Luke earlier told us that God's activities in Abraham's life took place in Mesopotamia and Haran. The only plot of land that Abraham possessed was Shechem, a burial ground. Then for Joseph, God's activities in his life were down in Egypt.
Stephen's intention was to show that the activities of God did not just happen in the land of promise. In the life of Moses and his career, Luke again showed why the promised land was not the issue. For His activities took place in Moses' life outside of the land of Palestine.
Egypt was the land that Moses was raised in the early part of His life. In fact he was born there. He was educated and became a powerful man there. But in verse 25 we see Moses' own people opposed him.
His intention was misunderstood by them and he had to flee for his life, after killing an Egyptian for ill-treating one of his Hebrew brethren. This setback had delayed the redemptive plan of God for them.
Moses then stayed in Midian where he matured. It was not until forty years later that God called and commissioned him at Mount Sinai and sent him to lead the people out of the land of bondage.
Notice God called Mount Sinai "Holy ground." Holy ground has got nothing to do with physical land. Any place where a person encounters God becomes a holy ground. Do you have a holy ground in your life where you go to each day so that you can meet and encounter God?
Unwittingly the people's hearts had turned back to Egypt and chose rather the work of their hands. Hence, God gave them up and they went into exile in Babylon.
There is no denial that God's miracles in the life of Moses and the Israelites took place not within Palestine, but in Egypt, at the Red Sea and in the desert.
The religious Jewish authority also exalted the law and venerated Moses. And they became the second sacred cow in Judaism which Stephen in his discourse, in verses 37-43, slaughtered.
Moses and the Law were just sub-plots in God's programs and working. Stephen showed that the hope of their redemption rest in Jesus Christ and not in the law of Moses. Stephen's discourse showed that Moses received the Law from God but even then the people of God were not willing to obey him.
The discourse also tells us that Moses prophesied the coming of a prophet like himself. He was referring to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He is whom the redemptive hope of the Jews lies. Herein the second sacred cow of Judaism was slaughtered. The Law of Moses could not save only the Messiah could!
The author of the book of Hebrews said that Jesus Christ, our eternal sacrifice, had opened the door to a new and living way, where we can now approach the throne of God with confidence.
Let's be bold and come into His presence each day to find strength for the journey. Make the prayeful words of this chorus your resolve!
Into Thy presence I come
Not by the works I've done
But by Thy grace
And Thy grace alone
IntoThy presence I come
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