Acts 07_17-29 Stephen's Defense (3)_How Moses Points to Jesus (1)

Read Acts 7:17-29 – Stephen is on trial for his life, falsely accused of blaspheming Moses, the temple and the Law by preaching Christ. So Stephen gives a history lesson, showing Jesus is all over the OT, by prophecy, pattern and type. The lives of OT people, like Joseph, Moses and David all pointed forward like a laser to Jesus – their own lives prefiguring a greater fulfillment to come. Stephen actually honored Moses, the Law and temple by showing how they point to Jesus with unerring accuracy. Those who reject Jesus are the ones who blaspheme. Stephen devastatingly turns the tables on them.

God often uses one historical event to point forward to a yet greater fulfillment. Key verse: 7:37: “This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’” So, around 1400 BC, Moses predicted there would be another like him – a deliverer. Later, around 700 BC when Israel was captive to Assyria bc, Hosea 11:1 reminded Israel of a previous deliverance: “When Israel was a child, I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son.” Matt 2:15 uses this verse of Jesus’ escape from Egypt – thus coming full circle, pointing to Jesus as the greater Moses who would deliver not from Egypt or Assyria, but from sin and Satan.

Over the next 2 weeks we’ll see how Moses and Jesus are linked in a wonderful way showing Jesus as a prophet like Moses, but infinitely greater.

I. The Promised Deliverer

Moses prefigures Jesus as a deliverer. The deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt is God’s masterpiece illustration of deliverance from sin provided by Jesus. God promised to deliver Israel before they even went into captivity. Acts 7:6: “And God spoke to this effect [to Abe] – that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7) ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’” This is a direct quote from Gen 15:13-14 showing God kept His promise!

God also promised a deliverer in Eden war ward off the death sentence – a “seed” of the woman who would destroy the destroyer, Satan. Stephen shows Moses to be a type of that Deliverer.

A. A Necessary Deliverer

Israelites had gotten to Egypt during Joseph’s time and were kindly treated for his sake. But things didn’t stay that way. 17) “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham [Gen 15:13-14], the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18) until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. He enslaved the Israelis until there was no way out. Conditions got so bad, their only hope was outside intervention.

In this sense, Israel exemplifies the human race spiritually. We are enslaved to sin from birth. When David confessed His sin of adultery and murder, he notes in Psa 51:5: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This is who we are by birth. We’re not sinners because we sin; we sin bc we’re sinners. Born that way. Jer 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” – terminally ill. We are powerless to keep our most well-intentioned resolutions. Why? Slaves to sin. Eph 2:1 we are “dead in trespasses and sins” and are “by nature children of wrath.” Like Israel, we want out, but we can never get out on our own.

The Greek word for sin means to miss the mark – used of archers in battle. England had the same concept in a game. Archers used to shoot at a group of rings. If you didn’t hit all ten, you were called a sinner. So I might try 10 arrows and only one goes in – clearly a sinner. John B. with his eagle eye gets 9 out of ten. Know what he was called? Sinner. Size of debt doesn’t matter.

B. A Beautiful Deliverer

20 “At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight.” That’s a fascinating statement. Beautiful in God’s eyes. He was also beautiful in the eyes of others. Heb 11:23: “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” The natural explanation for Moses’ rescue was he was a beautiful baby. Doubtless had he been an ugly kid, he’d have been thrown back to drown. His beauty was part of the plan.

But to be beautiful to God – that’s something greater. I doubt God is too taken with physical beauty. Listen how He describes Messiah: Isa 53:2b, “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” That indicates Jesus was a rather average looking individual.

So, what about Moses made him beautiful to God? Heb 11:24) “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25) choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26) He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27) By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” Moses had everything life can offer -- the best food, the finest cooks, the latest model luxury chariot, a huge bank account, any woman he wanted. No pleasure denied. He was Howard Hughes and Hugh Hefner rolled into one. How would you do with that kind of temptation?

Here’s how Moses handled it. “He considered the reproach of Christ [the “insult” or “disgrace” of identifying with the Israeli slaves. He considered that humiliation] greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.” That’s impossible apart from God’s grace. Moses had the unique ability few have to look beyond now into eternity. A lot of us talk about it; few of us live it. Note in 26b: “he was looking for the reward” – the reward of God. 27b: “he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” He trusted a God he could not see rather than Pharaoh who could offer him the whole world – for a short time. He chose disgrace with the slaves rather than wealth with the King – because he saw ultimately the tables would be reversed. That made Moses beautiful in the eyes of God.

But I know a Deliverer who is more beautiful. Cor 8:9: “For you know the grace of our LJC, that tho he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” There is true beauty – a Deliverer who left all that heaven had to offer to die as a ransom for us so we might become who He is. Why? Heb 12:2b: “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Why did He do it? Bc he also took the long view. He looked beyond time into eternity. And there He saw you and me and all who would trust in Him being adopted into the family of God – “heirs of God and fellow heir with Christ” (Rom 8:17b). That’s a Deliverer who is beautiful in God’s sight.

But is He beautiful to you this morning? Have you seen the beauty of His dying in your place and accepted by faith His gift of life? Or are you still insisting on your own way? Do you still reject the best and most beautiful God has to offer? Do you still foolishly think your way is better than His?

In Joe Gutierrez’s book, The Heat, about steelworkers, he tells how steel strips would roll over pads in a cooling tower creating silvery flakes that floated to the floor causing “the snow to dance in August.” Only later was it found to be asbestos which caused many, including Joe, to suffer asbestosis. He says, “I can’t walk too far now. I get tired real fast, and it hurts when I breathe. To think, we used to fight over that job.” All that looks beautiful is not, Beloved. Moses saw beyond the riches of this life to the true beauty that lay beyond, choosing Christ over all the world had to offer. Can we do the same? That’s what Stephen is asking his audience. See the beauty of this Deliverer?

C. A Protected Deliverer

Moses was born under a death sentence. But he was providentially spared and brought up as Pharaoh’s own grandson. Jesus was similarly protected.

Herod wanted to kill all the babies. God delivered Jesus to Egypt. Later in his ministry, many times His life was threatened. In His own hometown, after He exposed their unbelief, they drove him to the top of a cliff, but Lu 4:30: “passing thru their midst, he went away.” In Jerusalem in Jn 7:30: “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, bc his hour had not yet come.” Later He tells them if they really knew God, they would know Him, “but no one arrested him bc his hour had not yet come” (Jn 8:20). Jn 10:39, “Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.” When Pilate said Jn 19:10b, “I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11) Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.”

Two deliverers under divine protection. Some in Stephen’s audience had seen Jesus’ escape arrest. But there was a difference. Moses ultimately delivered Israel by staying alive; Jesus ultimately delivered sinners by death and resurrection – thus defeating death once and for all. God’s sovereignty is clear in both lives. Nothing could touch them – until God’s time was right.

D. A Prepared Deliverer – thru tested obedience Heb 5:8

22 “And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.” Interesting, isn’t it, how God got His chosen deliverer the best education money could buy – for free, including room and board. He made sure His man was prepared. But tho Moses was “mighty in words and deeds” – smart and committed – that wasn’t enough. Trusting in his own abilities got Moses into trouble. God furthered his education – 40 years herding sheep in the desert learning humility – the greatest asset of any leader – humility. 32b tells us Moses trembled before God. In Exod 3:11 Moses said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Then later he protested in Exod 4:10: “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” This despite the fact he was actually “mighty in words.” He’d been humbled and was now ready to do a great work.

But did you know Jesus was prepared as well, from a human perspective? What tests He endured. Forty days in the wilderness at Satan’s mercy at the beginning of His ministry. Heb 5:8-9 gives us amazing info: “Altho he was a son, he learned obedience thru what he suffered. 9) And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” So Jesus was imperfect at some point in time? No – but as He obeyed, He learned to trust the Father in His humanity more and more – so that when the Father finally asked Him to go to the cross, He was ready. Perfected as a Deliverer thru many tests. Amazing, isn’t it? What a Redeemer we have. If you think it was easy for Jesus to go to the cross and die for you, you need to think again.

Jesus told His disciples in Gethsemane in Mark 14:34, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” This strongest of men felt agony that nearly killed Him. He literally threw Himself to the ground in despair to implore the Father for help. Lu 22:44: “His sweat became like great drops of blood.” He could never have born all that had He not learned obedience thru what He suffered throughout His life. Thank God He was prepared. Spurgeon says, “The heart of Christ became like a reservoir in the midst of the mountains. All the tributary streams of iniquity, and every drop of the sins of his people, ran down and gathered into one vast lake, deep as hell and shoreless as eternity. All these met, as it were, in Christ’s heart and he endured them all.” We are so privileged. The Father prepared Him for pain we can never know, and He went willingly to take our place. What love this Father and Son have for us.

II. The Rejected Deliverer

At age 40, Moses visited the Hebrew slaves, even killing an Egyptian who was abusing one. He thought the people would rally to him. Instead, they asked: 27b) “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” Not the rejection you want to hear when you’re giving up all to throw your lot with the slaves.

That’s the second time we’ve seen that theme, isn’t it? Joseph’s brothers had rejected him – all pointing to Jesus’ rejection by His brothers. But rejection costs! For Joseph’s brothers, it was a lifetime of guilt. For Moses’ people, it was 40 more years of slavery. But for those who reject Jesus – oh, Beloved, the pain of that rejection will never end. Stephen is praying that his audience will connect the dots. But if some did, most didn’t.

Conc – So, how do you see Jesus? Is he to you just a great example, or do you see him as God sees Him – a beautiful Deliverer beyond description?

John Newton was known for the beautiful love letters he wrote to his wife. His friends hated that he published them. His writings were so passionate it was causing them problems at home by comparison! Further, his dearest friends didn’t think his wife had much in the way of either looks or brains. But later, writing to Wilberforce, Newton likened his wife to a pineapple [not recommended] saying while she may have been a bit prickly and unattractive on the outside, he had experienced how glorious she was on the inside.

So Christ may not be much to those around us – just another commendable ancient sage, perhaps. But until you’ve seen Him as the incomparable Savior of your own soul by His death in your place, you haven’t seen Christ. But when you do – His beauty will be incomparable to you as well. If never before, I hope you’ll see Him in all His beauty this very day. Let’s pray.

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