Brief History Lesson Part 2

Read Acts 7:8-19

Stephen is still preaching to the Sanhedrin.

Stephen is giving a brief history to the men who should have known it best. I love chapter 7 because it gives the history of the old testament. This might be a good chapter to use when talking to someone about the old testament and why it is important. And, how understanding the old helps us appreciate and understand the new much better.

He continued by saying Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father Jacob. Jacob became the father of the 12 patriarchs.

Genesis 29+

• Leah was the mother of Reuben which means ‘he has seen my misery; Simeon means one who hears; Levi means attached; Judah means praise (Jesus came from the line of Judah. Look at Matthew 1)
• Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah was the mother of Dan which means vindicated; Naphtali means my struggle
• Leah’s maidservant was the mother of Gad which means good fortune or a troop; Asher means happy
• Then Leah had Isaachar means reward; Zebulun means honor; she also had a daughter named Dinah
• Then Rachel had Joseph which means may he add; Benjamin means son of my right hand. Rachel died in childbirth with Benjamin

The 11 brothers were jealous of Joseph so they sold him into slavery to Egypt. God was with Joseph and rescued him from his trouble. Joseph found favor with Pharaoh and Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and his palace. When the famine struck, the 11 brothers came to see Joseph to get food but they did not know who he was. Pharaoh  learned about Joseph’s family (75 in all). Joseph sent for his family. The number of Joseph’s family grew in Egypt. Time passed and the Pharaoh died. Another king who did not know Joseph became king.

Exodus 1:1-22 The Israelites became too numerous to count so the king oppressed them with harsh labor and midwives who killed the boy babies. However, at that time Moses was born and Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own. Moses was educated in the wisdom of Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

More next week!