BUT GOD WAS WITH HIM
ACTS 7:9-10 NKJV
9 "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Stephen was falsely accused of speaking blasphemous words against the temple and God's law. In reality, he had done no such thing but was turning people from Judaism to Christ. The rulers were determined to stop him. Chapter seven is his defense.
Stephen outlines the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. Our passage for today describes what happened to Joseph.
Joseph's brothers were envious of him. He was his father's favorite and had been given a special coat. To add to their anger, Joseph shared some of his dreams that God had given him. These dreams involved all his brothers bowing down to him. As you can imagine, that did not go over well.
Joseph's brothers were going to kill him. But instead, they sold him as a slave to a roving group of traders. Slavery must have looked like a dead end for Joseph, but God was with him.
And God delivered him out of all his troubles. Joseph was promoted as a slave and wound up running his master's entire affairs. But a scorned woman falsely accused him of rape, and he was thrown into prison. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles.
Joseph wound up running the prison until one day he was brought before Pharoah. God gave him favor and wisdom, and he wound up running the country.
Joseph stayed faithful to God, and God was faithful to Joseph. Even though he experienced setbacks and difficulties, he stayed true to God, and God exalted him.
APPLICATION:
One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:31. If God is for us, who can be against us?
Another favorite verse is Hebrews 13:5, where God promises to never leave or forsake us.
It's great that God was with Joseph. But we don't just look back and see what God did for him. We can believe that God is with and for us. If God delivered Joseph and gave him favor, God can still do the same for us today.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Father, that You are with me, for me, and deliver me from all my troubles. I will walk close with You!