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. After “Moses' act” of killing an Egyptian was known, “Then fled Moses at this saying” and after forty years, God revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. God sent Moses back to Egypt as a deliverer, and 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.” Because Moses was away from the people of Israel as He received the law of God in Mount Sinai, the people of Israel desired to go back to Egypt and told Moses' brother “Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said, “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness” where we read:
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
The verse begins, “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, ...” Luke began with the words, “our fathers had the tabernacle of witness” which means “our, Stephen and the people of Israel's, forefathers, male ancestors and progenitors used the well known tent or moveable temple of God of evidence and testimony” “in the wilderness” or “within the lonely, desolate, solitary and uninhabited place”, “as he had appointed” which means “even like God the Heavenly Father ordained, set in order, arranged and prescribed”, “speaking unto Moses” or “uttering, declaring, telling and proclaiming to 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”. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the “forefathers” of Israel who used the “tent temple” while they were in the “wilderness”, and they built it in the manner “Moses” was instructed and directed by God the Heavenly Father.
The verse continues, “... that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.” Luke added the words, “that he should make it” which means “that Moses was to form and fashion the tabernacle” “according to the fashion” or “toward the figure and image” “that he had seen” which means “that Moses observed, noticed and saw”. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to how “Moses” was given instructions by God as to how the “tabernacle” was to be made and used while the people of Israel were in the wilderness.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” continued to review the history of Israel as they were in the “wilderness”. He spoke of the “tabernacle” that was to be made according to the “form and fashion” God prescribed to Moses so the people could worship the Heavenly Father God there. “Stephen” was progressing toward the revelation of God's Son and Messiah Jesus who came through the lineage of Israel, and because God desired to have a personal relationship with everyone, He sent His Son Jesus to die for sins which separated them from Him. When a person believes and trusts in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will see every detail delivered by “Stephen” was a precursor to the revelation of Jesus who came to take away the sins of the world.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen says, “which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles”, 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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