Does God Have Favorites?
by Valarie Fish
I’m God’s favorite. Every time I would make the proclamation to my friend she would scoff, “God doesn’t have favorites.”
But there it is in scripture – Luke 1:28 “And he (Gabriel) came to her (Mary) and said, Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
We don’t know a whole lot about Mary other than she was a “ponderer,” storing and contemplating over the words and actions of her firstborn. We first meet her as a teenager from Nazareth, promised in marriage to a carpenter named Joseph. We know she was troubled – not by the appearance of an angel, but by the words he spoke to her. So much so, the angel had to jump back in with a “Fear not!” in Luke 1:30. No reason to be afraid Mary, “you have found favor with God.”
Now, I have no desire to get the kind of message Mary got from the angel, but I would like to know how she came to be God’s favorite. What qualities did Mary exhibit that made her highly favored? Was she always kind and angelic in her demeanor? Never sassy or grumpy? Wouldn’t you like to know what quality she showed that you can adapt for yourself?
After the angel told Mary she had found favor with God, Gabriel continued with an often used and overlooked imperative word – in the KJV the word is “behold.” In the Greek, (written) ἰδού – (spoken) idou – (pronounced) id-oo', the word means “look and see or know, consider so as to fully understand.” In the Hebrew, the word is (written) הִנֵּה – (spoken) hinnêh – (pronounced) hin-nay' and it includes a tone of surprise. The Amplified Bible translates the word “Listen carefully.”
Listen carefully as God outlines the plan to Mary – you will conceive a son and call him Jesus. It makes perfect sense that the next question would be “how?” Mary knew the circle of life and how babies are made. She also knew how impossible it was for her to be pregnant.
Has God ever asked you to do something you thought was impossible? In the Old Testament covenant with the nation of Israel, God said: “Be holy as I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45 ESV) In the New Testament, the instruction is just as impossible – “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21 ESV)
Following the example of Jesus seems an impossible task. The answer to “how will this be?” Gabriel gave to a confused teenager is the same answer God gives to your question of how to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Mary needed to know what action would be required of her for this to happen. You may want to know how you can follow the example of Jesus, the perfect Son of God who never sinned. What an impossible task!
Luke 1:35 says “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
What a relief! No superhuman qualities necessary – the Holy Spirit will do the work. Mary would be the vessel, and God would provide the power. The same is true for you and the calling God has chosen for you. No special qualities of your own necessary – just allow the Holy Spirit to do the work in you.
So, what made Mary “highly favored?” I think she was highly favored because the God who sees the past, the present, and the future all at the same time knew how Mary would respond to this impossible announcement.
Luke 1:38 – And Mary said, “Behold (listen carefully and with a tone of surprise), I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Before she knew all the details and with faith that the Most High had a purpose and a plan, Mary said yes to God.
You want to be God’s favorite? Open the door to the work of the Holy Spirit in you and say “yes!” Then watch God do the impossible!
