How does Acts 7:35 illustrate God's choice despite human rejection? Setting the Scene Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, recounts Israel’s history before the Sanhedrin. He highlights Moses’ rejection by his own people, then God’s decisive action to commission that very man as their deliverer. Key Verse “ ‘This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, “Who made you ruler and judge?” is the one God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.’ ” (Acts 7:35) God’s Choice in Spite of Human Rejection • Israel’s verdict: “Who made you ruler and judge?” (Exodus 2:14). • God’s verdict: “I AM has sent you” (Exodus 3:14). • Human rejection could not nullify divine appointment. • The very insult (“ruler and judge”) becomes Moses’ God-given title: ruler, deliverer, redeemer. Truths Demonstrated • Divine sovereignty: God selects His instruments independent of popular opinion (Romans 9:15-16). • Covenant faithfulness: God keeps His promises to Abraham’s descendants even when they resist (Genesis 15:13-14; Acts 7:6-7). • Redeemer pattern: A rejected savior raised up by God foreshadows Christ (Psalm 118:22; Luke 20:17). Supporting Echoes in Scripture • Joseph—sold by brothers, yet “God sent me ahead of you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5-8). • David—despised by Saul, yet anointed king (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 5:3). • Jesus—“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him…He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12). • The apostolic message—“This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Principles for Today • God’s call rests on His authority, not on human acceptance. • Rejection often precedes elevation; opposition cannot overturn divine purpose (Romans 8:31). • Faith looks beyond present rejection to future vindication (Hebrews 11:24-27). Living It Out • Trust God’s appointments in your life even when others question them. • View opposition as confirmation, not cancellation, of God’s calling. • Celebrate Christ, the ultimate Moses, once rejected but now exalted, whose deliverance cannot be thwarted. |
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