“’I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free.’” Acts 7:34a.
Stephen retells the story of God’s calling of Moses to go back to Egypt to set the Hebrews, God’s people, free from the oppressive fist of Pharaoh. Moses, born in a Hebrew household and raised, through a bizarre turn of events, within Pharaoh’s household, had fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian guard, who had abused a fellow Hebrew. He had witnessed the oppression of the Hebrews firsthand and tried to take matters into his own hands, only to run away for fear of his life. Now, after 40 years of being a herdsman and family man in the wilderness, Moses was called by God to fulfill the calling of his life – to go to Egypt and lead the Hebrews into freedom.
I find the first few words very interesting. Stephen quotes God, saying, “I have indeed seen….” Isn’t it nice to know that there is a God who is involved enough that He actually “sees” into our world? And what is it that comes under His view? “The oppression of my people…” And not only does He see, but He hears their groans. And He comes down “to set them free.” It is so interesting that God doesn’t just go there Himself and do the work; He sends somebody. Moses was God’s ambassador, empowered to represent God’s kingdom to Pharaoh. Even with his faults and personal wounds, Moses was called to be God’s representative before the king of the most powerful nation in Moses’ world.
Questions to consider: As God’s ambassador, how are you representing God’s kingdom? Are there ways that you could represent your King better than you are? What does that look like?
Prayer: Father, it is my desire to be the ambassador that You called me to be. Give me courage to represent You well. Amen.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
September 18, 2008 - Acts 7:25
“’Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.’” Acts 7:25.
Stephen continues to tell his view of the Hebrew history to the religious authorities of his day. He narrates how Moses was trying to embrace the realization that God had called him to rescue his people from the oppressive slavery of Pharaoh. Moses was setting the Hebrews free by killing one Egyptian at a time. By taking matters into his own hands, he thought that his own people, the Hebrews, would see what he was doing and would appreciate his efforts. The opposite happened and Moses had to flee into the desert for his life.
Moses’ story is a classic case of what happens to a person when we get out in front of God’s timing and purposes. There can be no doubt that God had called Moses to set the Hebrews free. The only problem was that Moses got way ahead of God’s preparation and His timing. God was still preparing Moses for the incredible job that he was to fulfill, and Moses was not aware that he had to wait for His perfect timing. God was not happy about the oppression of the Hebrews, yet He knew that they were not ready for Moses’ leadership. Timing was ever so important. It took another 40 years in the desert to prepare Moses to be the servant leadership required to lead these 2 ½ million Hebrews through the crucible of the wilderness. And Moses learned and waited for God’s perfect timing.
Questions to consider: Do I have a sense of God’s calling in my life? Am I aware of the timing required for this call to be fulfilled? What am I doing to be prepared for the time when God tells me to go and do that which He called me to do?
Prayer: Father, help me to hear Your call on my life, and give me the patience to wait for Your perfect timing. Help me to not jump ahead of Your timing and help me to work towards be prepared for that time. Amen.
Stephen continues to tell his view of the Hebrew history to the religious authorities of his day. He narrates how Moses was trying to embrace the realization that God had called him to rescue his people from the oppressive slavery of Pharaoh. Moses was setting the Hebrews free by killing one Egyptian at a time. By taking matters into his own hands, he thought that his own people, the Hebrews, would see what he was doing and would appreciate his efforts. The opposite happened and Moses had to flee into the desert for his life.
Moses’ story is a classic case of what happens to a person when we get out in front of God’s timing and purposes. There can be no doubt that God had called Moses to set the Hebrews free. The only problem was that Moses got way ahead of God’s preparation and His timing. God was still preparing Moses for the incredible job that he was to fulfill, and Moses was not aware that he had to wait for His perfect timing. God was not happy about the oppression of the Hebrews, yet He knew that they were not ready for Moses’ leadership. Timing was ever so important. It took another 40 years in the desert to prepare Moses to be the servant leadership required to lead these 2 ½ million Hebrews through the crucible of the wilderness. And Moses learned and waited for God’s perfect timing.
Questions to consider: Do I have a sense of God’s calling in my life? Am I aware of the timing required for this call to be fulfilled? What am I doing to be prepared for the time when God tells me to go and do that which He called me to do?
Prayer: Father, help me to hear Your call on my life, and give me the patience to wait for Your perfect timing. Help me to not jump ahead of Your timing and help me to work towards be prepared for that time. Amen.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
September 11, 2008 - Acts 7:19
“’He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.’” Acts 7:19.
In Stephen’s discourse to the religious authorities, he is telling the story of the birth of Moses, who rose to prominence in the midst of the treacherous dealings of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh kept the Hebrew slaves oppressed by treating them with vicious cruelty. One method he used to oppress them was to capture the Hebrew newborns and kill them. Moses, as a baby, was hid during this time and eventually, through God’s protection and providence, was brought up, ironically, in Pharaoh’s own household. The oppressor became the one who cared for the one person who would, in their future, deliver the slaves.
Stephen spoke in terms of oppression to this audience because of the iron-fisted rule of Rome that all of them experienced. In a more subtle manner, Stephen could have been referring to the oppression that these rulers held over all Jewish people. In this short statement, Stephen refers to one of Jesus’ main purposes. In Luke’s gospel (4:18-19), Jesus quotes Isaiah by stating that He had come “to set the oppressed free.” Whether it is systemic, personal, or somewhere in between, oppression is evil and those under its grip need to be set free.
On a personal level, I reflect on how I treat people. I realize that there are times when I do not “act justly” (Micah 6:8) to those around me, whether I have a need to control a situation or, in some manner, just get my way. It is when I dominate someone else and not treat them with kindness and compassion that I get myself in trouble and treat others cruelly. This is an example of when I am guilty of personal oppression.
Questions to consider: What systemic oppressions are you aware of in our world? What personal oppressions are you aware of in your personal world? Have you ever been oppressed? Have you ever oppressed anyone?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see the oppression that is around me and a heart to do something about it. Give me a sense of justice and compassion so that I might love You and love my neighbor, whoever that may be. Amen.
In Stephen’s discourse to the religious authorities, he is telling the story of the birth of Moses, who rose to prominence in the midst of the treacherous dealings of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh kept the Hebrew slaves oppressed by treating them with vicious cruelty. One method he used to oppress them was to capture the Hebrew newborns and kill them. Moses, as a baby, was hid during this time and eventually, through God’s protection and providence, was brought up, ironically, in Pharaoh’s own household. The oppressor became the one who cared for the one person who would, in their future, deliver the slaves.
Stephen spoke in terms of oppression to this audience because of the iron-fisted rule of Rome that all of them experienced. In a more subtle manner, Stephen could have been referring to the oppression that these rulers held over all Jewish people. In this short statement, Stephen refers to one of Jesus’ main purposes. In Luke’s gospel (4:18-19), Jesus quotes Isaiah by stating that He had come “to set the oppressed free.” Whether it is systemic, personal, or somewhere in between, oppression is evil and those under its grip need to be set free.
On a personal level, I reflect on how I treat people. I realize that there are times when I do not “act justly” (Micah 6:8) to those around me, whether I have a need to control a situation or, in some manner, just get my way. It is when I dominate someone else and not treat them with kindness and compassion that I get myself in trouble and treat others cruelly. This is an example of when I am guilty of personal oppression.
Questions to consider: What systemic oppressions are you aware of in our world? What personal oppressions are you aware of in your personal world? Have you ever been oppressed? Have you ever oppressed anyone?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see the oppression that is around me and a heart to do something about it. Give me a sense of justice and compassion so that I might love You and love my neighbor, whoever that may be. Amen.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
September 4, 2008 - Acts 7:9
“’Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him…’” Acts 7:9.
Stephen continues his defense by discussing the highlights of Hebrew history. In his relating, Stephen talks of Joseph, son of Jacob, telling the story of how he was sold into slavery by his twelve brothers. These were the same men who were to become the patriarchs of the Hebrew faith. The twelve tribes of Israel were named after these twelve men. And, after they unsuccessfully tried to kill Joseph, these “Patriarchs” sold him into slavery. It is a good thing that God was with him, because it is certain that his brothers were not!
Usually in retelling of our history, we tend to ignore the blemishes and only see the wonderful things that occurred. An example of this is what I have read about American history growing up. Our forefathers could do no wrong in my history books, and men like Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin were revered and unblemished. These were America’s patriarchs. As I am getting older, I realized that these men, while involved in some extraordinary moments of history, were people not too unlike you and me. They had their flaws. In the recounting of Hebrew history, it is refreshing that the blemishes are there for all to see and to read about in the Bible. These people are real people dealing with real to life problems and family “issues”, just like you and me.
Questions to consider: Can you identify with the “Patriarchs” in Stephen’s story? How does it make you feel knowing that the Bible tells us stories of heroic people who have flaws and blemishes? Does this help you to embrace your own?
Prayer: Father, thank You for allowing flawed people to write about other flawed people in the Bible. Thank You that the history in the Bible tells us stories of real people dealing with real problems. This helps me to face and embrace mine. Please give me the grace and strength to make the changes in my life that will help me be a more fully devoted follower of You. Amen.
Stephen continues his defense by discussing the highlights of Hebrew history. In his relating, Stephen talks of Joseph, son of Jacob, telling the story of how he was sold into slavery by his twelve brothers. These were the same men who were to become the patriarchs of the Hebrew faith. The twelve tribes of Israel were named after these twelve men. And, after they unsuccessfully tried to kill Joseph, these “Patriarchs” sold him into slavery. It is a good thing that God was with him, because it is certain that his brothers were not!
Usually in retelling of our history, we tend to ignore the blemishes and only see the wonderful things that occurred. An example of this is what I have read about American history growing up. Our forefathers could do no wrong in my history books, and men like Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin were revered and unblemished. These were America’s patriarchs. As I am getting older, I realized that these men, while involved in some extraordinary moments of history, were people not too unlike you and me. They had their flaws. In the recounting of Hebrew history, it is refreshing that the blemishes are there for all to see and to read about in the Bible. These people are real people dealing with real to life problems and family “issues”, just like you and me.
Questions to consider: Can you identify with the “Patriarchs” in Stephen’s story? How does it make you feel knowing that the Bible tells us stories of heroic people who have flaws and blemishes? Does this help you to embrace your own?
Prayer: Father, thank You for allowing flawed people to write about other flawed people in the Bible. Thank You that the history in the Bible tells us stories of real people dealing with real problems. This helps me to face and embrace mine. Please give me the grace and strength to make the changes in my life that will help me be a more fully devoted follower of You. Amen.
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