Sold But Not Separated From God

Acts 7:9
“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Acts chapter seven is a sermon by Stephen and the reaction of his enemies to that sermon leading to his death by stoning. Stephen was asked to speak in response to charges leveled against him. Instead of defending himself, Stephen preached to his accusers by narrating the life, high and low moments of the Israelites.

Stephen gets to where he talks about Joseph while narrating the story and in our text today he says that Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. Because of their jealousy, they sold Joseph to slavery that had him end up in Egypt. However, Stephen observes that, while his brothers sold Joseph to get rid of him, God did not get rid of him. He was separated from his brothers but not from God. He was sold but he was not separated from God!

The selling of Joseph was a climax of evil. It began with the evil of hating their brother. Then the evil of attacking him verbally. Then the evil of plotting evil against him. Finally, the evil of actually getting rid of him. Selling Joseph was the climax of all evil against Joseph by his brothers. This was the worst occurrence. Even though Joseph was separated from his brothers in such a painful way, the inspired word tells us that he was not separated from God. He was sold but he was not separated from God!

Bad things had happened to Joseph then the worst happened. God did not leave Joseph. Even when there is no evidence of God working in our favor He is still working. Acts 7:5 tells us that Abraham with no evidence of owning Canaan or having a child, still believed that God would deliver on His promise. There was no evidence the Bible says, yet his hope stayed on God. Whatever happens, you are safe if you are not separated from God. Even if the worst happens, you are safe, if you are not separated from God. He was sold but he was not separated from God!

If you are not separated from God, you are safe. Even if you lose everything, if you are still in connection with God, you are safe. Even if you are divorced, separated, and dumped by a loved one now turned foe, you are safe if you have not been separated from God. He was sold but he was not separated from God!

I pray that if you must go through any difficulty, may you not be separated from God. If you lose what you had invested, may you never be separated from God. If you find yourself lonely, may you never be separated from God. If guilt and shame weigh you down, may you never be separated from God. When you fail in studies and it seems that you have failed in life, may you never be separated from God. Even if you are the problem and you acknowledge responsibility for all failures of others, may you never be separated from God. He was sold but he was not separated from God!

Because God was with Joseph, everything he did always succeeded, Genesis 39:2-6. Because God was with Joseph, He turned his misfortune into a blessing. Because God with Joseph he forgave those who hurt him. God was with Joseph. May God be with you and me in all situations even when we are betrayed and sold. He was sold but he was not separated from God!

If you are sold by people or circumstances, if you are betrayed and hurt, or rewarded and celebrated, may you never be separated from God, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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