Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Acts 7:9-16

9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. 11 “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. 13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. 14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. 15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. 16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

Today’s title is “Like Joseph, Like Jesus”

People often say that we love Jesus and we appreciate how He lived and died. Then, they add, “but we will never ever be able to live like Him.” That is certainly true. Such humble confessions are not a bad thing at all. But if such statements are made to insinuate that we wouldn’t have to bother to follow the sacrificial life of Jesus, it would not receive the support of the Bible. Unlike such simplistic humility, Bible presents us with many people who are very Christlike although they are not perfect. One of such Christlike people was Joseph. Joseph indeed has so much Christlikeness that some theologians call Joseph the old testament “type” of Christ. He was the most beloved by his father. He had a great God-given dream or vision. He publicly declared it. He was hated by his own brothers because of it. His own brothers betrayed him and sold him as a slave. He got imprisoned despite his innocence. But because of the suffering, he gained access to the king and was later elevated as the prime minister. There he saved the nations and people including his own from famine. we see the great resemblance of all sinners in Jacob and all his descendants. In Joseph, on the other hand, we see a good example of Christlike life. Joseph, who didn’t understand the profound mystery of salvation when He suffered, later came to know the plan of salvation that God had from a long time ago and was marveled at. Stephen was familiar with the righteous suffering that brings salvation by God’s profound providence. He must have witnessed the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. At the cross, he must have come to know the “ true Joseph” personally who gave Himself not only as a slave but as a sacrifice to save the sinners including himself. He knew he was fully forgiven and completely saved by the sacrificial death of the Lord. Death must have been a terrifying reality to him too. But he decided to deny himself and take up his own cross. As the death of Christ brought many to God and eternal life, so the death of Stephen sowed the seed of salvation for many. We know one particular man who stood at the death of Stephen as an executioner and later encountered the savior of Stephen himself. That was one other than the apostle Paul. Would Stephen know when he died? I guess not. How are you following Jesus? True, you can never be Christ. But you can and you must endeavor to be Christlike. You never know whom you can bring salvation to. Amen!