“But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose who did not know Joseph. This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers…”
Acts 7:17-19
Last week we considered Joseph as a clear picture of the Lord Jesus. Stephen intended to convey this comparison in Act 7 because he was warning the Jews that they were making the same mistake their ancestors had made. In the same way Joseph’s brothers had rejected the One that the Lord would raise up to save them, they likewise were rejecting Christ, the One who God had sent as their Deliverer. With this continued awareness of Joseph as a type of Jesus, I want to examine our text above.
The descendants of Joseph enjoyed great peace and prosperity in Egypt until a generation came along that didn’t know Joseph. As the book of Exodus opens, we find that the Egyptians had forgotten that their nation would not have even survived had Joseph not been used of God to prepare them for the seven years of famine that devastated the land. They reaped the benefits of Joseph’s rule but had no awareness of his wise leadership and no thankfulness for his care for them. Do you not see the picture of the world as they relate to Jesus Christ today?! Speaking of Christ in Col 1:16-17, Paul writes, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” The word “consist” literally means “to stand together”. In other words, it is by Christ’s wisdom and power that the universe continues and stays together in a way that preserves every living creature. We owe our very breath to Him! And yet, in spite of His daily mercies upon us, the average human being has no awareness of His gracious care and no thankfulness for His many blessings.
Because this new generation in Egypt knew not Joseph, they hated and despised his family. The Jews were viewed to be of little value compared to the Egyptians, and they were enslaved and cruelly treated by them. Understanding Egypt and its citizens as a picture of the world, do we not expect the same pattern for those who are part of the family of the Lord Jesus? Could the parallel be any clearer as Jesus speaks of the certain hatred of the world toward His children? “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” (Joh 15:18-21) Paul reiterates this thought in 2Ti 3:12:”Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
So, being mistreated and unfairly afflicted by the world should NEVER surprise us. After all, they don’t know our heavenly Joseph! “In the world you will have tribulation,” Jesus said. But, I’d only be telling you half of the story if I stopped there. He continues, “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”! (Joh 16:33) In this affliction, we find ourselves to be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rom 8:37) Though we will be taken advantage of, lied against, shunned, and overlooked for Christ’s sake, rather than feeling anger toward our afflictors, we should feel pity. Poor souls! They don’t know our heavenly Joseph! Will we tell them of Him, not only in word, but in action? The affliction WILL come. When it does, will we embrace our victory in Christ? Will we lash out at the ones who afflict us? Will we harbor feelings of ill-will in our hearts? Or, will we pray after the pattern of our Lord, “Father, forgive them”? Stephen prayed the same prayer later in Act 7 as they stoned him to death. May we in that hour prove ourselves to be children of the King of kings and testify of Him in word and deed! “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mat 5:44-45)
Jamie