In the Book of Mormon we read of a family with very different types of children. There were some who tended toward modern trends and popular attitudes and despised the religious fundamentalism of their parents, and there were others who believed their parents and discovered that God was real. Nephi was among this latter group. For his faithfulness, the Lord is described as having favored him:
"Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness. And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord" (Mosiah 10:13 – 14).
The Bible too contains stories of siblings disproportionately favored by God but in this case the reason extends into a time before the foundation of the world:
"Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The LORD answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. 'Why is this happening to me?' she asked.
"And the LORD told her, 'The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son' (Gen. 25:21 – 23, NLT).
Paul comments on this story and insists that the source of God's favoritism is not randomness or a lack of justice with God—for God does everything for a reason:
"Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'
"What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion'" (Rom 9:10 – 15, NIV).
But the merits of even the greatest of the foreordained intelligences of God is not a guarantee of God's continued favor; even Jesus earned God's favor through his choices in mortality:
"Jesus continued to advance in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52, BLB).
Ultimately the favor of God is tied to his children's proper fear of him, be it before this life or during this life:
"The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His faithfulness" (Psalm 147:11, NASB).
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