“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. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the
Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to
the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your
brothers.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with
the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received
living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him
aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us
gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of
Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those
days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of
their hands. But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of
heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring to me
slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house
of Israel? You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the
images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond
Babylon.’” (Acts
7:35-43).
Stephen’s testimony before the angry Jewish
council continued. After describing the life-shaping encounter between Moses
and God, Stephen described another encounter between Moses and the children of
Israel. The Hebrews rejected Moses as their deliverer. Along with him, they
rejected the law God supernaturally delivered through Moses and the land of
promise he would lead them to. The Holy Spirit inspired Stephen to reveal the
reason for such rejection, and along with the hard-hearted Jewish leaders we
also get a glimpse of the heart that forfeits the blessings of God.
They rejected God’s leader. The Hebrews
rejected Moses despite the wonders and signs he performed in Egypt, despite the
parting of the Red Sea, and despite the fact that he spoke with angels.
Although God had removed them from Egypt, His children had not removed Egypt’s
gods from their hearts. Moses confronted them with the challenge… “I call
heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life
and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your
offspring may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Our sins clearly reflect the
condition of our heart. It is the internal choice about who we love and worship
that leads to external choices that others see… “If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is
not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along
with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John
2:15-17). If Christ does not have our heart, we forfeit the blessings of
following God’s chosen leader.
They rejected God’s law. Moses
delivered God’s law to the Jews and Jesus fulfilled God’s law for His children…
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have
not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). As we
learn to love and obey God’s law, it brings us closer to Jesus Christ… “So
then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be
justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). A primary blessing of studying
and obeying God’s law is understanding and appreciating Christ’s law-fulfilling
sacrifice for us… “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). Rejecting God’s law leads
to forfeiting the blessing of salvation.
They rejected God’s land. God’s
covenant with the children of Israel included the promise of a homeland. His
new covenant with His born-again children includes the promise of an eternal
home with Him… “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold,
the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will
be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God’’ (Revelation
21:3). The only way to this forever promised land is by following God’s
Leader, Jesus Christ… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Rejecting Christ
leads to forfeiting the blessing of God’s land forever.
As we grow up into Christ, we are thankful that His
grace has transformed…
The Heart that
Forfeits the Blessings of God.
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