In verse 37 the prophet like Moses is Jesus Christ. Stephen is on trial for “speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” Ｉn his defense Stephen is saying that that is not true。 First Stephen is explaining who the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph is. In other words, He is the “God of glory”. (2) The “God of glory” doesn’t just live in the Jerusalem temple, but while Abraham was still in Mesopotamia, He showed His glory. Also even when the possibility that the promised land would be given seemed very small, God was at work. God controlled history and Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt and became the ruler of Egypt. Next Stephen is responding to their accusation that he had turned his back on Moses. Stephen is saying that he did not turn his back on Moses, but the opposite. He is following Jesus Christ whom Moses had pointed out. In verse 37 Stephen is quoting Moses’ words written in Deut. Today let’s look at 3 things we can learn from the relationship of Moses and Christ.
I. Moses is a small model of Christ. (vs.17-22)
Stephen is saying that He is not turning his back on Moses. He is explaining that Moses was pointing to Jesus and that he is following this Jesus Christ whom Moses had pointed out. He is saying that Moses was a shadow of Jesus Christ. Moses’ birth was related to the time that God had promised to Abraham. That promise is in verse 5 that this land would be given to his descendants. As it became near to the fulfillment of this promise, the Israelites increased in number in Egypt. The Pharaoh became concerned and made life even more bitterly for the Israelites and killed all male babies who were born by throwing them into the Nile River.
It was at this time that Moses was born. Moses should have been killed too, but his mother hid him for 3 months. Then she could hide him no longer so she put him in a papyrus basket and put it in the grasses of the Nile. The daughter of the Pharaoh just happened to come to take a bath and found the basket. She felt sorry for the baby and decided to raise him as her child. Moses was raised as the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter. Therefore, he was given an Egyptian education. As a result he had exceptional skills.
Stephen is giving us a detailed story of Moses’ life because he wants to show us the similarities between Moses and Christ. He is saying that Moses’ birth and education was like Jesus. According to Matt. 2:16, when Jesus was born too, the king, Herod, was having all boys 2 years old and younger living abound Jerusalem killed. This was because Herod was afraid that his kingship was being threatened. It was like when the Pharaoh was afraid because the Israelites were increasing in Egypt and had all the male babies killed. In Luke 2:52; 24:19 Jesus is said to be exceptional which is similar to Moses who had a royal education and gained exceptional skills.
We can see this in verse 23 too. When Moses was 40 years old he saw an Israelite being beaten by an Egyptian, Moses killed the Egyptian. He thought he would be understood by his fellow Israelites, but instead they asked “Who made you our ruler and lord over us?” He was asked if he was going to kill him too. He was not accepted and fled to Median.
Jesus was the same. In John 1:11 we are told that Jesus was not accepted by his own people. He was put on a cross and killed.
However, God didn’t forget Moses who was in Median. 40 years later God appeared to Moses in the Sinai desert and spoke to Moses the words given in verses 32-34.
God is sending out Moses to rule and liberate. “This Moses” (35) and “This person” (36) are being emphasized. Moses is pointing to Jesus.
Acts 2:23, 24
Moses who was asked “Who made you our ruler and lord?” is now being sent out to be a ruler and liberator. Jesus who the Israelites hated and put on the cross, God has raised to set us free from the slavery of sin and death. Moses led the people, and worked many miracles and wonders in Egypt, at the Red sea, and during the 40 years in the wilderness. Also God through Christ is working many wonders and miracles among them to testify to Christ.
Vs. 37, 38
Jesus is the prophet like Moses that Moses prophesized about. Just as Moses received the Word of God and gave it to the people at the meeting place in the desert, Jesus gave himself as the bread from heaven, and gave the Word of God to the church in the desert. Jesus was who Moses was pointing to and who the Israelites really need to follow. Jesus said this too in John 5:45, 46
Therefore, Stephen is not blaspheming against Moses. In fact, the Jesus that he believes in and road of Jesus that he is following is in reality what Moses was pointing to. This is the correct road. However, they aren’t able to understand this. And they are killing Stephen who is really following Moses and the Prophets. We all experience times like this. We are doing what we know is right, but others don’t understand what we are doing. Sometimes we experience hard times from the hands of our family and friends. We need to explain our thinking in love until we our understood.
II. Israel who turned their backs on God. (39-41)
In verse 23 we can see that the Israelites thrusted Moses away. As a result they had to wander in the desert. However more than that they revolted against Moses and made the golden calf and worshiped it.
Vs. 39, 41
This event occurred in the Sinai desert after Moses had saved the Israelites from the cruel Egypt. While Moses was receiving the Law at the top of Mt. Sinai, the people got tired of waiting for Moses and they gathered around Aaron. They discussed making a God to go before them. Then they made a golden calf and worshiped it. (Exodus 32:4) “In their hearts (they) turned back to Egypt.” (39) Even though God had set them free, they soon forgot the grace of God and looked at the problems they faced and complained to the point that they began to think Egypt was better. We need to be careful not to make the same mistake.
The beginning of worries is the end of faith. When things don’t go the way we want them to go, we often make golden calves, ask “Why did you lead me to this place?”, etc., but that is not trusting in God. We need to stand on the promises of the Bible that God gives us and walk by faith.
III. God who turned his back on Israel (42,43)
God’s punishment upon the Israelites for turning their backs on Moses was
1. “God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies.” (42) “the shrine of Molech” in verse 43 was actually the god of the Ammonites. It had the head of a cow with both arms spread out wide. “The star of your god Rephan” also in verse 43 is a star idol that the Egyptians, Assyrians, and the Phoenicians worshiped. God’s judgment upon those who don’t follow God is to turn away from them, and let them do as they want. In other words, He has no interest in them. Proverbs 3:12
2. God sends Israel into exile beyond Babylon. (43) Stephen quotes Amos 5:25-27 as translated in the Septuagint, except that he replaces Damascus with Babylon in view of the fact that the final exile of Israel from the Promised Land was carried out by the Babylonians. Amos was speaking first of the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom. Stephan is saying that the sin that the Israelites committed at Sinai, the sin that caused Israel to be exiled to Assyria in 721 B.C., and the sin that caused Israel to be exiled to Babylon in 721 were all the same sin of blaspheming Moses and putting their own thinking first. This is the sin of verse 51 “stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears” Stephen is saying that this is the sin of the Sanhedrin.
This isn’t just a problem of the Israelites in Jesus’ day, but in every era and place. Those whose hearts become hard and they blaspheme the Holy Spirit are the same as these Jews. We need to stop having hard hearts, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, and open our hearts. This is the only way to avoid God’s wrath.
Romans 5:9
The only way we can be saved is by the blood of Jesus. Let’s give testimony to this fact. This is what Stephan is saying..