How does Moses' experience connect to Jesus' rejection by His own people? Setting the Stage • Acts 7 is Stephen’s Spirit-filled retelling of Israel’s story. • Verse 29 notes Moses’ flight after his attempt to help was spurned: “At this remark, Moses fled to Midian, where he lived as an exile and had two sons.” • Stephen is hinting that what Israel once did to Moses, they have now done to Jesus. How Moses Was Rejected • Exodus 2:14 records the bitter response of the Hebrew man Moses tried to defend: “Who made you ruler and judge over us?” • Instead of welcoming their would-be deliverer, the people mocked him, forcing Moses to escape to Midian. • Acts 7:35 underscores the irony: “This Moses, whom they rejected, God sent as ruler and redeemer.” Jesus Faces the Same Pattern • John 1:11: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” • Mark 6:4: “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown...” • Luke 19:14 shows the heart behind the rejection: “We do not want this man to reign over us.” • Just as Moses withdrew after rejection, Jesus also withdrew (Matthew 12:14-15) yet returned in God’s timing for the greater deliverance at the cross. Key Parallels Between Moses and Jesus 1. Divine Appointment • Moses: Sent by God to rescue from Egyptian bondage. • Jesus: Sent by the Father to rescue from sin’s bondage (John 3:16-17). 2. Initial Rejection • Moses: “Who made you ruler…?”—questioning his authority. • Jesus: Leaders demand, “By what authority are You doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23). 3. Temporary Withdrawal • Moses spends forty years in Midian. • Jesus leaves public ministry moments when hostility peaks (John 10:39-40). 4. Vindication and Return • Moses comes back empowered with signs and wonders (Exodus 4). • Jesus enters Jerusalem with miracles and ultimately the resurrection—the ultimate sign. 5. Ongoing Deliverance • Moses leads Israel out, yet many still murmur in the wilderness. • Jesus delivers, yet many still stumble over Him (Romans 9:32-33). Why the Rejection Matters • It reveals the stubbornness of the human heart and our need for God’s grace. • It fulfills prophecy: Deuteronomy 18:15 promised “a Prophet like me” whom Israel must heed; Acts 3:22-23 ties that to Jesus. • It magnifies God’s sovereignty—He uses rejection to advance redemption (Genesis 50:20 principle). Personal Takeaways • Don’t be surprised when truth meets resistance; expect it, stay faithful. • Examine whether any area of life echoes, “Who made You ruler over me?”—yield that to Christ. • Remember God’s pattern: rejection never thwarts His plan; it often sets the stage for greater deliverance. |
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