BIG IDEA:
THE GOD OF FAITHFUL DELIVERANCE GRANTS FAVOR AND WISDOM TO THOSE LIKE JOSEPH WHO ENDURE UNJUST SUFFERING FOR GOD’S ULTIMATE GLORY
INTRODUCTION:
On this week after Christmas – the day after we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ – what is the world saying today about Jesus? Are they all excited? They are saying Nothing! They have moved on; to most people Jesus is simply irrelevant. To others, they give some lip service to His claims but persist in rejecting Him in their heart. No different than the fickle crowd who sang Hosannas and spread out palm branches before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then turned around a week later and showed their true heart condition as they cried out with one voice as an angry mob to “Crucify Him.”
Stephen in Acts 7 stands before an angry Sanhedrin Council that wants to put a cap on any promotion of Jesus and His resurrection and His coming kingdom. They have brought forward trumped up witnesses to charge Stephen with blasphemy against God; with speaking against Moses and the law and the temple and Jewish worship in general. But who is truly following in the footsteps of the revered patriarchs of old? Is it the members of the Sanhedrin in all of their pompous pride or is it actually Stephen who is following the path of a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Stephen has entered into a quick OT survey course to provide some answers and to turn the tables and issue God’s indictment against self righteous leaders. Last week we reviewed the faith of Abraham. That took us about half way through the book of Genesis. Today we will blitz through the rest of Genesis — looking at the wisdom of Joseph in triumphing over unjust suffering. [After this the pace will pick up considerably – studying the ministry of Moses and then jumping forward to the days of David and Solomon with the emphasis on the temple.] Being filled with faith and with wisdom are two of the characteristics of a Spirit-Filled Christian servant as we saw in our earlier profile of Stephen. The path blazed by Joseph was a type of much of what Jesus came to fulfill and also a pattern for the disciples of Jesus — like Stephen — to follow as well.
THE GOD OF FAITHFUL DELIVERANCE GRANTS FAVOR AND WISDOM TO THOSE LIKE JOSEPH WHO ENDURE UNJUST SUFFERING FOR GOD’S ULTIMATE GLORY
FOUR STEP PROGRESSION IN THE SUFFERING AND EXALTATION OF JOSEPH AND JESUS (WITH APPLICATION TO STEPHEN AND THE SANHEDRIN)
I. (:9a) REJECTION — THE STING OF UNJUST SUFFERING HURTS DEEPLY
– JOSEPH: REJECTION BY HIS BROTHERS AND ENSLAVED IN EGYPT
– JESUS: REJECTION OF THE MESSIAH AT HIS FIRST COMING BY HIS OWN PEOPLE
– APPLICATION TO STEPHEN and the SANHEDRIN
A. Rejection Motivated by Jealousy – an Unjust Attack by Close Relatives
“And the patriarchs became jealous of Joseph”
Albert Barnes: dissatisfied with the favour which their father Jacob showed Joseph, and envious at the dreams which indicated that he was to be raised to remarkable honour above his parents and brethren, Genesis 37:3-11.
Calvin: by a nefarious and impious conspiracy . . . They boasted proudly of their fathers; he showeth what manner [of] persons the chief of them were; to wit, murderers of their brother,
How much did Joseph suffer? Psalm 105: 17-21
Don’t want to minimize his suffering – Gen. 42:21 – “saw his distress when he pleaded with us”
Emotional ups and downs – Trying to please his father Jacob
– Looks like his brothers are going to kill him – what about the insight the Lord had given him in his previous dreams: sheaves of wheat; sun, moon and 11 stars bowing down to him (Gen. 37)
– Stripped of his multi-colored tunic – symbolic of all of the privilege and promise of his young life (37:23)
– Ends up being sold into Egypt
– Rises to position of responsibility in Potiphar’s household
– Wrongly thrown into prison for resisting sexual advances of his wife
– Ignored by the wine taster after giving him a dream reading
– Finally rescued by God and exalted
His prison stint in Egypt was not country club existence
What role did God intend for Joseph to play in the overall scheme of things?
Some lessons from the undeserved suffering of Joseph:
– Patriarchs are not without sin – Sanhedrin boasting in their physical descent
– Family jealousy is the worst kind – Family should protect you
– Collusion is impossible to fight – Mob mentality – difficult for voice of restraint
– Joseph had been trying to please his father – but subjected to severe suffering and rejection
MacArthur: These same individuals Stephen was addressing, only a few months prior, had also sold somebody for envy…Jesus. Mark 15:10 says, “For he [Pilate] knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy.” And Judas sold Him “for thirty pieces of silver” (Mt. 26:15). Just beginning to drive home the convicting knife, Stephen says,”Yes, it’s historical. Your forefathers sold Joseph, the chosen one of God, because they envied him.” I don’t doubt for a minute that some of them began to think back to Jesus, because they knew Stephen represented Jesus; they knew he represented Jesus Christ.
Jesus – rejected by His own people – John 1
Even his own brothers failed to believe in Him during his earthly ministry (John 7:5) – must have been tough growing up as the half-brother of Jesus – never did anything wrong
The stone which the builders rejected – became the chief cornerstone
Is. 53:3 “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and and acquainted with grief”
B. Rejection Manifested by Jail Time in Egypt – Consignment to a Hopeless Pit
“and sold him into Egypt.”
Does provide time for reflection for “The Dreamer”
Strange place for God’s promises to take root and be fulfilled —
Stott: We note at once, that, if Mesopotamia was the surprising context in which God appeared to Abraham (7:2), Egypt was the equally surprising scene of God’s dealings with Joseph. Six times in seven verses Stephen repeats the word “Egypt”, as if to make sure that his hearers have grasped its significance.
You cannot limit God’s blessing to some small geographical box of nationalistic pride
Don’t allow rejection and suffering to make you bitter; don’t be surprised by it; don’t question God’s timetable for deliverance
II. (:9b-10) RESCUE — THE FAVOR OF GOD EXCEEDS OUR EXPECTATIONS –
– JOSEPH
– JESUS – RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH AND EXALTATION
– APPLICATION TO STEPHEN and the SANHEDRIN
4 EXPERIENCES OF GOD’S FAVOR
A. (:9b) God’s Presence
“And yet God was with him,”
In contrast to pattern of rejection of God’s choice by those who did not have discernment
Greatest antidote to Loneliness – spending quality time alone with God for an extended time and proving God to be sufficient and faithful in meeting your deepest spiritual and emotional needs – as well as your basic physical needs
– Alone with God in the pit before being sold into Egypt
– Alone with God in prison – waiting for deliverance and an opportunity to use the wisdom and administrative skill God had given to him
John 3:2 gives good import to this phrase “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
– For Protection and Power
– For granting favor and providential blessing
– For granting effectiveness
Important promise appended to the Great Commission
We know God will never leave us or forsake us
Hope in God’s Presence with His people – wherever they are – rather than hope in God’s blessing on just those within the confines of Jerusalem and surrounding area
B. God’s Deliverance
“and rescued him from all his afflictions,”
Ps. 50:14-15 “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
C. God’s Wisdom
“and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt;”
Especially wisdom to interpret dreams
When Solomon could request anything from God he wished, he chose wisdom. I Kings 3-4
“Behold I have given you a wise and discerning heart”
Luke 2: 40, 52
“The child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
D. God’s Exaltation
“and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.”
Heb. 12:2
Unbelievable privilege for a foreigner; he was still fairly young as well
What a surprising role that goes beyond our expectations for success for Joseph
III. (:11-14) RESTORATION — THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TRANSFORMS EVIL INTO GOOD
– JOSEPH
– JESUS – RESTORATION OF ISRAEL AFTER SPIRITUAL FAMINE DURING THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES AND THE TRIBULATION
– APPLICATION TO STEPHEN and the SANHEDRIN
Gen. 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
Key verse for understanding the life of Joseph
All about the divine perspective – that is why James 1 teaches us important lessons about asking for wisdom when we face various trials – we need God’s perspective on the situation
The testing of your faith produces Endurance
A. Desperate Circumstances Create Divine Opportunities
1. (:11) Desperate Circumstances Exhaust Our Resources
“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it; and our fathers could find no food.”
2. (:12) God Cracks Open the Window of Divine Opportunity
“But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.”
1 Cor. 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
Remember suffering of Job and the tremendous restoration God provided
Stott: It is difficult for us to imagine, and indeed Stephen does not mention, how traumatic this descent into Egypt must have seemed to Jacob. He surely knew that in an earlier famine the Lord had specifically forbidden his father Isaac to “go down to Egypt”, telling him instead to remain in the promised land. Did this ban include Jacob too? It was doubtless to allay Jacob’s qualms that at Beersheba, near the border between Canaan and Egypt, God told him in a night vision not to be afraid to “go down to Egypt”, for he would go down with him, bless him there and ultimately bring him back.
B. God’s Wisdom Promotes Forgiveness and Renewed Fellowship
1. (:13) God’s Wisdom Promotes Forgiveness
“And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh.”
Joseph wanted to test his brothers … did not make it easy for them up front
But Joseph could have chosen to exact revenge against his hateful brothers; he was in a position of strength and they were now vulnerable
James 3:13-18 Remember: Charlie preached on divine wisdom – Joseph proved to be filled with just this type of wisdom – the type that made peace with his undeserving brothers – much to their surprise and relief
2. (:14) God’s Wisdom Promotes Renewed and Overflowing Fellowship
“And Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.”
What a blessed reunion – and the means God used to sustain the nation through a very difficult physical trial; the glory of God and the carrying out of His earthly program was ultimately at stake
Wiersbe: On supposed discrepancy in number between 70 people in the household of Jacob (Hebrew text for Gen. 46:27 and Ex. 1:5) vs. 75 (LXX Greek translation). In their count, the translators included Joseph’s grandchildren (1 Chron. 7:14-15, 20-25). No real contradiction.
Toussaint: One of the most widely accepted solutions is to recognize that the Hebrew text includes Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (a total of 70), but that the Septuagint omits Jacob and Joseph but includes Joseph’s seven grandchildren (mentioned in 1 Chron. 7:14-15, 20-25). This is supported by the Hebrew in Genesis 46:8-26 which enumerates 66 names, omitting Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s two sons.
Chris Vogel: We should not miss the subtlety of connection here. Joseph, granted wisdom by God to care for the needs of those hungry in Egypt and in Canaan is but a pointer to Jesus who likewise cared for the bodies and souls of those who came to him. It should not come as a surprise then that Stephen too distributed food to those in need and that the too is said to wise (Acts 6:3,5,8).
Can’t restore and exalt ourselves – God must make it happen
IV. (:15-16) REST — THE FORGIVENESS EXTENDED BRINGS PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
– JOSEPH
– JESUS – REST IN THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM IN THE PROMISED LAND
– APPLICATION TO STEPHEN and the SANHEDRIN
“And Jacob went down to Egypt and there passed away, he and our fathers. And from there they were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. “
Future rest remains for us – but for now, much work to still do
– The patriarchs ended up their lives in a state of peaceful resolution – family conflicts resolved on the basis of forgiveness – everything traced all the way back to Abraham – the father of the nation
– Buried in the promised land – despite all of their struggles and trials and sojourns in Egypt because of the great famine
Heb. 11:21-22
Jeff Hughes: [Heb. 11:21-22]
iv. Both of these men died showing their great faith. Jacob, who dies, blessing each of his sons, and also the sons of Joseph.
v. Joseph, looking ahead to the promises that God gave to his great-grandfather, Abraham, concerning the deliverance of the nation of Israel from Egypt gives his sons instructions to bring his bones back to Canaan when he dies.
vi. All of these men were carried back to Canaan for burial. They believed God, and looked to the promise of the land to come, that would come, as history bears out.
vii. Today, you can go over to Israel and see the cave and the field that Abraham bought, in faith of the promises that God gave him.
viii. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca, and Leah are all later buried in the same Cave of Machpelah.
ix. The cave was uncovered several years ago beneath a massive building, revealing artifacts from the Early Israelite Period (some 30 centuries old)
x. Upon the capture of Hebron in the 1967 war, the Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces, the late Major-General Rabbi Shlomo Goren, was the first Jew to enter the Cave of Machpelah for thousands of years.
xi. A cave that Abraham bought, in faith, during a journey of faith, following the promises of God.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/stephens-message-pt-1–journeys-of-faith-jeff-hughes-sermon-on-examples-of-faith-57881.asp?page=8
Significance of Shechem:
Constable: In Stephen’s day Shechem was in Samaritan territory. He reminded the Sanhedrin that their ancestral deliverer was buried in the land that orthodox Jews despised and avoided. This was another instance of helping them see that they should not think that the only place God worked was in the Promised Land. Stephen had already referred to Mesopotamia as where God had revealed Himself to Abraham (v. 2).
Stott: There were two patriarchal burial grounds in Canaan. The first was the field and cave of Machpelah near Hebron, which Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite; the second was a plot of ground near Shechem, which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor.
Bock: Stephen’s key point is that burial took place in the promised land, although in Samaria, and the move was an act of faith that God would keep his word.
CONCLUSION: Last week we learned about Spirit-filling from the faith of Abraham; this week Stephen points us to the profile of Joseph —
41:38 Joseph = a man in whom the Spirit of God resides
41:39 full of wisdom
Are you resting in the wisdom of God this morning?
Can you suffer unfair rejection in expectation that God will rescue you in His way and in His timing and bring about the type of resolution that brings Him ultimate glory? (1 Peter)
May we not be stubborn and arrogant like the Sanhedrin leaders – making God after our own image; making idols out of physical things like the land and the temple – expecting that God will give us a free pass because of some superstition or ancestral connection
Did you see Jesus in this passage and appreciate how He suffered for you, the just for the unjust so that He might reconcile you to a holy God?
May we truly experience God’s peace and rest.