THE LIFE OFABRAHAM: ACTS 7:1-8
Stephen’s sermon or history lesson is the longest recorded message in the Boole of Acts. Verse 1 finds Stephen being tried by the Sanhedrin on the trumped-up charge of blasphemy. The high priest wanted to know if the charges against Stephen were true. He asked Stephen that question in Acts 7:1. As Stephen begins his defense in verse 2, we see him take a different approach than most. Here, Stephen was on trial for his life, and instead of trying to defend himself, we see him, in a sense, putting the Sanhedrin on trial. He then proceeds to give them a history lesson based on their past. Starting in verse 2 he opens with the life of Abraham.
In the Gospels we have two genealogies given of the Lord Jesus Christ. The one in Matthew’s account, which was written to Jews, goes back only as far as Abraham. The one in Luke, written to Gentiles goes back to Adam and then to God Himself. When the Jews traced their history as a people, they went back to the father of their nation, Abraham.
In verse 2 Stephen tells us that the glory of God appeared to Abraham and in verse 3 told him to leave his homeland and “come into a land that I will show you.” Verse 4 informs us that Abraham left his home in the land of the Chaldeans. Abraham did not know where he was going but was willing to trust God. The Hebrew writer in Heb. 11:8 alludes to this fact. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
In verse 5 we are told that Abraham did not receive any of the land of Canaan for his own ownership. The only land that he owned was a field with a cave he purchased for a burial place (Gen. 23:1ff). The land was promised for his offspring. When the promise was made, Abraham had no children. But he believed God’s promise. In verse 6 God told Abraham that his offspring would be enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years. This is the prophecy of the bondage in Egypt. Verse 7 says that the nation they would be in bondage to would be judged by God. After the judgment of Egypt, the Children of Israel were to serve God in Canaan. Verse 8 tells us of the covenant of circumcision. It also introduces us to the patriarchs.
This section shows us that Abraham was a man of hope. He was always willing to look to God to keep His word. He was always looking forward to be ready to do God’s will. He was not like the Sanhedrin, living in the past and clinging to the past. He was always ready to answer God’s call.
THE LIFE OF JOSEPH: ACTS 7:9-19 Stephen has told the Sanhedrin about the faithful life of Abraham who was willing to live by faith. In verse 8 he introduced the patriarchs. In the verse we are studying we have the account of the life of Joseph. Verse 9 tells us that the patriarchs became jealous of Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph. They sold him into slavery and told Jacob that he had been killed by a wild beast. Stephen brings out the fact that what was meant for evil G od turned to good. G od was with Joseph in Egypt.
Joseph’s brothers had meant evil but God overruled. They knew that he would end up in slavery in Egypt. They thought he would be mistreated. But Jehovah God was with Joseph, even in the land of Egypt. Verse 10 tells us that God granted that Joseph be favored by Pharaoh. Joseph became the second in command in the land of Egypt.
In verse 11 we have the famine Joseph said would take place happening. Verse 12 informs us that Jacob, upon hearing that there was grain in Egypt, sent 10 of his sons there to buy grain. Joseph made himself known to them on their second journey to the land of Egypt. Verse 14 reveals to us that Joseph, acting on authority from Pharaoh, invited the patriarchs to settle in Egypt. Verse 15 tells us that Jacob and his family came to live in the land of Egypt. Jacob lived out his years and died in Egypt. In time all of the patriarchs died. In verse 16 they were buried in the land of their fathers.
This section shows that God was not bound to a certain area. He was with Joseph even in the land of Egypt. William Barclay, in The Daily Study Bible Series: Acts of the Apostles, had this to say,
“The picture of Abraham is succeeded by the picture of Joseph. The key to Joseph’s life is sum m ed up in his own saying in Genesis 50:20. At that time his brothers were afraid that, after the death of Jacob, Joseph would take vengeance on them for what they had done to him. Joseph’s answer was ‘As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.’ Joseph was the man for whom seeming disaster turned to triumph. Sold into Egypt as a slave, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten by the men he had helped, the day yet came when he became prime minister of Egypt. Stephen sums up the characteristics of Joseph in two words—grace and wisdom . . .. Once again, the contrast is there. The Jews were lost in the contemplation of their own past and imprisoned in the mazes of their ow n law. But Joseph welcomed each new task, even if it was a rebuff, and adopted God’s view of life.”
In verse 17 we’re reminded of ‘the promise to Abraham that his offspring would be in bondage. All through the life of Joseph they enjoyed great favor with the rulers of Egypt. The children of Israel multiplied and increased in population. In verse 18 w we’re told that there arose a new king that cared nothing about Joseph. W h o was this new king? J. W. McGarvey had this to say,
“The Shepherd kings were Asiatic Semites who had invaded Egypt many years before and naturally favored the family of Joseph. The other king that arose was most likely one of pure Egyptian blood who had displaced the sovereignty of the Hyksos rulers and reestablished the Theban kings.”
Gareth L. Reese, in his book, New Testament History: Acts, had this to say,
“The Hebrew idiom means ‘not caring for.’ It can hardly be supposed that the verb is to be taken literally, i.e., that Pharaoh literally knew nothing of the name and deeds of Joseph. This expression therefore must be understood as meaning he did not show special favor to the people of Joseph. Because of the change of dynasties, the promises of the Shepherd kings of another generation were ignored and the contracts made were deliberately broken by the new Pharaoh. Whenever there is a revolution, gratitude for great deeds done by the leaders who are thrown out of power is forgotten. The old class of favored people is often oppressed by the new government.”
-Larry Miles lives in Louisville, KY and is a member at Cherry Street Church of Christ in New Albany, IN. He is Co-Editor of Word & Work On-Line