The Unhealthy Unwealthy Gospel (2) (Acts 7:1-52)
Introduction
Stephen stands falsely accused. He has been set up by false witnesses who claim that he has blasphemed Moses, the Temple, and God. These charges are serious and warrant death under Moses.
Stephen is invited to give a defense by the high priest when he says, “Are these things so?” One would think that Stephen would defend himself, but Stephen knows they do not want him to be acquitted on the charges because that would make them look bad. If Jesus is the Messiah, then the ruling council killed God’s very deliverer. Stephen does not defend himself, but presents the history of God interacting with his people throughout the ages. He shows that they are doing to Christ exactly what their fathers had always done to God's messengers.
God Works Outside Canaan
The God of glory appears to Abraham in Mesopotamia. Abraham was not in Canaan, but outside Canaan. God’s work and promise are never confined to a local city or land.
In fact, we see that in their history they sold their own brother into slavery. Stephen moves to the story of Joseph ending up in Egypt. The Lord not only protects Joseph there, but preserves his people despite their betrayal of Joseph.
The temple, Canaan, and Jerusalem do not contain God. He works outside the promised land. He has been a faithful shield to his people, but they have not been faithful to him.
God Delivers His People
Clearly, the Lord can protect the people outside the land. Now we move to Moses’ story. Joseph dies, and there is a new Pharaoh in the land. This Pharaoh forgets what Joseph did for Israel. He deals shrewdly (craftily, deceptively) with Israel. He desires to weaken them by killing the male infants. Not only are God’s people in a foreign land, but now there is a hostile leader to the Lord’s people.
The Lord predicted to Abraham that his descendants would be oppressed. The Lord starts to quietly work on his deliverance. God raises up Moses. Moses should have been destroyed. Instead, he ends up adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. He is educated in Pharaoh’s house, and Stephen summarizes Moses by saying that he was mighty in word and deed.
Moses tries to relieve Pharaoh’s oppression by killing an Egyptian. He thought the Israelites would see this as an act of deliverance. No, when Moses confronts two Israelites fighting, the one accuses Moses of attempting to murder them rather than give them relief. Moses is asked, “Who made you ruler and judge?” Moses is rejected. He spends the next 40 years of his life in the wilderness.
One day Moses meets God at the burning bush in the wilderness. God has heard the groaning of His people for generations. He is not indifferent. Moses, who once tried to deliver in the flesh by killing an Egyptian and was rejected by his own people, is now sent by God as the true deliverer. The Lord’s people are led out of Egypt by his hand.
In the process, Stephen reminds them that Moses himself spoke of a coming Prophet like himself (Deuteronomy 18:15-20). This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the definitive word and action of God, ultimately delivering his people. However, like Israel in the wilderness and in the land, they ignored the prophets, worshipped false gods, and never truly sought the Lord.
God’s Continual Provision Despite Rejection
God provides the tabernacle in the wilderness. He meets with people there. The tabernacle enters the land with Israel. This is replaced by the temple. The problem is that people think that the temple is holy in itself. They are not seeing the God who uses these means to commune with his people.
God’s people continue to pursue false gods. Amos recounts their pursuing false gods (Amos 5). Isaiah reminds the people that the Lord dwells beyond the land (Isaiah 66:1-2). God’s people cannot look beyond the tangible gods. This is a human problem.
Stephen lays out the core of the problem: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.” Their heart is not tender to the Lord. They are like oxen who stiffen their neck against the farmer’s direction. They will not go where he leads them. They will not and have not taken on the yoke. (cf. Matthew 11:28)
Conclusion
Stephen’s sermon recounts God’s working in history. He has been faithful, protective, and present with his people. His people have responded with a deaf ear and an unyielding presence.
The temptation is not unique to first-century Israel. We too can become attached to traditions, institutions, or routines while neglecting humble submission to Christ. We can become stiff-necked, insisting on our own way instead of yielding to our Savior.
The prophet like unto Moses is ultimately Christ. He is the agent and action of God’s redemption. He is the greater Joseph who was rejected, and then exalted. He provides better provision than bread alone. He is the substance of eternal life.
He is the greater Moses who delivers his people from a far greater slavery than Egypt. He is greater than the temple and the tabernacle, for he is God in the midst of us.
Therefore, the call is not merely to admire Stephen's courage but to embrace Stephen's Christ. We are invited to take Christ’s light yoke upon us. We are to be a people praying for the Lord to search our hearts. (Psalm 139:23)
Let us be a tender people to the Lord’s purpose. Let us find our identity and peace in our redeemer.
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