Rescue and Favor

Day 160: Acts 7:1-29

"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." - Acts 7:9-10 ESV

Stephen, the former table-waiter, now finds himself faced with a problematic question surrounding the false accusations brought forth about him and what he was teaching. Led by the Spirit, he perceives it is time to let these religious elites know what following Jesus was all about.

Of all things to bring up, Stephen decides to launch into a Hebrew Bible lesson, spanning the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. Though we don't have time to unpack why he puts so much emphasis in today's reading on Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, I do want to point out the language he uses to describe Joseph's experience.

From a spoiled son to a purchased slave and then onto being a prisoner, Joseph endured his fair share of "affliction." In it all, God was at work, rescuing him and laying favor on him everywhere he turned. Yet, rescue and favor didn't come without the trials. He wasn't given a free pass from hardship. Instead, Joseph had to walk through the high waters:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” - Isaiah 43:2 NIV

Are you feeling any resistance in this world as you follow Jesus? That doesn't mean that God has left you. He is still rescuing you and giving you His favor. This isn't going to be easy, but God will put you into a place where you can have maximum influence in this dark world.

"The sons of Jacob sold their brother Joseph into slavery in Egypt. But God was continuously superintending the accomplishment of that one increasing purpose which he inaugurated when he called the father of the faithful out of Mesopotamia, and which was to find its consummation in the coming of Christ." - Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts (pp. 136–137)