Experience: S2 - Day 3

The risk of standing up for what you believe in

Acts 7:9 “These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.

11 “But a famine came upon Egypt and Canaan. There was great misery, and our ancestors ran out of food. 12 Jacob heard that there was still grain in Egypt, so he sent his sons—our ancestors—to buy some. 13 The second time they went, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and they were introduced to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and all his relatives to come to Egypt, seventy-five persons in all. 15 So Jacob went to Egypt. He died there, as did our ancestors. 16 Their bodies were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb Abraham had bought for a certain price from Hamor’s sons in Shechem.

17 “As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased. 18 But then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. 19 This king exploited our people and oppressed them, forcing parents to abandon their newborn babies so they would die.

As Stephen continues to share the Israelite story, it’s clear that their story has not been an easy one.

Starting with Joseph being sold into slavery by his own family, to famine and misery, to the change of regimes that led to oppression and extreme cruelty, the Israelite story is littered with hardships and pain.  Those hardships and pain can do at least one of two things: they can push you to reject your identity and run away from all the hardships, or these circumstances can strengthen your bonds to each other as you lean on one another to survive.

As difficult as it was at times, the Israelites persevered, but they were never alone.  God was with them even when they didn’t think he was.  At every step, God continues to work to fulfill His promises.  With Joseph’s misfortune, God worked and used those circumstances not only Joseph’s family but the people of Egypt and Cana as well.  As we’ll see as Stephen goes on, God continued to be faithful to the Israelites even in a land of slavery, even to the point of helping the Egyptians realize who the one true God was.

So again, it all comes down to focus.  We can focus on our difficulties, our bad circumstances, our struggles, or we can focus on the One who is bigger than any circumstance we face.  Stephen was focus on his Savior, right up to the very end.  In my faith journey, I have noticed that it’s easier to take risks for Jesus, when I’m focused on Him and all the risks He took for me.

Questions:

1. Are there hardships you’ve faced that you feel actually strengthened your faith?  If so, what were they, and how did they strengthen your faith?
2. Have you ever gone through a season in life when you felt as if God wasn’t there, only to have Scripture or someone try to tell you otherwise?  Did their words help or hurt?
3. Choose one quality of Jesus that you love to focus on throughout the day today.  Take note of how your day started versus how your day ended when you kept that quality as a focus of your day.