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 “Joseph” being in Egypt and bringing his family to be with him in a time of famine. However, after “Joseph” was dead, another Pharaoh arose who did not know “Joseph”, and he made the people of Israel to be slaves for four hundred years. It was during that time, “Moses was born”, was nourished by the daughter of Pharaoh and taught the Egyptian ways. When Moses, “was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, you are brethren; why do you wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Will you kill me, as you did the Egyptian yesterday? 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”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared Stephen said, “when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight” where we read:
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,
The verse begins, “When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight:” Luke began with the words, “when Moses saw it” which means “at the time and moment Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “he wondered at the sight” or “Moses admired and marveled at the spectacle or vision”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said “Moses” “marveled” at the observance of the burning bush.
The verse goes on to say, “... and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,” Luke continued with the words, “and as he drew near” which means “and while and during the time Moses came toward and approached” “to behold it” or “to observe, look at and notice the burning bush”, “the voice of the Lord” which refers to “the sound, tone, language and tongue belonging to the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah ” “came unto him” or “arose and appeared to Moses”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said during the time that “Moses” was approaching the “burning bush”, God's “voice” arose toward him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued to recount the story of “Moses” and the “burning bush” to the “Sanhedrin” as part of his idea to show them how Jesus came through the “nation of Israel” to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world. God loves people so much, that well in advance of His Son Jesus appearing, He was working in the lives of “Moses” and the people of Israel to bring forth His salvation. Whenever a person carefully examines all God did to bring redemption of their souls to live with Him forever, they should humble themselves, repent of their sins and receive Jesus as the greatest gift of love and wonder anyone could ever see.
Next time Luke shares how God says, “I am the God of your fathers”, 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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