How can we trust God when facing unfavorable leadership, as seen in Acts 7:18? Grasping the Setting of Acts 7:18 “Until another king arose over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.” (Acts 7:18) • Stephen reminds his listeners that a change in government turned Israel’s favored status into 400 years of oppression. • God had foretold that hardship to Abraham (Acts 7:6; Genesis 15:13–14), proving He was not caught off guard. What Unfavorable Leadership Looks Like • Hostility toward God’s people (Exodus 1:15–22). • Policies that seem to threaten God’s promises (Israel’s survival). • Ignorance of past blessings (the new Pharaoh “knew nothing of Joseph”). Why God’s Sovereignty Remains Unshaken • He “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). • Kings rise and fall by His decree (Daniel 2:21). • He used Egypt’s tyranny to multiply Israel (Exodus 1:12) and prepare the Exodus. • What appears as a setback becomes a stage for greater deliverance. Promises to Remember • “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) • “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1) • “All things work together for good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) • “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7) Practical Ways to Trust God Today • Anchor yourself daily in Scripture; rehearse His past faithfulness. • Pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–2), believing God can guide or overrule them. • Obey rightful authority unless it contradicts God’s commands (Acts 5:29). • Stay engaged in righteous action—Joseph served under Pharaoh, Daniel under Nebuchadnezzar, yet both honored God. • Encourage one another; shared testimony fuels collective trust (Hebrews 10:24–25). Encouraging Examples from Scripture • Joseph—betrayed, yet God used Egyptian rulers to position him for national salvation (Genesis 50:20). • Moses—raised in Pharaoh’s court, later confronted that same power with God’s unstoppable word (Exodus 3–12). • Daniel—served pagan kings while remaining uncompromised; God shut lions’ mouths and changed decrees (Daniel 6). • Paul—appealed to Caesar, confident that Christ stood by him (Acts 23:11). Final Takeaway Leadership may shift from favorable to hostile, but the Lord who authored history remains in control. Trust grows when we remember His promises, observe His past interventions, and actively obey Him in the present, confident that He turns every throne, policy, and season toward His redemptive purpose. |
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