A Study of Acts: Stephen Talks about Moses
A Study of Acts: Stephen Talks about Moses
Acts 7:17-29; Exodus 1:15-22 - Moses is rejected, just like Jesus.
““But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ At this remark, Moses fled and became an alien in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.”
Acts 7:17-29 NASB1995
Stephen now turns his sermonizing to the early years of Moses. The Israeli people who had moved to Egypt multiplied over the generations and another king arose over the country who knew nothing about Joseph. As is the case, as history advances, the memories of great leaders and tyrants alike disappear from view. This particular new tyrant, thought to be Ramses II, used infanticide to destroy the children of the Israelis. From Exodus 1:
“Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.””
Exodus 1:15-22 NASB1995
History repeats itself, over and over. The people of Israel have suffered incredible discrimination and genocide over the centuries. This Pharaoh was eager to cast their male infants into the Nile, infested with crocodiles. They have been the focus of pogroms and forced relocation programs for centuries. Eighty years after the Holocaust and less than one year after the mass slaughter and hostage-taking by Hamas, they are still the focus of world-wide hatred and calls for their genocide (“from the river to the sea” can mean nothing less). Revisionist “historians” get a hearing on popular talk shows and talk about how Churchill was the real villain and Hitler “meant well” during WWII.
So, Moses was raised by Pharaoh’s own daughter. He was filled with the learning from the Egyptians, yet he longed to visit the people of Israel. He strikes down an Egyptian who was harming one of the people of Israel, but the people reject him when he believes he could grant them deliverance through him. They deny that he has any right to rule or judge them, so he flees to the land of Midian. Joseph went through this same rejection, when his brothers asked if he planned to rule over them.
Stephen is setting up the historical stories as a way of showing how the Sanhedrin rejected the true cornerstone of Jesus. Here is what Enduring Word says about his words:
When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren: At an appointed time, Moses came down from his royal throne out of care and concern for his brethren. This was another way that Moses was like Jesus who would come after him.
He supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand: When Moses offered deliverance to Israel, he was rejected and rejected with spite. Israel denied that he had any right to be a ruler and a judge over them.
Stephen’s message was plain: “You have rejected Jesus, who was like Moses yet greater than him, and you deny that Jesus has any right to be a ruler and a judge over you.”
When we obey and believe God, we acknowledge that He is the ruler and judge over us. The people of Israel are stubborn and turn away from the deliverer who is right in front of them.
Stephen continues the history lesson for his prosecutors in my next devotional, which examines Acts 7:30-43 - God selects Moses, but he is still rejected. These devotionals are pretty short through this section of Acts, as the text is self-explanatory for the most part.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - When I obey then I know who is the ruler and judge over me. Help me to see the “big picture” of Jesus and His sovereignty. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Enduring Word commentary by David Guzik is used with written permission.