Acts 7:17-43

Faithfulness and Foreshadowing

What are the key themes of this passage?

God’s Faithfulness

Christ’s Foreshadowing

Israel’s Pride and Rebellion

God’s Faithfulness v. 17-18

Genesis 15:5, 13-14 - Promise to increase to Abraham (1901 BC)

Genesis 46:3 - Promise reiterated to Jacob(Isaac)

Exodus 1:7 - Confirmation of the fulfillment (1446 BC)

Deuteronomy 10:22 - Moses recalling fulfillment to the Israelites

Acts 7:14 - Stephen bringing God’s faithfulness to remembrance (30-34 AD)

Interpretation

God is faithful to fulfill what He promises

Application

We have the benefit of looking backwards through history across the various authors and time periods to see how God faithfully fulfills what He promises with staggering specificity! Don’t let the gravity of the reality of God’s faithfulness miss you!

Christ’s Foreshadowing v. 19-38

In what ways do we see Christ foreshadowed through Moses?

Acts 7:19 - Matthew 2:16-18 - Killing of infants

Acts 7:22 - Luke 24:19 - Jesus powerful in word and deed

Acts 7:23-38 - Acts 1:11 - Two Advents - Rejected then Accepted

Acts 7:30 - Mark 1:12 - Desert Testing 40 years vs 40 days

Acts 7:35 - Luke 20:2, Philippians 2:9-11, John 5:22-23 - Questioned & Exalted

Acts 7:37 - Deuteronomy 18:15 - Prophet Like Moses

What foreshadowing of Christ through Moses remains yet unfulfilled?

2nd Advent

Interpretation

Moses was a picture of Christ meant to be a big neon sign that pointed to Christ when He came!

Application

We can have the utmost confidence in the person of Christ because of the innumerable confirmations we have for Jesus Christ being the one that has been pointed to all along. Because of the confidence we have in looking backwards through history, we can have the same confidence in the 2nd coming of Christ looking forward.

Israel’s Pride v. 39-43

Who did Israel worship in the wanderings?

The host of heaven

Moloch

Rephan

The works of their hands

What is so ironic about Israel’s unfaithfulness?

Just rescued out of bondage

Firsthand witnesses to the miracles of God

Redeemer sent among them

If Moses foreshadows Jesus, who do the Israelites foreshadow?

The Israelites

ME!

Interpretation

The Israelites forsook God so quickly after their salvation from bondage and literal mountaintop experience and relied on the works of their hands rather than in God Almighty and the Israelites of Stephen’s day are continuing in the pattern of their ancestors.

Application

I am in danger of doing the same thing as the Israelites whether after a mountaintop experience or in wilderness wanderings. In many instances they worshipped other gods alongside God Almighty, but even exalting anything to equality with God is a major affront to the person of God and Christ. What am I exalting? What am I worshipping? What am I offering the sacrifice of my time, talents, treasures, and attention to?

Lord, please reveal to me my sin. please reveal to me any idol that I’m harboring in my heart. Help me to see clearly so that I can see how bad my sin is. Help me to repent and be sanctified in You. Help me to run back to Your strong tower, mighty fortress, peace, joy, and comfort. Help me to be the living sacrifice that You have reasonably called me to be in the gratitude of how great and holy You are.

Prayer Requests