HOW DO YOU MULTIPLY?

Acts 7:17b"….The number of our people in Egypt greatly increased."

Stephen is speaking before the Sanhedrin, recounting Jewish history. He has just finished the story of Joseph and the relocation of Jacob and his entire family to Egypt (which was necessitated by a great famine that struck the whole land).

When Jacob's family first entered Egypt it numbered 75 -- a large family. But now after years of proper nutrition, the number of people had greatly increased -- Ex 1:7 "the Israelites were fruitful, multiplied greatly, and become exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them." As you can see Stephen's statement "greatly increased" is a bit of an understatement -- from 75 to over 2 million people in 400 years -- is more of a miracle. Again, this is all part of God's plan, pattern and purpose -- with a place to live (despite it being a land not their own), proper food, nutrition, and safety -- God's people not only thrived, but multiplied.

The same is true for us as well. If we are fed properly we will thrive and multiply. But what is our food? Jesus tells us in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty."

Are you in the middle of a famine? Is your Christianity dry, barren and lifeless? Do you go to church and Bible study but still don't feel any different? Stephen is making the point that God is not in a place (the "promised land," Egypt, Israel or church), He is with them. Jesus says to "come to me." What does that mean?

What does Jesus statement: "come to me" mean to you? Where are you? Where do you need to go? Are you experiencing a famine? Will you go to Jesus?

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