The In-Between Years - Part 35

The In-Between Years — Part 35

We are diving deep into Stephen’s message to the Sanhedrin, that council of Jewish elders he stood before, accused of blasphemy. Instead of defending himself he tells Israel’s story through the lens of Jesus. He anchors his message in the big players of Israel’s history. Last week, we saw how part one of his sermon centered on Abraham…

2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.  Acts 7:2–8 (ESV)

Now let’s talk about more big players: Jacob and those twelve patriarchs. Jacob is Abraham’s grandson by Isaac. His story is fascinating.  He was a twin born holding on to his brother, Esau, by the ankle, who came out first. That made Esau the elder and thus the one who was owed a majority of his father’s inheritance. Jacob and Esau’s mom, Rebekah, favored Jacob as both her boys grew into young men (Isaac favored Esau). One day Jacob and his mom conspired a plan to steal that birthright. It worked. They tricked old, blind, Isaac into conferring the inheritance on the second born son. It’s complicated, just trust me. When Esau figured out what had happened he wanted to kill his brother, I mean really kill him, so mom sent Jacob far away to live with her family and find a wife. On the way this happened…

10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:10–15 (ESV)

Sound familiar? God carries on the promises made to Abraham through his grandson.

Jacob made it safely to his mother’s family and met his uncle Laban. In exchange for taking his uncle’s beautiful daughter, Rachel, as his wife, Jacob agreed to work seven years. The time flew by but — and isn’t this ironic — Laban tricked Jacob on his wedding night, slipping in his other less prettier daughter, Leah. 

Jacob was forced to work another seven years for Rachel (she must have been some catch, ya’ll). A long with a ton of drama, Jacob had thirteen children with Rachel and Leah (and two servant girls; it’s complicated, just trust me). Twelve sons and a girl. Those twelve sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. From those sons would rise the twelve tribes of Israel. God is on his way to fulfilling that promise to make Abraham the father of a great nation. But before he does, he takes them on that side track we talked about last week where, before Israel would become fully the nation God promised, they had to take a 400 year detour.

And that’s where the next part of Stephen’s message to the council comes in…

9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 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. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.  Acts 7:9–16 (ESV)

That’s the inspired Cliff Notes version of the Cliff Notes of what happened with Joseph. He’s our next big player, one of Jacob’s sons. What an inspired way to summarize Joseph’s story: Acts 7:9-“and the patriarchs (Jacob’s other sons and Jospeh’s brothers), jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him.” Fifteen words representing the fourteen chapters finishing out the book of Genesis.

We don’t have time to flesh out completely this summary, but I do want to share the highlights of Joseph’s account in Scripture. It begins in Genesis chapter 37 where we learn why his brothers were jealous of him and didn’t like him at all…

1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.  Genesis 37:1–11 (ESV)

One day Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers who were pasturing their flocks far from home. As he approached, the brothers became so angry with and jealous of daddy’s favorite, they did the unthinkable. …

18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”  Genesis 37:18–20 (ESV)

One brother, Reuben, convinced them not to kill him but throw him in a pit, intending to rescue him later. They tore his coat of many colors off and hurled him down. But while they ate lunch — I know, poor Joseph is trapped at the bottom of a pit and they just chowed down — a caravan of traders came by on their way to Egypt. Judah had a great idea. Instead of killing Joseph and get nothing, why not sell him to the traders and turn a profit? Rueben wasn’t around when this happened so they did just that.

The brothers returned home and carried out their plan of deceit. They tore Joseph’s coat and splattered it with the blood of a goat. They presented that as evidence of his demise. Jacob was heartbroken, thinking his precious son had died a horrible death. Meanwhile, in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of the pharaoh, the captain of his guard.

Here’s where we get our first indication of what an amazing fellow Jospeh was. Instead of being bitter or trying to escape his fate, he trusted God, working hard with integrity and faithfulness.

2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.  Genesis 39:2–6 (ESV)

I’m really fast forwarding here, but as honest and faithful as he was, Potiphar’s wife was equally dishonest and unfaithful. She found Jospeh attractive and tried to seduce him. He resisted to the point of running away one day, leaving his cloak in her hands. Ever heard the saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”? She falsely accused him of rape. Potiphar was so angry he threw him in the pharaoh’s prison.

Instead of being bitter or trying to escape his fate, he trusted God, working hard with integrity and faithfulness.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.  Genesis 39:21–23 (ESV)

Remember how Jospeh had those dreams? Well, it so happened that he had the gift of interpreting dreams. Long story short, he interpreted the dreams of two prisoners — pharaoh’s former chief cupbearer and baker. As Jospeh predicted, the chief cupbearer got his old job back.

A few years later Pharaoh had a dream that he knew meant something but no one could figure out what that was. And the chief cup bearer was like, “I know a guy…” Joseph was released from prison and brought to the palace. He interpreted the dream and revealed that a terrible and far reaching famine was coming. He even suggested an ingenious plan of storing up grain to prepare for it. Pharaoh was so impressed he made Joseph second in command so he could carry that plan out. The famine came with a vengeance and because of Joseph Egypt was more than ready, they even made a mint selling grain to people from all over.

Here’s the providential twist. The famine reached the borders of where Jacob and his brothers live. The cupboards were bare and there was no bread to make a sandwich. They got hangry. So Jacob sent them to Egypt for grain (word got out). Guess who’s there when they showed up handling the distribution of grain? Joseph, but they don’t know it’s him. There’s a whole lot of drama as things go back and forth with Joseph and his brother. It’s complicated, just trust me. He ended up forgiving them and reconciling. So dad and his brothers and their families eventually settled in Egypt as special guests of Joseph. Because of his faithfulness many were saved, you could even say all of Israel was saved.

No doubt Stephen was a fan. I’m a fan. But remember, now he’s looking at every word of the OT through the lens of Jesus.Here’s what he saw…[1]

Joseph was loved by his father…

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.  Genesis 37:3 (ESV)

So was Jesus…

17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:17 (ESV)

Joseph was envied and hated without a cause…

4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.  Genesis 37:4 (ESV)

So was Jesus…

10 For he [Pilate] perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.  Mark 15:10 (ESV)

25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’  John 15:25 (ESV)

Joseph was accused of being deluded, not right in his mind…

19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.  Genesis 37:19 (ESV)

So was Jesus…

21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”  Mark 3:21 (ESV)

Joseph provided for all who had need…

57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.  Genesis 41:57 (ESV)

So did Jesus…

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.  John 6:35 (ESV)

Joseph resisted temptation.

So did Jesus…

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) 

Joseph was falsely accused.

So was Jesus…

60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ”  Matthew 26:60–61 (ESV)

Joseph was numbered with transgressors…

20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.  Genesis 39:20 (ESV)

So was Jesus…

33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  Luke 23:33 (ESV)

Joseph was stripped of his clothing…

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.  Genesis 37:23 (ESV)

So was Jesus…

28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,  Matthew 27:28 (ESV)

Joseph was sold for silver into the hands of Gentiles…

28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.  Genesis 37:28 (ESV)

So was Jesus…

14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.  Matthew 26:14–15 (ESV)

Joseph was rejected by his brothers and condemned to die…

So was Jesus…

21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”  Luke 23:21 (ESV)

I had a lot more.

Conclusion: When Stephen reread the story of Joseph through the lens of Jesus he saw hidden within it a type, a foreshadowing of Jesus himself. Can you imagine how his heart must have burned within him? Can you imagine how he longed for those on the council to see it?

How prophetic were the words of Joseph to his brothers after all was said and done…

20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  Genesis 50:20 (ESV)

That’s the story of Jesus isn’t it? That could be a commentary on why we call the day Jesus was crucified Good Friday. 

Now we are ready to take a look at how Israel got sidetracked to Egypt, and we’ll do that… next time.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 (ESV)

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10:13 (ESV)