Reflecting the Image

Scripture:

Acts 7:9–10

9 “The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.” (NRSVUE)

Observation:

Stephen is giving a speech before the council in Jerusalem. He had been selected to help serve the widows and was introduced to us as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and later as one full of “grace and power.” His speech is persuasive, and it’s obvious that he is not an unlearned man. He knows the Scriptures, and he finds himself describing Joseph’s journey to Egypt.

He provides a brief synopsis of the life of Joseph, referring to the older brothers as the patriarchs. They would become the heads of the tribes of Israel, but there had been a time when they were jealous of their younger brother. Jealousy among God’s people — maybe this is something that Stephen is recognizing in the opposition to the followers of Jesus. He describes the way in which Joseph was betrayed and sold into Egypt, but then comes the important phrase — “but God was with him.”

Joseph still experienced affliction. He was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. God’s presence didn’t keep him from experiencing suffering, but God remained faithful through it all. Eventually Joseph found favor and was able to reveal the wisdom God had given him before Pharaoh. The result was that Joseph was appointed ruler over Egypt and even over Pharaoh’s household.

Application:

Standing before the council that day, one wonders whether Stephen was hoping that the leaders might see themselves somewhere in this story. Were they like the patriarchs, looking with disdain not only on Stephen, but on the work being done by these followers of Jesus Christ?

Ultimately, Stephen is killed by the crowd. The patriarchs had considered killing Joseph, but instead sold him into slavery. In Stephen’s case, the crowd follows through. And yet, in both stories, human opposition cannot stop the work of God. Through Joseph, God provided salvation from famine for Pharaoh’s household, the Egyptians, and eventually Joseph’s own family.

Stephen, a man full of “grace and power,” withstands the verbal blows, but eventually his body succumbs to the physical ones. In the moment of his death, he prays, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” His words echo those of Jesus, who prayed from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Stephen had been so formed into the likeness of Christ that even in death, he responded as Jesus responded.

What the people didn’t understand was that they were rejecting the witness of one who was pointing them to the One who could save them. That seems to be a pattern throughout history. People can become so convinced that they are right that they refuse to listen to the truth and begin to react against the very people who may be trying to help them.

Jealousy can distort our thinking. This can even happen in the church when we become jealous of other churches or pastors. Suddenly our thinking becomes clouded, and we may begin making irrational decisions. Luke has already told us that some of the religious leaders were jealous of the apostles. Could some of that same jealousy have been present in the opposition to Stephen?

Many years ago, while living in the former Soviet Union, we went to a small community to minister. We didn’t have a church there, and yet we took food and clothing to meet people in their time of need. We especially helped at a local orphanage. Unexpectedly, we ended up on the evening news. This caught the ire of the local Orthodox priest, who went to the mayor and told him that he ought to throw us out of the community.

The mayor looked at the priest and asked him what he had done for the orphanage.

He had done nothing.

His concern about this “sect” entering his community had become more important than whether the children in the orphanage were being helped. Sometimes our fears, jealousy, or desire to protect what we think is ours can cloud our vision until we no longer recognize what God may be doing right in front of us.

Sometimes we overreact to situations and suddenly, we don’t know what we’re doing.

But maybe the more important question is not what we do when they don’t know what they’re doing. The question is what happens to us when we are the ones who are hurt.

Joseph discovered that “God was with him.” Everywhere he went and in every situation he faced, God remained with him. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked into heaven as the crowd turned against him and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Then, even as the stones were falling, he responded in the likeness of Christ and prayed for those who were killing him.

We will continue to live in a world where people do things that are harmful to one another. There will be times when we may cry out, “They don’t know what they’re doing!” But as for us, we follow the example of Joseph and Stephen. We live in the presence of the God who is with us, and we allow the Holy Spirit to form us into the likeness of Christ, even when we are hurt.

God was with him.

And God promises to be with us.

Prayer:

Lord, there are times when I cry out with Stephen and with Jesus, “They don’t know what they’re doing.” It hurts, and so today I bring that pain to You. Thank You for Your presence and for helping us bear the pain and walk through difficult days. When I am hurt, may Your Holy Spirit continue to form me into the likeness of Christ. Help me to dwell in Your presence, day in and day out. Amen.