The Success Formula

so is My word that comes out of My mouth, it does not return empty to Me but does what I desire, and makes prosper what I have sent.  Isaiah 55:11  Robert Alter

Makes prosper – Robert Alter chooses to translate the conjunction כִּי אִם־ as “makes prosper,” but in this case it seems the NASB and BDB capture the idea a little better.  Ki-im is really two conjunctions combined, usually translated as “surely, unless, except, but,” or “only.”  While “makes prosper” captures the verb “to do, to make,” the sense seems to be “without accomplishing.”  It’s true that the word from God’s mouth achieves its intended end, but here the emphasis seems to be on the inevitability of the result.  It always succeeds.  This is the biblical success formula.  No plan of God’s can be thwarted, as Job reminds us.  We just need to remember that the biblical success formula applies only to God.  All the rest of creation, including us, is subject to confounding circumstances.

However, that isn’t quite as dire as it sounds.  You see, God has you in His plans.  He speaks you into the fabric of the universe.  You are also something that comes from His mouth.  His intention for you will be accomplished provided only that you decide to cooperate.  You can’t actually re-direct the ultimate outcome, but you can delay or re-route the path.  Hopefully, not.  Cooperation means success.  In that sense, Alter is right.  God makes His purposes prosper and if you are a cooperating element in those purposes, then you too will find fulfillment.  That doesn’t mean you’ll be rich, famous, wise, and healthy.  God’s purposes involve you—in whatever way He chooses.  The great heroes and heroines of the faith recognized this, sometimes after considerable remedial training, but their insights and the lessons they learned should help us avoid confounding circumstances and stay on the course.  In that respect, it’s very nice to know that God gets what He wants—always!

It’s also very nice to know that God desires this happy cooperation.  The verb is ḥāpēṣ.  “The basic meaning is to feel great favor towards something.”^[1]  Leon Wood’s explanation is important:

Its meaning differs from the parallel roots, ḥāmad, ḥāšaq, and rāṣâ, in that they connote less emotional involvement. ḥāmad and ḥāšaq are usually translated “desire,” and rāṣâ “accept,” favor being based on need, or judgment of approval. In the case of ḥāpēṣ, the object solicits favor by its own intrinsic qualities. The subject is easily attracted to it because it is desirable. A fourth root, gîl, somewhat parallel, connotes even greater emotional involvement.^[2]

God’s word isn’t formal, rational proclamation.  Instead, it’s loaded with personal emotion.  It’s intimate, involved, intentional, intrusive, intoxicating, and invincible.  Good to know, right?

Topical Index: ḥāpēṣ, desire, ki-im, without, accomplishing, success, Isaiah 55:11

^[1] Wood, L. J. (1999). 712 חָפֵץ. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 310). Chicago: Moody Press.

^[2] Ibid.