We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן find favor. It is used 37 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. The first time we find our phrase it is used to describe how God considered Noah that was different than anyone else on the face of the earth at that time. Genesis 6:5-8 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth … But Noah מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This does not mean that Noah was perfect because we find later the account of his sin. But there is a difference between Noah and everyone else which was his faith in God that made a difference in how he lived. Because of this God rescued him and his family from the flood. The next use of our phrase is used by Abraham recognizing what motivated YWHW to visit him (Genesis 18:3-5). We see our phrase used when Jacob meets his brother Esau for the first time since he had to flee because Esau wanted to kill him. Genesis 32:3-4 Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother … instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob … ‘I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן in order that I may find favor in your sight.’” This encounter with brothers helps us understand our phrase better. Because Jacob is trying to appease or turn away his brother’s wrath against him because he had stolen his birthright. Genesis 33:8-10 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” We also see our phrase used when Esther approaches the King with requests. Esther 7:3-4 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated (Esther 5:8; 8:5). This use of our phrase to describe asking someone greater than oneself to grant their request is how our phrase is used in our chapter. Let’s look at all five uses. Exodus 33:12-17 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also מָצָ֥אתָ חֵ֖ן found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have מָצָ֤אתָ חֵן֙ found favor in my sight, and I know you by name. Moses knows God has to come up with them to the land so he asks in a manner that respects God’s greatness over him and the people asking for his request to be met. Moses knows that he cannot force God to do this but he request God to do it asking for God to find favor in him and their relationship. So just as Noah and Abraham were not perfect but had faith in God’s grace Moses also appeals in the same way. I’ll close with this great Psalm that makes the point of God giving favor to those who trust in Him. Psalm 84:11-12 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows חֵ֣ן favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
