Thus far, in this series; we have looked at the fact that our hope is anchored upon the Glory of God as displayed in the face of Christ. We are born with that great desire to seek after beauty, love, justice, and righteousness; yet, our search leads toward heartbreak until we realize that our longing is for God Himself who is the perfection of all these as well as perfect grace and mercy. For those of us who have accepted God’s gracious gift of salvation, we are but pilgrims upon this earth preparing for our final destination. Step by step, glory by glory God is preparing us to be able to see Him one day in all His Glory; wrapped in His Arms of love. This journey is to guide us into that place where we might fully comprehend and enjoy Him; though, dimly here on earth. Like a blind person who has been given sight, the eyes must first be covered with dark glasses so the light won’t hurt. So it is that God’s Glory is so bright that the eyes of our heart could not withstand the magnitude or relish in His Beauty and love were we not prepared to do so. All of our life as a Christian is preparing us for eternity. Our entire life is but a second compared to eternity with Him. Ephesians 3: "16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." We began then in this series to look at various attributes of God that display His beauty as one to be desired. We explored the beauty of His creation, His righteousness, His justice, His Power, His Love, His grace, His joy, and His wisdom. When we begin to see Him as desirous, seek after Him with all our hearts and souls, accept Christ as our Savior (our only means of a relationship with Him); then, He begins the work within us to prepare our hearts and minds for an eternity in His presence. There are moments within this journey that may seem painful or we may not understand; yet, it is God Himself who is orchestrating every tiny detail of our lives. Only He knows our heart and what it will take to prepare us for the maximum joy in His presence. I want to step aside and show you in the life of Joseph and then later in the life of Stephen what that meant.
I told you in late July that events in my life caused me to feel much like Abraham when God had laid Isaac in His arms. Then more recently, events in my own life caused me to remember Joseph’s life. Joseph is an example of how God orchestrated every detail so as to place Joseph in the place where God needed Him to display all the attributes above mentioned of God, including grace. Joseph was one of the son’s of Jacob who would be matriarch for the 12 tribes of Israel. As a young lad, he believed strongly in right and wrong; thus, he would report to his father anything bad his brothers were doing. He was favored by His father above his other brothers and that lead to a lot of jealousy against him. There came a time when he would have dreams that were glimpses of what God had in store for him; yet, those dreams showed his brothers bowing down before him and that made his brothers even more angry. There came a moment when they saw their opportunity to rid themselves of him. They considered killing him; yet, when they hesitated they threw him into a pit. As they pondered what they would do a caravan of merchants (who by the way had been traveling months to arrive at that place at that moment) were passing by. The brothers then sold their brother to these merchants who then sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Stop for a second and note, God had guided this band of heathen merchants so that they would arrive at that exact moment. God is in control over even those who do not know Him and works out His will in the lives of His children through His use of even those who would do evil. Joseph was carried into Egypt and sold to Potiphar where God blessed all that he did and he rose to a high position. Then, Potiphar’s wife found him handsome and wanted an affair with him. When he refused, she accused him of trying to rape her and he was thrown into jail. There he remained for years. There God showed him favor and he became the humble servant to the chief guard who trusted him. Two men from the Pharaoh’s palace were put into jail and Joseph was able to interpret their dreams accurately. He asked the butcher to remember him, Genesis 40 "14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon." The butcher was released and forgot about Joseph until one day the Pharoah had a dream that no one could interpret. Joseph was brought before the Pharoah, interpreted the dream, and placed in a position of prominence second only to Pharoah. There he was, having prepared Egypt for the famine that entered the land when his brothers had to come to Egypt to seek food. At first they did not recognize him and he did not reveal to them who he was; yet, he spoke harshly enough that they revered him. The time finally came where he would reveal himself to them and this was his response. Genesis 45: "3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." and Genesis 50: "19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
Within Joseph’s life God displayed all of His attributes of beauty that we already listed. Also, He had step by step, glory by glory had guided Joseph’s life to that point where he was able to understand that God had orchestrated every detail and that even what his brother’s had meant for evil, God was using for good. That is an understanding that goes beyond human understanding. I use to look at Joseph’s life and say, "Wow, I wish I were a Joseph who seemed to always get it right." Yet, if we really look, I am certain there were moments in the depth of his heart that Joseph had felt anger, loneliness, sorrow, confusion as we all do at times. It had been a step by step process that ultimately enlightened Joseph’s heart to who God was and the fact that every detail had been lead by God. When we know that, it is easy to forgive even those who would attempt to do us harm. Nothing happens in the life of a believer but that God is working out His plan for our good. So why have I ever fretted or even at moments do still when evil would press in around me? Why would I ever fear or doubt what God is doing? Just this week God had asked I do something which felt like I was jumping off the bridge with nothing to catch me; yet, I remembered it is God who is catching me. That simple act of blind faith changed everything and allowed me to see the Mighty Hand of God at work in every aspect of my life. Suddenly, I understood with greater depth, Joseph and the transforming work God had done in the heart of Joseph–step by step, glory by glory.