“Stephen said: ‘Hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham… and said, “Go out from your land and kindred into the land I will show you.” 4 Then he went out… and lived in Haran. After his father died, God removed him into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it,.. but promised it as a possession to his offspring.., though he had no child. His offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave and afflict them four hundred years… “and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place…”
“’The patriarchs… sold [Joseph] into Egypt; but God… gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh… who made him ruler over Egypt…
“The people increased and multiplied until… another king… dealt shrewdly with our race… At this time Moses was born…
“‘[God said to Moses], “I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. I will send you to Egypt.”
“'[Moses] led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea…
“’Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, [and] brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations.'” Acts 7:2-7,9-10,17-20a,34,36,44-45
Tracing God’s promises from the beginning, Stephen told His story as one large unfolding. Weaving what had been carefully passed down through the ages into what was then occurring, this faithful servant boldly testified to the Lord’s hand and redemptive plan from patriarchs to present. For all his spirit-filled faithfulness, Stephen was stoned, but not without a powerful, lasting witness that offered eternal comfort. (Acts 6:7-10; Acts 7:51-53,58-60)
It takes intention to know God’s promises and attention to trace His activity. As incessant disrupter, the enemy of our souls works to blind us to grace and high purpose, and instead instills us with angst and anger. Depending on what we absorb and how we process present occurrences, we’ll either find holy delight or feel horrible doom. Taking significant time on our knees- eyes closed, devices away-helps us see present circumstances, personally and world-wide, with large vision and heavenly wisdom. How might the Lord, through prayer and His word, eradicate worry and awaken faith and hope in present circumstances?
How tuned in am I to the wondrous weaving of God’s promises in my day? What opportunities do I take in catastrophes, cultural movements, and interruptions, to point to Christ? Am I so entangled in present press, stress, and buzz that I cannot recognize providential connections and wonder at God’s bigger picture and outcomes? Tracing God’s hand enhances understanding of His eternal purposes, energizes praise, emboldens witness, and brings our souls home to Him. (Acts 10:38-43)
When did we last thank God for how He’s met us, redeemed struggles, or answered prayer? Where is He stitching truths of Himself into difficult times? How will we encourage others similarly suffering to hope?
“Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
shelters thee under his wings, yea so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’re have been
granted in what he ordaineth?” ~Joachim Neander (1680)
Lord, keep me attuned to watch Your hand, weave your promises through all that transpires, and faithfully witness to Your grace and glory.
As the rain and snow 