Key Passage: Acts 7:30-43

Topic: God; Obedience/Discipleship; Bible Characters

"This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'--this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush....Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt"" (Acts 7:35,39, ESV).

Stephen, one of the early Christian leaders, had been falsely accused of blaspheming God and not showing proper respect for Moses, the Law and the patriarchs. His response to the religious opposition was to recount the history of God's plan for His people.

Using an Old Testament story, Stephen links the rebellion of the ancient Israelites with the opposition waged by those who'd rejected Jesus. This section, Acts 7:30-43, recounts the failure of God's people to do the only thing He asked: to follow and obey Him.

Moses was God's choice to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt…but they rejected him at first. Even during his years in leadership, he faced rebellion and rejection over and over. God's people--chosen, rescued and redeemed--were willing to settle for a calf of gold--useless, cold and made with their own hands--instead of following a living, loving, all-powerful God.

Did you notice how Stephen described Moses? He calls him the "man God sent as both ruler and redeemer." Sounds like Someone else we know.

Jesus was also sent from God, fully man and completely God. He came to redeem us from the slavery of sin--to buy us back and set us free. He offers to rule over us with love, a rule that's a joy to experience.

The religious opposition Stephen faced was no different from the people centuries before. In fact, they had a bigger problem. They didn't just reject a messenger chosen by God; they rejected the Son of God.

Things haven't really changed much, have they? But this is one Person you can't afford to reject. Jesus is the only One who can give you life instead of slavery and death.