First, we discussed Moses’ experiences during his first forty years in Pharaoh’s palace and his second forty years tending sheep in Midian. Second, we addressed Moses’ calling from the burning bush and thoroughly examined why it is said that he encountered Christ. Special mention was made of the promise to “raise up a prophet like me,” referencing previous discussions. Third, there was a brief mention of the Israelites’ apostasy. Fourth, we examined the tabernacle and the temple, focusing on Solomon who built the temple. He possessed worldly wisdom, yet his construction of high places in his old age revealed his lack of spiritual wisdom. We also see that God uses feedback strategies. Finally, we discussed Stephen’s martyrdom and Jesus standing to receive him with honor, showing Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit during his life and conformed to the image of Jesus.
1. Moses’ first forty years and his second forty years
“But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ At this remark, Moses fled and became an alien in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.”(Acts 7:17-29)
We see that God has appointed a time for everything, as the scripture says, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”(Ecclesiastes 3:1) The scripture refers to Exodus 1:8-22, mentioning that “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.”(Exodus 1:8) It also says, “Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.””(Exodus 1:22)
It then recounts Exodus 2:1-15, describing Moses’ birth into such a family: “Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.”(Exodus 2:1) It then explains why he grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, where he learned all wisdom and became skilled in both speech and action. His mother served as his nurse, and remarkably, she received wages for nursing her own son—a rare blessing in those days. (See Exodus 2:3-10)
The account then records the incident of him killing a man around the age of forty, as described in Exodus 2:11-14. It then states, “When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, …”(Exodus 2:15) Thus, for the next forty years, he tended sheep in Midian until God called him to ministry—the final forty years of his earthly life. From the events that occurred when he was about forty years old, we can see that his mother had taught him well, admonishing him not to forget God and instructing him in the knowledge of God. Because the scripture records: “And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, …”(Acts 7:25)
During this period, he married Zipporah, a foreign woman (see Exodus 2:16-21), and they had two sons. Scripture clearly records: “…her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” The other was named Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.””(Exodus 18:3-4)
2. Moses’ call from the burning bush and Christ
““After forty years had passed, an angel (G32, messenger) appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord (G2962): ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. But the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them; come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’ “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.”(Acts 7:30-38)
Note that in the Strong’s Concordance, the term for angel uses two words: angel (G32) and Lord (G2962). The meaning of the latter is evident in this passage: “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord (G2962), is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?””(Acts 1:6) In another original text version, only the word angel (G32) appears, consistent with this passage.
The preceding section refers to Exodus 3:1-6, where one verse states: “He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God (H430, plural).”(Exodus 3:6) This refers to the plural, triune God. His fear of looking upon God indicates that this God is visible and cannot be the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is purely spiritual and invisible.
Earlier it states, “The angel of the LORD (H4397, messenger) appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.”(Exodus 3:2) The Father God would not refer to Himself as a messenger. Moreover, “And the LORD (H3068, Jehovah) said unto Moses, …But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!””(Exodus 33:17-20). Yet Moses lived on, so this must refer to Jesus Christ within the triune God.
The mention of an appearance further proves this God is visible. As for why He appeared in the flame? The Book of Psalm makes it clear: “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD (H3068, Jehovah), my God (H430, plural), You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, …He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.”(Psalm 104:1-4) This passage also speaks of the triune God, so the Lord Jesus Christ would appear amidst the flames of His servants. For the One Moses saw was not an ordinary angel, but Jesus Christ Himself—one of the three Persons of the Trinity. Therefore, the place where he stood was holy ground.
The latter part summarizes Moses’ final forty years on earth after his calling, specifically mentioning the promise to “raise up a prophet like me.” This prophet refers to Jesus, as previously discussed in “1171 Peter heals lame, testifies to faith in Jesus, and thus entering narrow gate – Acts(3)1-26” under “3. Peter testifies we must believe in Jesus, and thus we must enter through the narrow gate.” We will not repeat the discussion here; please refer to that article for details.
3. The fall of the house of Israel
“Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods 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.’ At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel? You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.’”(Acts 7:39-43)
The first part describes the events recorded in Exodus 32:1-6, while the latter part reveals their true condition. As the scripture states, the southern kingdom of Judah was indeed exiled beyond Babylon (see 2 Kings 25:1-30).
4. The tabernacle and the temple
““Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what place is there for My repose? ‘Was it not My hand which made all these things?’ “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.””(Acts 7:44-53)
Indeed, the tabernacle was built according to the pattern shown to Moses, as the Scripture clearly states: “Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain.”(Exodus 26:30) Within the tabernacle, “See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.”(Exodus 25:40) Then it recounts the events surrounding this scripture: “Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’…“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.””(1 Chronicles 28:2-10) So it is clearly stated here that Solomon built the temple, and we will share a few points on this.
First, because he built the temple, some say it is no wonder that He “…sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the LORD’S sake.”(2 Samuel 12:25) Moreover, “…God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” …God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.””(2 Chronicles 1:7-12)
It was only after a very long time that I came to understand this passage refers to worldly wisdom. For if he had received spiritual wisdom, it won’t happen as the verses say, “For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded.”(1 Kings 11:4-10)
The high places he built brought disaster upon the southern kingdom of Judah, remaining until the kingdom was nearly destroyed. It was in the days of King Josiah that they were finally removed: “The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled.”(2 Kings 23:13) Before this, “He (Hezekiah) did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.”(2 Kings 18:3-4) Even so, Hezekiah did not dare to touch the high places Solomon had built.
Here it is also stated that Solomon knowingly chose to sin. It was not that the God who gave him the name Jedidiah turned away from loving him. Though God bestowed the name out of love, Solomon could alter the outcome through his own choices. For God employed a feedback strategy, as the Old Testament declares: “When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.”(Ezekiel 18:26-27) It further states plainly, “…O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”(Ezekiel 33:20) The New Testament also states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9)
Therefore, when someone claims Solomon needed God’s mercy, I do not believe this is wise speech but rather irresponsible talk. For God clearly declared His anger toward him in Scripture. God would not deceive us by suddenly showing mercy to Solomon. In fact, we can view the Old Testament’s assessment of him from another angle: “He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.”(1 Kings 4:32) Yet the the Book of Psalms explicitly attribute only one psalm to Solomon—Psalm 72—and even that concludes with, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”(Psalm 72:20)
Some might ask: If Solomon was so problematic, why did the Old Testament include so many of his writings? Let us consider what Jesus said: “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”(Matthew 23:1-4) We see how Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees, yet He still instructed us to heed their words if they were right—meaning we should not dismiss their teachings because of their character flaws. We need to discern as the verses says: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) As far as I know, the books attributed to him were written during his youth when he was close to God, not in his old age. In short, Solomon’s writings are still worth reading.
The rest of Scripture makes it abundantly clear: it was indeed their failure to keep the Law that led to the crucifixion of the sinless Jesus. Luke’s Gospel describes His innocence thus: “Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.””(Luke 23:4) Yet salvation was accomplished through this very act. What God does always surpasses human imagination.
5. Stephen’s martyrdom and Jesus standing to meet him
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.”(Acts 7:54-60)
Note that this refers to his final words: ““You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.””(Acts 7:51-53) Not only could they not bear to hear it, but they were filled with rage. This mirrors the scene described in Scripture: “Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”(John 9:40-41)
We see that Stephen’s words before his death were essentially the same as one of Jesus’ statements on the cross: “But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” …”(Luke 23:34) Even in life, Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and conformed to the image of Jesus. We also see that the Lord rose to meet him—a special honor, for ordinarily He sat, as Scripture declares: “…He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.”(Hebrews 10:12-13)
Finally, it must be mentioned that Paul (formerly Saul) had persecuted Christians and even rejoiced at the death of Stephen. Thus Scripture records: “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”(Acts 9:1-2) This once again is an example to prove that “what God tells us through Bible is consistent.”
Please note: This article is based on the Sunday (1/11/26) topicwise Bible study. Unless otherwise specified, verses refer to those in NASB95. Past articles referenced can be found on our website, ‘https://a-christian-voice.com/‘, under ‘On spiritual understanding about life.’
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