The physician Luke wrote how, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”, and after being interrogated by the people in the synagogue, “all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?”, and Stephen defended his faith by referring to, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph”. He spoke about “Moses” being raised in Egypt and defending his fellow countryman, and after “Moses' act” of killing an Egyptian was known, “Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and did not dare to behold it. Then said the Lord to him, Put off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you into Egypt. This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said Moses, “brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years” where we read:
He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt,
and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
The verse begins, “He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, ...” Luke began with the words, “he brought them out” which means “Moses lead the people of Israel out of Egypt”, “after that he had showed wonders” or “after Moses produced, made ready and prepared portents, omens and miracles” “and signs in the land of Egypt” which means “and tokens, unusual occurrences and remarkable events within the territory, country and arable ground belonging to Egypt which means double straits”. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the way “Moses” lead the people of Israel out of Egypt after he demonstrated the power of God through “miracles and unusual occurrences” throughout the land.
The verse continues, “... and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.” Luke added the words, “and in the Red sea” which means “and within the Red sea which is where the Indian Ocean washes the shores of Arabia and Persia with its two gulfs of which the one on the east is called the Persian Gulf and the other on the opposite side the Arabian”, “and in the wilderness forty years” or “and within the desolate, lonely and isolated desert for forty years”. Luke shared how “Stephen” continued to recount how “Moses” lead the people of Israel through the “Red Sea” and the “desert wilderness area” for “forty years”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued to recall the history of the people of Israel as they were lead by “Moses” out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and within the wilderness. This “forty year” excursion by “Moses” and the people of Israel was leading to the revelation of God's Messiah and Son Jesus who would be the “Savior and Lord” of the world. “Stephen” would eventually tell the “Sanhedrin” about Jesus, but for now, let us realize God was using each of these events to bring about the birth of His Son Jesus. Every person who yields their life to Jesus will begin a relationship with God through the forgiveness of their sins, and they will be granted everlasting life with God. Those who carefully study each step of the people of Israel will begin to understand God's plan of redemption for all mankind, and those who understand should yield themselves to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen referred to Moses declaring, “a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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