What does Acts 7:28 teach about God's timing in fulfilling His plans? Text of the Verse “ ‘Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ” (Acts 7:28) Immediate Context • Stephen retells Moses’ failed attempt to act as Israel’s deliverer forty years before the exodus (Acts 7:23-29). • Verse 25 notes Moses “assumed his brothers would understand that God was delivering them through him, but they did not.” • Instead of rallying behind Moses, the Israelites rejected him, forcing him into exile. What the Verse Reveals about God’s Timing • Human zeal alone cannot hurry a divine plan; Moses’ premature action ended in rejection. • God allowed four more decades of preparation in Midian (Acts 7:30) before commissioning Moses—showing divine timing often includes long seasons of waiting. • The question in verse 28 exposes how people judge by immediate circumstances, whereas God works on a broader, perfect timetable. • God’s plan was never thwarted; it simply unfolded when His appointed time arrived (cf. Galatians 4:4). Key Lessons on Timing from the Passage • Misreading timing leads to frustration, misunderstanding, and setback. • Divine delays are purposeful—forming character, humility, and dependence (Exodus 3:1-10; Hebrews 11:27). • God’s redemptive agenda is patient, not sluggish (2 Peter 3:9); He aligns events, people, and hearts before moving. Principles We Can Apply • Wait for God’s clear commissioning instead of forcing outcomes. • Trust that apparent rejection or delay may be preparation for greater usefulness. • Evaluate opportunities prayerfully, discerning whether they match God’s moment or personal impulse. Supporting Scriptures • Acts 7:25 – Moses’ mistaken assumption about timing. • Exodus 2:14-15 – Israel’s rejection prompting Moses’ exile. • Psalm 27:14 – “Wait patiently for the LORD…” • Isaiah 55:8-9 – God’s thoughts and timing are higher than ours. • Habakkuk 2:3 – “Though it lingers, wait for it; it will surely come.” |
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