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| Acts 7:9-16 - Shaped through Change |
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In Acts chapter 7, Stephen is giving a defense in response to the religionist of His day trying desperately to hang on to the status quo. They feel threatened that Jesus and His followers were going to bring change to their religious institution. Instead of embracing the change that God is bringing, they resort to lies. Stephen takes a stand for faith and justice.
In the first paragraph of chapter 7, Stephen refers to Abraham. In the second paragraph (Acts 7:9-16), he paints them a picture of Joseph.
"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
(Acts 7:9-16 ESV)
Joseph was mistreated by people, but He became a very successful instrument of God that was used to save many from famine. Instead of becoming sour and bitter from his mistreatment by some, Joseph accepted the change that came his way and allowed God to mold and shape him through it.
- God was with Joseph. His own family treated him poorly and his brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt, but God was with Him.
- God rescued Joseph.
- God gave Joseph favor and wisdom.
- God brought Joseph through all afflictions and put him in a position to help others.
This paragraph of Scripture teaches us much and is very relevant to us in our day. Not everyone will treat you right, but God always will. He will take what people mean for bad and turn it around for good. If you allow Him, God will bring you through all afflictions and put you in a position so that you can help others.
Always take a stand for faith and justice. It’s the right thing to do. Allow change to shape you. Let God do the rest. He will use you to help many people.
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