Acts 7:9-16

                                      by faith or by default

Faithfulness can be a lonely road.  It will often lead one away from the beaten path, away from the crowd.  But when we are faithful to God, His intentions will be fulfilled and these may be beyond our comprehension.

In this passage, Stephen cites Joseph’s experiences with his brothers, Pharaoh and the famine. (Read the details in Genesis 37-47)  These very experiences reflect a variety of truths.  What do you find here about:

1.  Human nature demonstrated in Joseph _________________________________________________________________

2.  Human nature demonstrated in Joseph’s bothers _________________________________________________________________

3. God’s nature in the midst of human nature _________________________________________________________________

In what ways do you personally identify with Joseph? [boasting, careless words, faithful in small and in hard things…] ___________________________________________________________________

In what ways do you identify with the brothers? [i.e. mob/crowd mentality and influence, jealousy, envy…] _________________________________________________________

What do you identify as God’s overarching purposes?  _______________________ _________________________________________________________________
Can you identify God’s overarching purposes at work in your life—even in spite of you? ______How so? ________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

I believe that part of what Stephen is demonstrating in this speech is that people will reject God’s plan and provision, but because He Himself is faithful, His plan and provision will still be carried out.  There is still hope, even in the face of faithlessness of men, for God is faithful.  His purposes and prophecies will be fulfilled.  

The choice before us is to participate in His plans willingly, faithfully, and joyfully, or to experience His plans by default. 

Read and Pray:  Romans 14:8-13, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Psalm 18:25-30