God's Redemption Plan Through Moses — Acts 7:17-36 Daily Word

Discover how Stephen reveals God’s redemption plan through Moses’ life in Acts 7. From Egyptian oppression to wilderness exile to divine calling, explore how Moses prefigured Jesus and God’s salvation purpose.

God’s Redemption Plan Through Moses

[Scripture]

[17] “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt [18] until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. [19] He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. [20] At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, [21] and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. [22] And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. [23] “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. [24] And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. (Acts 7:17-24, ESV)

[25] He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. [26] And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ [27] But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? [28] Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ [29] At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. [30] “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. [31] When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: (Acts 7:25-31, ESV)

[32] ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. [33] Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. [34] I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ [35] “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. [36] This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. (Acts 7:32-36, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Stephen now turns to speak about Moses, the leader of the Exodus. In particular, Stephen connects the birth of Moses to [17] “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt (Acts 7:17, ESV) — “the time when God’s promise to Abraham was drawing near.” When Moses was born, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was oppressing the people of Israel and throwing their infants (v. 19) into the river to die. Yet it was precisely at that moment that Moses was born (v. 20), and God was pleased with him. So Moses was cared for in his father’s house for three months.

After being placed in the Nile, Moses was taken in by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised under her protection, learning all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Just as Joseph was compared to Jesus earlier, Moses is likewise being compared to Jesus here. Just as Jesus is described as growing “in wisdom and in stature” (Luke 2:52), Moses is similarly described as being “instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” and as being “mighty in his words and deeds” (v. 22).

Stephen in particular organizes the life of Moses into three distinct periods of forty years each.

First, at the age of forty, he decided to visit his own people. (23)

When he saw one of his people being wronged, he struck down the Egyptian, thinking that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation through his hand — but they did not understand. (24-25) In the end, because they had no understanding of God’s salvation, they actually rejected the leader whom God had sent.

Jesus, too, was sent by God, yet He was rejected because Israel did not understand the will of God. And so Moses had no choice but to flee from both Egypt and Israel, making his way to Midian.¹

Second, forty more years passed. (30)

God appeared to Moses through an angel in a flame of fire and said, “I am the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And the Lord said to him, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (33)

In fact, one of the reasons the Jews accused Stephen was (6:13) that “this man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law.” The Jews believed that God dwelled only in the Jerusalem temple, but as Stephen recounted the story of Moses’ calling, he proclaimed that it is not the temple itself that matters — rather, wherever God is present, that place is holy ground.

The third period is the following 40 years, during which Moses led the people out of Egypt. (36)

During this next period of 40 years, Moses led the people out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for 40 years. (36) Notably, in verse 35, though the people had rejected Moses, God sent him back as their “redeemer.” The word “redeemer” is an expression used exclusively of God. Therefore, Moses was used as a redeemer — one sent in God’s place to deliver Israel — and likewise, Jesus is also recorded as the one who would redeem Israel.

[21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. (Luke 24:21, ESV)

To summarize today’s passage: God used Moses — who had been rejected — as a redeemer, and Jesus — who was likewise rejected — accomplished redemption as the Savior. God raises up those who suffer as witnesses who testify to His living presence. Therefore, if we believe in the Lord, we must not be discouraged even when we are rejected by the world.

For God, who has made us a royal priesthood, will soon use us as light. Therefore, we must fulfill the role of salt in preparation for that faithful service. I bless you in the Lord’s name, trusting in the truth that when we are used as light and salt, God receives glory and grants us reasons for gratitude — may you be the redeemer whom the Lord uses, even today.

The call of Moses, God’s plan of salvation, spiritual rejection and restoration, the preparation period in the wilderness, the burning bush

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com