FIVE THINGS GOD DID
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.
This chapter has Stephen’s address to the Jewish council. It is an outstanding summary of the history of Israel, starting with Abraham and ending with Solomon. Stephen concludes by accusing the council of resisting the Holy Spirit and betraying and murdering Jesus. He did not end on a soft note. This address made the council so mad they stoned Stephen to death.
However, in his message, Stephen referred to Joseph and listed five things God did for him. These five things reveal God’s capacity. If God did these things for Joseph, He can do the same for you and me.
Joseph was sold as a slave to Egypt. But God was with him. That is the first thing we see. Joseph was in a demanding situation, but God was with him. Few things could seem as hopeless as being sold into slavery in a foreign land. Joseph knew no one. He had no friends or family to advocate on his behalf. Joseph could have been overwhelmed with loneliness, but God was with him.
God delivered Joseph out of all his troubles. Joseph went through some serious troubles. He was accused of attempted rape of his master’s wife and then tossed into prison. He could have been killed by his Egyptian master, but God delivered him. He could have become despondent in prison, but God was with him. Joseph came out of prison in an extremely strong position because God delivered him.
God gave Joseph favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharoah. These are the third and fourth things God did. When Joseph, the prisoner, stood in front of Pharoah, God’s favor caused him to be liked by the most powerful man in Egypt. And then God gave Joseph the answer to dreams that were troubling Pharoah. Only God could have known what this ruler was dreaming, and God’s wisdom stood out as the answer for the nation. God’s wisdom and favor took Joseph further than he could have ever gone on his own.
Because the fifth thing God did for Joseph was make him the governor, the second in command over the entire nation. Keep in mind that at that time, Egypt was a world power. The only person above Joseph was Pharoah himself.
APPLICATION
We can receive encouragement from what God did for Joseph. God has not changed, nor has He lost any power. What God did for Joseph, He can still do today in our lives.
God is with us. And for those who have made Jesus Lord and Savior, God is not only with us but lives in us by His Spirit. So we are never alone or on our own.
God can deliver us from all our troubles. He has already delivered us from the authority of darkness, and He has not forgotten how to deliver us from the problems we face today. God delivered Joseph then and delivers us now.
God can give us wisdom and favor. These things are part of our inheritance in Christ. And just like Joseph, God’s favor and wisdom can take us much further than we could go on our own.
God can make us governor. Wait, let me rephrase that. I have no desire to be governor, but God can promote His people. I have been given jobs where I was not the best candidate. But God’s favor promoted me and put me on top.
God is good. God is powerful, and God does not change.
PRAYER
Thank You, Father, that You are still the same God. You did remarkable things then, and You still do remarkable things today.