Stephen's Trial - Part 2

Main Idea

God establishes leaders. Man is prone to resist those leaders.

Today, we have the meatiest drumstick of the three. Last week, we reviewed the first section of Stephen’s sermon. We watched him recount a brief history of Abraham and Joseph. Through Abraham, he established the proper standard of faith, and through Joseph, he showed how God will always raise a leader for his people, though the people often reject his established leader.

This is the meatiest because Stephen has a lot to say about the next leader - Moses. I almost divided this section into three parts, but I thought it would be best for us to see the whole picture in one sitting so we can understand what Stephen is trying to communicate.

Thankfully, this section on Moses is divided into three logical chunks, making it easier to bite and chew.

Outline

I - Moses in Training - 1st 40 years (vv. 17-22)

II - Moses in Exile- 2nd 40 years (vv. 23-36)

III - Moses in the Wilderness - 3rd 40 years (vv. 37-43)

And, as a reminder, Stephen is building 2 bridges and keeping 3 rhythms throughout his speech:

BRIDGES

1. Savior bridge. God’s leaders from history point to Christ.

2. Resistor Bridge. The opposition to God’s leaders points to Stephen’s accusers.

RHYTHMS

1. God acts and provides wherever his people are.

2. The Israelites are prone to reject God’s established leaders.

3. God is in control of historical events.

I - Moses in Training

Stephen transitions the narrative by highlighting the elapsed time and the change in Egyptian leadership and describes the first of three 40-year periods in Moses' life.

Acts 7:17–22 ESV

17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. 19 He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. 20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, 21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

Conditions Worsen

While in Egypt, Israel’s condition turned upside down (from favor with Joseph to oppression under the new Pharoah). There was a new sheriff in town who had no recollection of the benefits that came from Joseph and his family. The biblical record explains how the Israelites grew exponentially in size to the point where it intimidated Pharoah. He thought they would increase and number and eventually rebel, so to keep them submissive, he enslaved them.

Even though Stephen doesn’t expressly mention it here, this explains the fulfillment of the prophecy God gave Abraham - that his descendants would be treated harshly in a foreign land for 400 years.

Not only were they treated harshly, but because they were increasing in number so fast, Pharoah mitigated the growth and potential overthrow of Egypt by commanding that all male infants be put to death. That is the setting Moses is born into.

Moses’ miraculously preserved

While Moses didn’t have a miraculous birth as Jesus did, there is a parallel here. Both Moses and Jesus were born under a ruler who commanded the slaughter of male infants to protect their rulership. Herod commanded all males under two years old to be killed, and Pharoah commanded the male infants to be killed to cast into the Nile. Both Messianic figures were supernaturally protected at their birth.

Moses was cared for and concealed for 3 months, after which his mother was forced to act. To spare his life, she had to place him in a basket and send him down the river. Though Moses’ sister kept an eye on him, God supernaturally and sovereignly directed Moses to Pharaoh’s daughter, who was bathing in the Nile, because God is in control of historical events. And, instead of tipping the basket over and letting the baby drown, she adopted him instead.

And it is here that Stephen reiterates that Moses was beautiful in God’s sight. Not only was he physically beautiful in the eyes of his mother (as Ex. 2:2 suggests), but he was also beautiful in God’s eyes, which likely refers to God’s plan for his life and how he is set apart for the task. It’s also likely that Stephen is reiterating his respect for Moses, which would indirectly speak against the accusation that he is blaspheming Moses.

Moses taught and trained

For the next 40 years, Moses would continue to rise to prominence in Egypt and Pharaoh’s household. He was given all the benefits of their educational system, which cultivated him into a strong and wise leader in the land. God provided the conditions for Moses to be equipped with the wisdom of the Egyptians, which made him an effective and capable communicator because we are told he became strong in word and deed.

In the first 40-year cycle, Moses is supernaturally set apart at his birth (or at least within the first three months) and equipped with knowledge and experience. God was preparing him for his life’s purpose - to be the man God uses to deliver His people out of Egypt and into the land he promised Abraham.

How many of you have gotten antsy over the years while you wait for God to fulfill a promise, a calling, or an answer to prayer? It is easy for us to become impatient in our instant-gratification society and fail to see how God is never in a rush to get things done. Often (and as we see here with Moses), God takes time to craft his leaders. He does not work on our timetable, and if we could see what He sees, we wouldn’t want Him to. God is the only one who sees the whole picture. If you believe God called you to something or created you for a purpose that is not yet realized, rejoice! You are in good company with many biblical and historical figures who were developed in the same way.

For Moses, his training in Egypt lasted 40 years and came to a very abrupt end that sent him into his next 40-year cycle in exile.

II - Moses in Exile

Moses lived the dream for 40 years, but unfortunately, everything changed in 24 hours.

Acts 7:23–36 ESV

23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. 30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ 35 “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.

Moses’ first attempt at leading his people

Evidently, at this point, Moses understood who he was… probably because his mother was hired to be his nurse and instilled his Hebraic heritage into him throughout his childhood. At some point, he witnessed an Israelite being oppressed by an Egyptian, and when Moses stepped in to intervene, he killed the Egyptian. Here, Stephen highlights Moses’ motive. At 40 years old, Moses understood enough about his calling that he was to play a role in Israel’s salvation, as verse 25 shows. He hoped to win their affection by freeing this Israelite from his oppressor (albeit by excessive violence).

Unfortunately for him, that didn’t play out as he had hoped. Instead of being thanked, he was rejected. The next day, two Israelites were arguing, and when Moses tried to play the moderator role, they rejected his help. “Who made you judge and ruler over us?” they asked. They flatly rejected Moses, and to ensure he never bothered them again, they revealed they knew about the murder. This obviously freaked Moses out (and rightly so because Pharaoh wanted him dead after learning about what happened), so he fled to Midian, where he found a wife and had two sons.

Here, we see the resistor bridge again.Moses used his position to step in and stop the oppression of a fellow Israelite and mediate a quarrel, and he was rejected. And they didn’t just reject his offer of mediation. They specifically mentioned his rulership and position as judge, saying that no one appointed him to that level of authority and they would not abide by it. Though these are only two men and don’t necessarily represent the enslaved nation as a whole, it does prove Stephen’s point that it is an inherent reality in their hearts.

Moses officially commissioned

This 40-year section is left hollow. We see how it began with exile, but Stephen does not spend time reflecting on it because the next thing he mentions is at the end of this cycle. After 40 years in exile and raising his family, Moses received his official marching orders from God via a burning bush.

The voice of the Lord came from the bush, and Moses nearly fainted. How often have you heard of people having whimsical, informal experiences of heaven or encounters with God? Is that how biblical characters react to God’s presence? Moses acts like any human being should act with a real encounter with God - holy fear and trembling. Moses had a healthy fear of the One True God, and so should we. Is He our Abba… our heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally? Yes! And He is also utterly holy and deserving of our most profound reverence. Moses correctly demonstrates that for us.

God also commands Moses to remove his sandals because where he stands is holy ground. Why? Because God’s presence is there! Remember, this takes place at Mt. Sinai, not the promised land. God acts and provides wherever his people are and will establish His holiness wherever He pleases. Places are holy because of God’s presence there. Likewise, people are holy, not because of any inherent quality of their being, but because God dwells there. Remember that the next time you are inclined to think poorly of yourself.

Then, God speaks to Moses, saying he has heard his people’s prayers and plans to use Moses to deliver them. In His sovereign plan, he will end the 400 years of suffering he informed Abraham about and will bring them to the promise he foretold. Notice how Stephen quotes this part of history: “I [God] have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” God is the deliverer of His people, using Moses to achieve that purpose. Stephen has done an incredible job demonstrating his faithfulness to God and Moses.

Did you realize God uses you and me in the same way? God is at work in history, yet He has decided to use humans to carry out His sovereign plans. Isn’t it amazing that God chose you to play a role in his unfolding plan of redemption?

Moses the deliverer

Stephen ends this section by holding Moses in the highest regard. He brings the comment by the two Israelites full circle by showing how God did use Moses to be their ruler and redeemer. The initial desire Moses held in his heart… to be the one to bring salvation from slavery to his people… is finally realized.

Through signs and wonders performed in Egypt (via the 10 plagues), at the Red Sea (via its parting), and in the wilderness, Stephen portrays Moses as God’s established leader and rescuer. In his historical overview of Moses' first 80 years of life, Stephen leaves no room for doubt that he loves and respects Moses. There is no room for blasphemy here because he has accurately retold the scriptures. This brings the second 40-year cycle to a close and nicely segues into the final 40-year cycle in the wilderness.

In summary, Stephen has established two bridges: the Savior bridge and the Resistor bridge. He has also hit on all three rhythms:

1. God acts and provides wherever his people are.

2. The Israelites are prone to reject God’s established leaders.

3. God is in control of historical events.

However, he will plant one seed and drive home one more point before moving on to the next section of Israel’s history.

III - Moses in the Wilderness

The final 40-year cycle occurs after the exodus from Egypt while they are in the wilderness. Here, Moses concludes with a prediction of his successor and a grim description of Israel’s rebellion.

Acts 7:37–43 ESV

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.’

Moses’ successor

Did you realize that Moses predicted Jesus’ coming? Stephen didn’t expressly make that connection here, but Peter certainly did in chapter 3, verse 22. Moses knew a future messiah was coming, and he told the congregation in Deut. 18:15, and it would stand to reason that Stephen was making the inference here. Not only did he predict his successor, but he also proved his divinely appointed leadership through the burning bush and oracles. In no way could Moses have done these things under his own power. Clearly, the Lord was at work through Moses, yet the people rebelled against him.

Israel’s rebellion

Their hearts turned back to Egypt and her idols. While Moses was receiving instruction from God on the mountaintop, his very own brother Aaron made a golden calf for the people (at their persistent request) to worship instead of the God who had just delivered them from their oppression. There is the Resistor bridge. There is the rhythm that the Israelites are prone to reject God’s established leaders and thereby reject God himself.

And, in their rebellion, God gave them over to their heart’s wicked desires. The worship of the golden calf in the wilderness only multiplied into further idolatrous worship. Moloch and Rephan are mentioned here and represent Israel’s downward spiral of idolatry and rebellion in the promised land. They didn’t want the God who made the heavens, so they turned to the idols of the heavens (or heavenly bodies). They worshiped the creation rather than the creator. And, if they wanted idols, they could have them and everything that came with them… exile and subjugation.

Conclusion

The conclusions today are very much the same as last week.

• Through Moses’ miraculous infancy and Egyptian upbringing, God prepared Moses for his position of leader and deliverer.

• In his exile, God met with Moses where he was and solidified his plan of redemption.

• In the wilderness, God established Moses as Israel’s leader and dealt with Israel’s rejection and rebellion.

In Moses’ story, we have:

1. The Savior Bridge. God raises leaders who deliver Israel from its oppressors.

2. The Resistor Bridge. Rebellion against God’s leader is deeply seeded in the hearts of the Israelite people.

Stephen is building these bridges longer and will eventually span the distance between Abraham & Moses to the present day. Which bridge are you on? Understand you are prone, just like the religious leaders, to sprint down the resistor bridge, so take care to avoid any onramps and maintain your course on the narrow bridge that leads to eternal life.