A History of Faithfulness

Acts 7:2-53

Acts 7:2–50 NET 2nd ed.

2 So he replied, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your country and from your relatives, and come to the land I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God made him move to this country where you now live. 5 He did not give any of it to him for an inheritance, not even a foot of ground, yet God promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham as yet had no child. 6 But God spoke as follows: ‘Your descendants will be foreigners in a foreign country, whose citizens will enslave them and mistreat them for 400 years. 7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ said God, ‘and after these things they will come out of there and worship me in this place.’ 8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him when he was eight days old, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 9 The patriarchs, because they were jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his troubles, and granted him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Then a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan, causing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 12 So when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there the first time. 13 On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers again, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 So Joseph sent a message and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come, seventy-five people in all. 15 So Jacob went down to Egypt and died there, along with our ancestors, 16 and their bones were later moved to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a certain sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 17 “But as the time drew near for God to fulfill the promise he had declared to Abraham, the people increased greatly in number in Egypt, 18 until another king who did not know about Joseph ruled over Egypt. 19 This was the one who exploited our people and was cruel to our ancestors, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. 20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house, 21 and when he had been abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 So Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds. 23 But when he was about forty years old, it entered his mind to visit his fellow countrymen the Israelites. 24 When he saw one of them being hurt unfairly, Moses came to his defense and avenged the person who was mistreated by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He thought his own people would understand that God was delivering them through him, but they did not understand. 26 The next day Moses saw two men fighting, and tried to make peace between them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why are you hurting one another?’ 27 But the man who was unfairly hurting his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 28 You don’t want to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ 29 When the man said this, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. 30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached to investigate, there came the voice of the Lord, 32 ‘I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look more closely. 33 But the Lord said to him, ‘Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ 35 This same Moses they had rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge?’ God sent as both ruler and deliverer through the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and miraculous signs in the land of Egypt, 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 among your brothers.’ 38 This is the man who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and he received living oracles to give to you. 39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go in front of us, for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him!’ 41 At that time they made an idol in the form of a calf, brought a sacrifice to the idol, and began rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘It was not to me that you offered slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, house of Israel? 43 But you took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, the images you made to worship, but I will deport you beyond Babylon.’ 44 Our ancestors had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God who spoke to Moses ordered him to make it according to the design he had seen. 45 Our ancestors received possession of it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors, until the time of David. 46 He found favor with God and asked that he could find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says, 49 ‘Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is my resting place? 50 Did my hand not make all these things?’

History has a way doesn’t it?

History has a way of either convincing of the truth OR convicting us by the truth?

On one hand, there’s a way of retelling history (convincing us of the truth) that is actually a pleasant experience. In my own life, history teachers who excelled in their knowledge and the presentation of it were especially capable persuaders and influencers. They shaped facts, figures, names and narratives of history into a dynamic retelling and I became a more engaged and enlightened student because of their retelling of history. Their attitude demeanor, and presentation - all combined to weave the story of history into my present circumstances. In doing so, I gained a genuine understanding of the past so that I was convinced of the truth in the present. When history convinces of of the truth, it’s a pleasant experience.

Slick Ellis and Mark Higginbotham...

On the other hand, when the retelling of history (convicts us by the truth), that is a markedly different experience. In that ‘way’, history can actually pierce us, uncover us, or shed light on us… and now… we’re exposed. The truth is “out” so to speak. It’s not something you can run from; you can’t escape it; you may not even want to accept it… but, regardless, it’s undeniable, indisputable, irrefutable… And. You. Don’t. Like it. But, it’s the truth!

Chattel slavery. Simpson Creek’s History of placing a witch on trial (last one in the US… of which we said she wasn’t guilty!)

Why would Stephen enter into such a dramatic historical narrative?

Scholars opinions - Some believe his message is completely detached, unrelated, and (at worst) proof that there’s lacking reliability in the text. That’s only proof of one thing - a refusal to read Stephen’s testimony for what it is!

In the text, Acts 6:8-7:1 show us that Stephen is brought to trial! His answer was a common method of response to prove, through specified points of history, that indeed the indictment is false and he places his accusers on trial!

Notice as we read the text, Stephen recounts the history of their people, Israel. He focuses on 3 main figureheads of the faith (Abraham, Joseph, and Moses… Kids, if you wanna think of it VeggieTales Style, Stephen is gonna focus on the lives of Abe, Joe, and Moe to show the Sanhedrin how they’ve gone rogue!).

Abraham: Acts 7:2–8 “2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—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.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on…”

Abraham is the first of the examples in Stephen’s history of God’s faithfulness… The father of the nation of Israel… called when he had no land, no children, and did not yet know his God… to obey, take hold of a promise, and seal his allegiance in body and blood (circumcision). It is clear, God has a history of faithfulness.

Joseph: Acts 7:9–19 “9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and…”

Joseph is the evidence of God’s presence with the forefathers of Israel in terrible, unrelenting circumstances. We see a thread in a tapestry that weaves together the promises of land, blessing, and people fulfilled in Joseph. Stephen simply reassures his hearers that indeed, God has a history of faithfulness.

Moses: **At this juncture in the retelling, Stephen begins to add depth and symbol to his oration by recalling the birth, calling, and commitment of Moses to the children of Israel. Certainly the previous two examples have highlighted Stephen’s commitment to their ancestry! He’s paid tribute to the Father of the nation, the rescuer of the fathers, and now he recites the primary role of the deliverer of the nation.

Acts 7:20–44 “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. 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…”

Acts 7:28–44 “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…”

Acts 7:35–44 “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. 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…”

It is with the person of Moses that Stephen paints the most condemning parallels to the recent treatment of Jesus. Now, the text reveals that Stephen’s message begins to move from a history of God’s faithfulness to OUR FOREFATHERS to a history revealing the responses of rejection and idolatry.

Finally, Stephen recites the work of God through 2 characters in Israel’s history that gives a response to the accusation, “Jesus of Nazareth speaks against this temple...”

Both and David and Solomon are mentioned because of their desire to construct with their hands something that would hold a dwelling place for the (God of the ) people of Jacob, and a home… Stephen uses the words of the Farmer prophet, Amos, to eloquently remind the Sanhedrin that thought the desire to build a temple for the Lord existed in those kings… the heavens are his throne; the earth his footstool… is there any place/thing they can make that was not made by his hands?! It is allowed… but God has NO place, land, or people that He is solely and immovably attached to. Remember - He appeared to Abraham in Haran, He followed Joseph into Egypt, He revealed himself and called out Moses at Sinai… and he was a flame night and cloud by day 40 years wondering in the wilderness… He didn’t begin as their God in the land… He wouldn’t be sequestered to only their temple and their land!

Conclusion:

Stephen’s testimony of the history of God’s faithfulness, revealed how the mission of the church given to the apostles in Acts 1:8 would actually get off the ground! Their commission was rooted in A HISTORY OF GOD FOREVER MOVING TOWARD, AMONG, AND IN PURSUIT of those He was redeeming!

The Sanhedrin had a history of faithfulness as well… Did you catch it?! Perhaps you need the final phrases of the text to see just how the Sanhedrin saw and heard Stephen’s testimony…

Acts 7:51–55 ESV

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Did you see and heart how the Sanhedrin saw and heard?! They. Were. ENRAGED! Do you know why they were enraged???

BECAUSE HISTORY JUST HAS A WAY… IT EITHER CONVINCES OF THE TRUTH… OR… IT CONVICTS US BY THE TRUTH! Truth be told...The Sanhedrin wanted NOTHING to do with the truth that was revealed to them! They were graciously given another opportunity to PROVE STEPHEN WRONG! They were hearing a testimony that could have led them to repentance! BUT… instead… They continued in their history of faithfulness… the RESISTED the Holy Spirit… and they REFUSED to REPENT.

What is history revealing to you today?

Can you relate to such a moment? When was the last time someone gave you a solid re-oration of your past? Once they did so, were you convinced you needed to change? OR, when their recitation struck a chord of your rejection of the truth… did you push away deliverance from sin… and in anger refuse to repent?

Don’t miss how this history ends.

Stephen is the only person who was ever able to “make Jesus stand back up.” The story began with the appearing of God to Abraham … moving toward him to lead him… And the history ends with Jesus, who work of deliverance and redemption were FINISHED at Calvary. So he took his seat beside the Father in heaven. Yet he stood to welcome the first martyr into paradise.

Once the history of God’s faithfulness is retold… where do stand? Convinced of the truth - Jesus Christ is THEE deliverer and savior. Or will you faithfully reject and refuse to repent?

You have time to respond. Right. Now.

Prayer.