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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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STEPHEN’S DEFENSE TO CHARGES OF BLASPHAMY - Pt. 2a (Ac 7:18-29) 11/03/13 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. GOD CHOSE AND MADE A COVENANT WITH ISRAEL
(2-17) II. MOSES BECAME THE GREAT DELIVERER OF ISRAEL
(18-37) A. The Slavery of Israel (18-19) 1. [Context] Stephen continued with Israel’s
history, but he also showed that he did not blaspheme against Moses. Stephen
believed God had chosen the people of Israel through the calling of Abraham.
Next he will show that that God will continue to preserve His people through
Moses the Deliverer (Ac 7:18-37). True to God’s promise, Abraham’s
descendants continued to multiply while they were in Egypt (Ex 1:7) (17). 2. [18] Also true to God’s prophecy, Israel
would fall into mistreatment and slavery. Stephen explained by quoting
Scripture (Ex 1:8) that it began years after Joseph’s death. Another king
replaced the previous one and he “knew nothing about Joseph” (plueperfect - oida -
had not known) because the time of Joseph had past. 3. [19] But this king took “shrewd
advantage” (katasophizomai - exploit
through cunning subtlety) of Israel. Stephen identifies himself as an
Israelite with the phrase “our race.” 4. The king mistreated them in forcing
Israel into slave labor (Ex 1:9-15). But more
unjustly than that, he issued an order to the Hebrew midwives that they put
to death any infant sons (Ex 1:16-22). The word Stephen used was “cast out” (ekthetos - put outside and abandoned)
referring to the act of casting the male infants into the Nile. B. The Deliverance through Moses (20-36) 1. The Deliverance of Moses (20-22) a) Stephen reiterated the reoccurring theme
of God’s deliverance in spite of repeated attempts to destroy Israel. b) [20] God’s deliverance included a divinely
appointed deliverer. Hence, Moses was born at this very time. Unbecoming of
his charge of blasphemy against Moses, Stephen emphasized that Moses was “lovely in the sight of God.” The word asteios suggests the idea of “exceedingly
fair,” “well-formed,” or “well-bred” (cf. Ex 2:2a). This could also mean
“well-pleasing” in the sense of the divine choice of Moses to be God’s
prophet and deliverer. Moses was hidden and nurtured for
three months (Ex 2:2b). c) [21] The time came when Moses had to be
“cast out” (ektithēmi - root of ekthetos, vs. 19) into the Nile. However, because of
their faith in God, his mother placed Moses in a wicker basket water-proofed with tar and pitch. She entrusted Moses to
God’s providence and had Moses’ sister follow (Ex 2:3-4). d) By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter
took the infant Moses (Heb. Mōseh, from masha - to draw, i.e. “because I drew him out of the
water,” Ex 2:10) out of the Nile and raised him as her own. As God
delivered His servant Moses, He would deliver His people Israel. e) [22] Having been raised by Pharaoh’s
daughter, Moses was “educated” (paideuō
- train a child (pais), instruct) in Egyptian
learning (cf. 1Ki 4:30; Is 19:11; Philo, “Life of Moses 1:20-22). Again
emphasizing his respect for Moses and his leadership, Stephen adds, “he was a
man of power in words and deeds.” 2. Rejection by Israel (23-29) a) [23] Though Ex 2:11 only reads, “that
Moses had grown up,” the traditional view in Stephen’s day would have
approximated Moses’ age. They viewed Moses’ life as being
divided in increments of 40 years. He was 80 yrs. old when he came to
Pharaoh to deliver Israel (Ex 7:7). He was 120yrs when he died, leading Israel
in the wilderness for 40 years (Dt 34:7). So, it was
the traditional view that Moses was “about the forty years old” (NET) (imperfect
passive - plēroō “become fully forty”)
about the time he fled. b) It is interesting that “it entered his mind (kardia
- heart) to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.” No doubt, God was moving in Moses’ heart to lead Israel
out of bondage. We know the intent of Moses’ heart would growing to “refuse
to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure
ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of
sin” (He 11:24-26). c) [24] When Moses came across an Egyptian
mistreating the sons of Israel, he responded with vengeance. He struck the
Egyptian dead and “hid him in the sand” (Ex 2:11-12). d) [25] Moses had been burdened for his kinsman and their deliverance. Moses “supposed” (nomizō - presumed) that the Israelites
would understand that God was using him to deliver them. However, they may
have seen Moses as a member of Pharaoh’s house. Whatever the case, they
definitely did not see Moses as their divinely chosen deliverer. e) [26-27] The next day Moses came across
two Jews fighting against each other. When he attempted to stop them, one of
them responded, “WHO MADE YOU A RULER (archonta) AND JUDGE (dikastēn)
OVER US?” (Ex 2:14a). ironically, later in Israel’s
history they would ask for judges (deliverers) and rulers (kings). f) [28] The same man said to Moses, “YOU DO
NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?” (Ex
2:14b). g) Again we see the repeated theme of Israel
rejecting God’s chosen deliverer even as they had
done to Joseph. h) [29] Because of
guilt, rejection, and fear, Moses “FLED
AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN.” In mentioning only the main and pertinent points,
Stephen passes over Pharaoh’s knowledge of Moses’ crime and leadership of
Jewish insurrection (Ex 2:15). But Moses would not
always fear Pharaoh (He 11:27). i) Moses
was married and stayed in the land of Midian for approximately forty years
(Ex 7:7). Moses became the father of two sons, Gershom
(“an alien there,” Ex. 2:22), and Eliezer (“God is
my help,” Ex. 18:4). Both names describe Moses’ situation as an alien in the
wilderness, but God would be his help to deliver Israel through him. III. OBSERVATION AND APPLICATIONS A. The Apologetic Argument of Israel’s
Longevity: Many ask for proof of God’s fingerprint in the world. We do
see such evidence in the creation and fine-tuning of the universe (Ro 1:20).
However, in a more vivid detail we see God’s personal relationship,
miraculous power, revelation, and divine deliverance in the history of
Israel. Therefore, Israel is a strong apologetic argument for God’s existence
and providence in the world (Ro 11:26). B. The Ways of God in His Callings:
Often God will place a burden in a believer’s heart for a particular
ministry. This does not always result in the immediate unfolding of His plan.
Many times God will call a person to a ministry, but develop them over time.
When the time comes, God has equipped and matured the believer for that
calling. C. Two Pitfalls to Avoid in God’s Calling: The first of two pitfalls to avoid in
God’s calling is to think that because God has not unfolded His plan, the
believer is to do nothing. Rather the believer is to be involved in ministry,
perhaps in smaller roles, until God has opened the door for His plan. God’s
ultimate plan is for the believer to always be serving
Him. The second pitfall is for a believer to be equipped and matured over
time, but then remain on the sidelines rather than be engaged in that
ministry to which God has called them. |
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