Luke the physician 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 how, “Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt”. However, later another Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph who made the people of Israel as slaves in Egypt for four hundred years in which time, “Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months. And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen spoke about what Moses did, “when he was full forty years old” where we read:
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
The verse begins, “And when he was full forty years old, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when he was full” which means “and at the time and moment Moses was completely” “forty years old” or “forty years of age” the following happened. Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the time when “Moses” turned “forty” and the following event occurred.
The verse goes on to say, “... it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.” Luke added the words, “it came into his heart” which means “the idea arose and appeared within Moses' soul and mind” “to visit his brethren” or “to look upon, inspect and examine Moses' brothers” “the children of Israel” which means “the offspring and progeny of the people having the same national ancestor or belonging to the same people or countrymen belonging to Israel”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said the idea arose in “Moses” to “look upon and examine” his fellow countrymen who belonged to the nation of Israel.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” reminded the “Sanhedrin” of when “Moses” decided to “look upon and inspect” his fellow countrymen from Israel when he turned forty years old. This “examination” of the people of Israel by “Moses” would eventually lead to their “rescue”, and even though “forty” more years would pass before it occurred, God intended to save them. God's plan of salvation through His Son Jesus was being fulfilled step by step and activity by activity, and though this seems to take a long time, God was intentional in His purpose to redeem people from their sins. Let everyone who carefully examines every part of this story of the revelation of Jesus come to the conclusion that God loves people, and regardless of the time it took, He wanted to have a personal relationship with everyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen told how Moses, “seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him”, 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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