Acts 7:1-16 (NRSV)
Stephen addresses the council
Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?" And Stephen replied:
"Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, 'Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.' Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child. And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years. 'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.' Then 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.
"The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, 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. Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy five in all; so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
Reflection
What a wonderful heritage God has given to us. Even if you or I are not direct descendants, we see a people that live and have faith in the promises of God. There will be some stumbling on the way. There will be doubt and sin along the journey. But those that live in the faith and trust of God's promises will one day see. Maybe that day may not come while walking this earth, but we can believe in the promises that God makes.
Just look at the history of the promise of God and marvel at the faith of Abraham and Joseph and so many others up to this day. God's promises are sure! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord teach me daily to live in the trust and faith you would have Abraham live. Show me how to be your disciple. Your promises are true and faithful. --- Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment