Israel's History of Rejecting God's Favor

Proclaiming the true Gospel in the power of the Spirit does not mean there will not be opposition. Stephen's proclamation to the Sanhedrin was met with deceit, deception, and lies in an effort to refute his message. Rather than defend himself as he was being accused he turned the focus to God, what He had done in showing favor to Israel, and the pattern of Israel's response.

After recalling the faith of Abraham he turned attention to Joseph and recalled the jealous attitude of the patriarchs towards him. In following the pattern of their forefathers, it was jealousy driving Stephen's accusers as well.

His accusers thought that their having the Law, the temple, and the land meant they were in the place of God's favor. By recalling Joseph, Stephen made the point that Joseph was in the place of God's favor even while being out of the land, away from the temple, and living in a society without the Law as he was in Egypt. This place became a place of God's favor to the family of Joseph through the blessings Joseph was able to dispense as God placed him in a position of favor with the Pharaoh.

Stephen then turned attention to Moses beginning with the first forty years of his life as he lived in Egypt and in an Egyptian household. As Moses realized his position of favor was for the purpose of acting on behalf of his people, his initial acts were misunderstood and rejected as well.