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Acts 7.30-34
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May 1st 2016
Okay we left off with Stephen in Acts chapter 7 delivering a speech to the Jewish Sanhedrim in an attempt to defend accusations that he was a blasphemer and spoke against the Temple and Law of Moses.
In verse 22-29 Stephen introduced to us the story of Moses and told how he was saved from infant death, how he was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, and how he grew in great wisdom in all things Egyptian.
This man was prepared by God to lead the Children of Israel. So much so it seems he decided to act as a leader to them by killing an Egyptian who was mistreating them.
This happened when Moses was a full forty years of age. We then read Stephan say (at verse 30)
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
Back to verse 29:
So after being called out for killing the Egyptian by one of his own Hebrew brethren, Stephan says:
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
Here was the second “exit and entering” of Moses life – out from Egypt personally and into the wilderness.
When Stephan says that he was “a stranger in the land of Midian” the Greek word is paroikos and it means that he considered himself a temporary resident in the place he resided.
Do you hear it? Can you hear it coming down the tracks – a great lesson for all of us today as believers in the living God through the life of Moses?
Some of us are uncertain of the call on our lives. That is better pictured in the life of Joseph who was unsure as to what God was going to have him do.
But in the case of Moses, he knew that he was the one to lead the Nation to freedom . . . but he didn’t know how or when.
And so guess what Moses was left doing? It’s a dreaded seven letter word most of us hate. Moses wound up . . . waiting.
He knew he was supposed to lead them, he knew that he had killed an Egyptian, and he knew that Pharaoh sought his life.
So he turned his back on all of Egypt, fled to the deseret, herded lifestock, bore two sons . . . and waited.
This is the opposite of taking action, isn’t it? And in the biblical sense it is opposite of taking action in the flesh.
He waited. 14,600 twenty-four hour periods. In the harsh desert. Under the hand of God who apparently did not have any communication with him during that time – and if He did we don’t know about it.
We know a couple of elemental threads attached to the waiting Moses did.
First of all, he waited as a fugitive.
It’s an interesting paradox isn’t it – that the people God uses often are put in the position of being a fugitive in the eyes of the world around them?
Adam was a fugitive in the truest sense of the Word (which means running away to avoid capture) when he and Eve hid from God.
Jacob was a fugitive when he fled from his brother Esau.
David from Saul, Absolom, Ammon, Jeroboam and various prophets of the Old Testament.
Of course the Nation of Israel as a whole were forced to flee as fugitives and wound up refugees.
The concept of fugitives was so big in the Old Testament that God, in his mercy, established among the Nation of Israel and their cities and habitations special safe house called, Cities of Refuge.
According to Numbers 35:1-34 there were six of them.
(Numbers 35:6) “And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither.”
All through the Old Testament these cities were known as “cities for the slayer.”
What??
Under the Law this is how they worked. If a man killed someone it was the duty of another family member to take his life – often driven by passion and or revenge.
So God established six cities where if someone was involved in the death of another they could run (as fast as possible) to these safe zones until the matter could be fully investigated.
If the person took the life of another purposefully they would be put to death after a fair trial but if it was discovered that they life of another was lost accidentally, the fugitive would have to live in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Once he died, the fugitive was free to leave the city of refuge without any harm being done to him.
Because the constant theme of being refugees and fugitives was so present among the Children of Israel God told them to have a special heart for the strangers and fugitives that would wander into their lives – to receive them, welcome them, love them, provide for them.
Joseph (Jesus’ step father) was told in a dream by an angel “to flee into Egypt from Herod,” so even from a young babe Jesus was on the lamb.
And of course He escaped from the clutches of the religious leaders who tried to kill Him before His time, as did the apostles – including Paul and Peter – who all had to escape in different ways, and Jesus even told the early Christians in Matthew that those who were in Judea in the time of the Abomination of Desolation that they should flee to the mountains to escape death.
The lessons for us? Believers today ought not be surprised when they become in some sense a fugitive in the world around them (especially from the ways and things of this world) and also we learn to have a heart who are on the lamb themselves.
When it comes to our gathering together our arms ought to be wide open to all – all – even those on the lamb. I don’t care if Mark Hoffman escaped from the Point of the Mountain and ran right to CAMPUS he would find love, acceptance, and sanctuary – in Jesus name.
Being a fugitive Moses had to rely on the Lord to move before he was ever going to go back to Egypt from where he once fled.
In a sense we are all in a similar boat. But the difference is our High Priest has died, and so we are FREE to roam. And while we continue to roam as fugitives in the face of this world, refugees waiting to be received into heaven, our sin has been pardoned, and we have no fear of those who can kill the body.
None.
So Moses went to the land of Midian which was part of Arabia and apparently was situated on the east side of the Red Sea.
There Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, (Ex 2:18,) also known as Jethro, (Nu 10:29; Ex 3:1,) who was “a priest of Midian.” His two son’s names were “Gershom and Eliezer.”
Stephen continues (verse 30)
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him (Moses) in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
Moses was now eighty years of age. And while in the wilderness of Mount Sinai (which means in the desert adjacent to or the areas that surrounded Mount Sinai) Stephan says:
“there appeared to him (Moses) in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.”
Let me touch on the language and views of this passage.
In Exodus 3:1 we read that this occurred “at Mount Horeb” but there is no contradiction here as Horeb and Sinai are different peaks or elevations of the same mountain, springing up from the same base and branching out to different heights.
Both peaks were part of a 30 mile wide rocky pile that contains many peaks and from where Moses received the law that was ultimately given to the children of Israel.
Now Stephen says, there appeared unto Moses in the wilderness of Mount Sinai “AN ANGEL OF THE LORD IN A FLAME OF FIRE IN A BUSH.”
This is the language we are dealing with in our attempt to understand exactly what Moses experienced, again:
“AN ANGEL OF THE LORD IN A FLAME OF FIRE IN A BUSH.”
Where it says “that an angel of the Lord” the word angel in Greek, again, is “anggelos” and it means a messenger.
In scripture anggelos can be “an invisible or visible spirit from heaven, or a man, or wind, or pestilence, or to whatever is appointed as a messenger to make known the will of God or even the news from someone other than God – like a dark messenger.
I’m saying this because by the name alone nothing can be determined about the nature of this specific messenger.
But the nature and character of this messenger can be determined by other considerations.
All the references to this event let us know that it was a celestial messenger and many people believe it was the pre-incarnate Messiah appearing to take the people of Israel under his own charge and direction.
This assumption is made when we read passages like the Gospel of John 1:11 which says that Jesus “CAME UNTO HIS OWN.”
Now in Exodus 3:2 it says that the angel of the Lord appeared IN a flame of fire.
That has to be taken into consideration. And then in verse 4 of the same chapter it says that “Jehovah spake to him out of the midst of the bush.”
This line STRONGLY implies that God Himself was there and makes most scholars believe that the angel was “Jehovah.”
But if we turn to Exodus 23:20-21, God says to Moses,
“I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice,”
And so we have to wonder what the relationship is between the voice of Jehovah, the angel in the flame of fire, and the angel God says that He sends an angel before Moses to lead them, guide them, defend them, and drive out the nations before them.
All these circumstances make most believers conclude that this angel in the burning bush, Jehovah speaking, was none other than the future Savior and Deliverer of the world, who came then to take his people under his own guidance, as emblematic of the future redemption of mankind.
One last thing – when it says from a bush burning it most likely refers to a flame speaking out from a bushy or grove-like area – with the light beaming out – rather than a single little plant being on fire but not being consumed.
(Verse 31)
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
Exodus 3:2-3 tells us that what particularly attracted Moses attention to the sight was the fact that the bush was not consumed.
I think this is interesting since scripture describes God as a “consuming fire” in two places.
In any case Stephan says that as Moses drew near to the burning place that the “voice of the Lord (Jehovah) came unto him.”
Note that He did NOT see Jehovah but he simply heard a voice.
32 “Saying,” (verse 32) “ I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Exodus 3:6 puts it this way:
“And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
(beat)
You know, we live in a pretty calloused and even a blasphemous age – a godless age and a time where most of us do not fear – nor even show the living God respect.
I have a devout love for the Lord and I can get pretty fast and loose with my humor and approach to Him.
But a quick study of the Old and New Testament people who had interaction with God shows that an actual engagement with God frequently (but not always) but frequently amounts to a reaction similar to what Moses had to the burning glow and the voice of God speaking to him.
I tend to see Jesus as absolutely necessary to serve as a God/Man buffer between the living God and us – without Him having made intercession in so many ways – I think we would all have a pretty terrifying experience with the living God.
Not that He is terrifying in an evil way, but he is terrifying in majesty, in power, in light and illumination, in incomprehensibility, in immensity.
This side of God is forgotten today – but it has NOT changed. I am also of the opinion – in large part due to Dave and his thoughts on the matter – that when we read that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord it will be automatic, it will be immediate, and it will not be by force – in the least – it will be what ALL human beings – maybe even every living creature – will do in the presence of God.
We will not be able in the least to resist absolutely and fully coming undone before Him – utterly.
Those covered in the blood praising the name of the Lord for His mercy and love, those non-recepients crying, “I am unclean before you, Lord!”
But all . . . will bow and confess. (verse 33)
33 Then said the Lord to him, “Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.”
The ceremonialism of this act, removed by the final shed blood of Christ and transferred spiritually to the heart and soul of believers today, was something for a time long since passed, but I have to tell you, I sat and wept in the face of its significance as I prepared this message in Del Taco last week – and I am the least “take off your shoes this is a holy place” kind of guy on earth.
What touched me so deeply? Here was Moses – trained in Egypt, a man of God, who for forty years had waited on the Lord. He is a man who has suffered, and endured much by way of personal training. A man who was obviously of tremendous import and what is the first thing God says to Him?
“Take off the shoes of your feet – this is Holy ground.”
It’s a line that clearly divides the sacred and the profane – humanity.
When I look at the story of Job I am similarly moved as Job lost EVERYTHING, was covered in boils, sitting in the dirt, and ultimately challenged by life.
He was met by three friends who spout all sorts of ideas and human wisdom in his ear, some of which he too offered up.
But in the end God comes to Job.
(beat)
He does NOT . . . offer him an apology, or an explanation. He does not coddle him nor give him ANY room for justification at all.
He is looking for one response from Job and one alone (it seems). And this is what we read:
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where were you . . .when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 ¶ Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
CHAPTER 39
Job 39:1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labor to him?
12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear;
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
CHAPTER 40
1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
CHAPTER 41
1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11 ¶ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
CHAPTER 42
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Illustrating the clear relationship between the living God and even Moses!
So to Moses, God said, “put off thy shoes, where you stand is Holy Ground.”
And then He says:
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
When Hebrews repeat something it is a means of emphasizing the point. And so it appears that Stephan is making the emphasis here as God does not repeat Himself according to the account in Exodus.
Let’s wrap it up here and continue on with our verse by verse next week.
Q and A
Ministry Audition Announcement at CAMPUS (Announce Sunday May 1st Sunday May 8th that the auditions will be held on Saturday May 20th from 11:30 am to 2pm.
