Acts 7:30-36
…this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer… (v.35b) and This man led them out, performing wonders and signs… (v. 36a). Stephen is building his case, clearly looking forward to Jesus in these two sentences. His “this man” in both sentences is referring to Moses, but it is also clear to Stephen that another “this Man”, Jesus, was doing the same things – ruling and redeeming and performing wonders and signs. And as Moses was rejected by his own people, so will Jesus also be rejected by the Jewish leaders.
A thought on God sending Moses back to Egypt. Stephen does not go into detail as to the rest of that conversation between God and Moses, but Moses clearly did not want to go back. In the book of Exodus Moses tries three times to turn down the mission. After first asking “Who are you?”, Moses says, “What if they won’t believe me? (Ex. 4:1) Then he claims to be clumsy of speech (Ex. 4:10). Finally he implores the Lord to please send someone else (Ex. 4:13), at which the Lord’s anger “burned against Moses” (Ex. 4:14) and Moses relented. I’m trying to think whether I have ever refused or argued with God about His call on my life. I’ll continue to think about that. And you…??
Slava Bohu!
Hi Fred, apparently it took Moses 40 years of readiness training to even see the burning bush, and he still said “Not me!” God is patient with our lack of readiness and obedience. I wonder, the Israelites in Egypt may have needed those 40 years too, to get ready to listen to Moses (a generation or more after they rejected him).