Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them. Deuteronomy 4:37a) 

This follows through into Paul’s writings. Paul wrote that the Jewish people, Jewish pre-believers, are loved for the sake of the patriarchs. (Romans 11:28) If loved, then favored. One favors those who are loved. Love is the heartbeat of living favor.
 
Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son. King David wanted to do something for Jonathan, even though Jonathan was dead. 

The king asked him, “Is there still anyone from the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” 

“There is still a son of Jonathan,” Ziba said to the king, “with crippled legs.” 

“Where is he?” the king said to him. (2 Samuel 9:3–4a) 

Mephibosheth was elevated to a high status, wealth, restored authority, and intimate fellowship with David. (2 Samuel 9:7,9-10) Why? Jonathan, his father, was David’s beloved covenant friend. (1 Samuel 18:3; 20:16; 23:18) Mephibosheth received favor for Jonathan’s sake.

Here’s another example. Peter’s mother-in-law was ill. What did the Messiah do? He healed her. What brought about this miracle? This unnamed woman received favor because she was a relative of Yeshua’s favored friend. (Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-49)
 
Philemon was asked to receive his renegade slave, Onesimus, back as a beloved brother for Paul’s sake. Paul had favor with Philemon. He’d been instrumental in Philemon’s salvation. Basically, Paul was saying, “If I have favor in your eyes, please show favor to Onesimus”.

I beg you for my child Onesimus ...  perhaps he was separated from you for a while in order that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—as a beloved brother, especially to me but even more so to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. (Philemon 10a,15–17) 

What about us? Consider this:

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name because you belong to Messiah, amen I tell you, he will never lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41) 

Here it is said that, if for the sake of Yeshua, a servant of the Lord receives even the most simple gift, the giver will be rewarded. Note that the servants of the Messiah do not receive the cup of water for their own sake. It is favor for the sake of Yeshua.

We are in the ultimate favor zone for the sake of the Lord. We are counted as righteous for His sake. Let us receive favor, follow Him, and be favorable to those He loves. 

Day 29 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun3-May-202616th of Iyar, 5786 
Le 25:1-18Isa 65Job 19 Jude (Mt 19)
Le 27:16-34Jer 16:19-17:14Jn 14:15-27