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. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
Stephen before he was martyred gives here his impassioned defence of the gospel of the Jesus Christ. In it he takes his accuses back to the time of Moses.
Moses is the “he” referred to in the verses above. Moses it was who received the living oracles to pass on to the people of Israel. But they refused to obey and instead turned their hearts back to Egypt.
What a horrible thought. Like the forefathers of Israel, it is possible for us to at one time taste of God’s saving grace, and yet turn our hearts back to Egypt.
Egypt represents the “world system” ruled by Pharaoh, a type of satan. It way of life is bondage and slavery. The way of the Egyptian system is to strangle the life out of you through bondage and sin. Hope is revoked. Freedom is not an option.
And yet it their travails through Egypt towards the promised land, the people of Israel longed in their heart for Egypt. So too can we who have been delivered from Pharaoh, look back through rose coloured glasses and long for the life we used to know. Even once saved, sinfulness can still be made to look alluring to the believer. It is called temptation.
How is it that we can experience God’s goodness and still long in our hearts for sin? The above verse tells us. When the living word is not received and obeyed, we are by default rejecting God’s best and choosing the old ways of sin.
None of us can be indifferent towards the things of God. We must either choose to accept or we reject God’s word, God’s ways and God’s leadership over your life. We are either moving closer towards God and His kingdom or Pharaoh and Egypt.
God’s hand delivered Israel for His purposes, that He would have a people of His own. God’s hand is still delivering and His purpose is still the same. He is jealous for a people to call His own. A people that walk in the freedom and liberty that His deliverance brings.
Which direction are you facing in life? Are drawing nearer to God or to Egypt? Resolve to draw near to your Father God today.
