That’s Not What We Would Call Them

Acts 7:9
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

A patriarch is someone who is the male head of a family or tribe. Someone who is the oldest and regarded as the founder of something. Someone who is looked up to for wisdom, courage and strength right? How would you have labeled these people that God is speaking of in His word? I'm almost certain that if I would go into detail about these men that you wouldn't have labeled them the "patriarchs". Maybe the Jessie James or Billy the Kid, but definitely not a patriarch.

These men being talked about in our scripture this morning are the ones who maliciously sold their brother into slavery. They intended to inflict misery, pain and even death upon their brother. Envious is just one word to describe their actions. These men hated his dreams, they plotted and devised a plan to get rid of Joseph, and finally an opportunity arose and they sold him. These are the ones that are described as patriarchs. Leaders with wisdom, courage and strength right? If these are our patriarchs I would hate to see what our enemies would do to us.

Something that we are not factoring in is the Grace of God. Most of us when we read that scripture said, "Hmmmm, patriarchs huh? Sounds like a bunch of jealous children of the devil." In the story of Joseph always remember that what they intended for harm, God intended for good. What those patriarchs did was wrong and God punished them for it. Although they were and are the patriarchs of Israel that doesn't mean they got everything right or were sinless.

One thing I know this morning. Most of us would have never called them patriarchs. Just like most everyone I know would have never called me Pastor. Watch what you call people, you never know...