Acts 7:35-43

                                                                     Acts 7:35-43

“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. ³⁷ This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ ³⁸ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. ³⁹ Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ ⁴¹ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. ⁴² But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
    during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
⁴³ You took up the tent of Moloch
    and the star of your god Rephan,
    the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

 

 The history of Moses is vital to the children of Israel.  Stephen wants the nation to be aware that he knows all about Moses, but he also wants to show the nation how Moses had been rejected by the nations.  Stephen’s strategy is to demonstrate that just as the nation refused to follow Moses in the past, they had rejected Jesus in the present.  He has been accused of going against the teaching of his people.  Moses wants to show them that they are repeating the sins of their forefathers.  This will not be a popular message, but it was a necessary one for them to understand.

 

MOSES REVEALS THE POWER OF GOD: Stephen reminds the rulers of Israel that God had sent Moses to the nation as ruler and redeemer.  However, prior to that Moses had been rejected by the people.  Moses demonstrated the power of God by doing signs and wonders in Egypt leading them through the Red Sea and provided for them in the desert for forty years.  The hand of God was clearly upon him and yet the people still did not embrace him.  There is a pattern that is evident in the History that Stephen recounts.  God reveals Himself to the nation, but they reject Him despite the clear evidence of God’s working.  They will suffer because of this rejection but God is faithful to reveal Himself again.

 

MOSES REVEALS THE PROPHET OF GOD: Moses made an interesting statement about the future and how God would raise up a Prophet similar to him.  Then Stephen states that this future Prophet was the same one who had been with Moses on the mountain.  So, we can see that the Prophet to whom Moses was referring was clearly Jesus.  Stephen wants to be sure that the people realize that Moses looked forward to and prophesied about Jesus.  There is nothing in the teaching of Stephen or the apostles that contradicts the message of the Old Testament.  All that Jesus did and the Apostles preached was foretold by prophets.  There can be no mistake about all that God is doing in history to prepare the way for Jesus.  Unfortunately, the people did not recognize Him when He came.  God continues to prepare us for the return of Jesus.  We must be careful not to ignore His Word and what He is striving to do to prepare for His return.

 

MOSES REVEALS THE PUNISHMENT FROM GOD: The nation of Israel turned away from Moses and the Lord in their hearts and turned back to Egypt.  They asked Aaron to make them a golden calf and committed every form of idolatry and immorality.  They rejected both Moses and God.  As a result, God punished them by turning them over to worship the hosts of heaven.  Moloch and Rephan are the names of gods worshiped in Egypt that became a constant source of stumbling for the nation of Israel.  God’s punishment is not to deny us the desires of our hearts; it is often turning us over to our own desires.  It is only by His grace that we can worship Him.  When we reject this grace and refuse to honor Him, He may inflict us with the idolatry that lurks in our hearts.  This idolatry in Israel is what eventually lead the Lord to send His children into exile in Babylon.  Sin always has consequences far greater than the passing pleasures that sin offers.

 

APPLICATION: Admire the power of God that is revealed in our hearts and lives.  He continues to perform signs and wonders all around us if we have eyes to see them.  Understand that Jesus is the focus of all the wonders He performs.  We are to trust and worship Jesus and Jesus alone.  Be thankful that the Lord does not turn us over to the desires of our own hearts.  Be warned of the terrible consequences of sin.