What is the meaning of Acts 7:31? When Moses saw it - Stephen is recalling the moment Moses noticed “the flame of a burning bush” (Exodus 3:2-3). - This was not a mirage or vision only in Moses’ mind; Scripture presents it as a concrete, historical event in the Midian wilderness. - God often initiates encounters by first catching a person’s attention—think of Samuel hearing his name at night (1 Samuel 3:4) or Saul seeing the light on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3). - In each case, the Lord makes the first move, underscoring grace: we do not discover Him; He reveals Himself to us (Romans 3:11). He marveled at the sight - Moses’ reaction is one of stunned awe. The fire blazes, yet the bush is not consumed—something both natural and supernatural at once (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29). - Genuine worship begins with wonder. Like the disciples who were “utterly astonished” when Jesus calmed the sea (Mark 6:51-52), Moses’ amazement sets the stage for obedience. - Marveling guards us from treating holy things casually (Psalm 33:8). Moses’ reverence here contrasts with Israel’s later grumbling at Sinai (Exodus 32:1). As he approached to look more closely - Moses turns aside; he draws nearer. Curiosity becomes pursuit (Exodus 3:4). - Scripture repeatedly encourages drawing near to God: “Come near to God, and He will come near to you” (James 4:8; also Hebrews 10:22). - Yet there is tension: God is approachable, but He is also holy. Soon Moses will be told to remove his sandals (Exodus 3:5). This balance—invitation and reverence—runs throughout the Bible (Isaiah 6:5-7). - Our faith is not passive. Like Moses, we respond actively, moving toward the light we have received (John 8:12). The voice of the Lord came to him - The climax is not the visual sign but the spoken word. Sight led to hearing; marvel led to message. God communicates verbally, binding Himself to clear, understandable language (Exodus 3:6-10). - From Eden onward, the Lord has addressed humanity directly (Genesis 2:16-17). His voice creates (Psalm 33:6), calls (John 10:27), and commissions (Acts 13:2). - For Moses, this voice launches a lifelong mission: deliver Israel, reveal God’s law, prefigure Christ as the ultimate Redeemer (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 7:37). - Today, God still speaks through His written Word, which carries the same authority (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12). Summary Acts 7:31 highlights a real moment in history when Moses encountered God in the burning bush. The sequence—seeing, marveling, approaching, hearing—models how the Lord captures a person’s attention, stirs holy awe, invites closer engagement, and then delivers a life-shaping word. For believers, the passage reassures us that God still reveals Himself, invites us near, and speaks with authority, calling us to reverent wonder and obedient mission. |
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