Unfaithful in the wilderness

This is the fourth part of Moses’ story. “Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him; on the contrary they rejected him and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, saying to Aaron, ‘Make us a god who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.’” (1) The people of Israel once again rejected Moses. While Moses was on Mount Sinai, they made and worshiped an idol. (2) This rejection is fundamentally different from the first, as this rejection occurred after the experience of the Exodus. It is a rejection of God Himself and a rejection of the Law.

Israel’s chronic sin

(1) The incident of the golden calf was just the beginning. As soon as they entered the Promised Land, the people of Israel engaged in idolatry. Over time, they increasingly turned to idol worship. The history of the people of Israel is a history of rebellion against God. (2) Therefore, God allowed the people of Israel to follow their own desires. “You did not offer Me victims and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, did you, house of Israel? You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will deport you beyond Babylon.” This is a quote from Amos 5:25-27. (3) The opponents Stephen is currently facing are the descendants of those who engaged in idolatry. History repeats itself. The people of Israel were often unable to recognize the deliverer sent by God immediately. Jesus, too, was rejected by His own people (ref. Acts 3:13). However, at His second coming, the people of Israel will accept Jesus as the Messiah. (1) This follows the same pattern that occurred in Joseph’s life. (2) This also follows the same pattern that occurred in Moses’ life. The generation that rebelled against Moses was the most spiritually hardened generation in the Old Testament. However, the generation that rebelled against Jesus was even more hardened. What about this generation? Sadly, many are rejecting Christ. However, there still is a possibility that they will accept Chris. Let’s pray for the unsaved that they will come to believe in Christ.