Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ³  As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

 ⁴  and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

 ⁵  And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

 ⁶  but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

 ⁷  The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

 ⁸  Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

 ⁹  And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”  Acts 9:1-9.

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Irresistible grace is the cause of the conversion of Saul later known as the Apostle Paul.  Although our conversion may not be as dramatic as the conversion of Saul, irresistible grace is also the cause of our conversion.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:1-9. 

Who can resist God’s will?

“and he said, “O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens?  And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations?  Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.”  2 Chronicles 20:6. 

“Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him?
         Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ ”  Job 9:12.   

“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
         But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
         And among the inhabitants of earth;
         And no one can ward off His hand
         Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ ”  Daniel 4:35. 

Paul knew that God’s will was irresistible.  Paul knew that there would be those who would protest that it is unfair that God’s will was irresistible. 

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?  For who resists His will?”

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?  The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?

Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:18-24.

In  conclusion, “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, one of the Five Points of Calvinism, is the truth.  “Irresistible Grace” is our only chance for salvation, because we were hostile to God and dead in sin.  “Irresistible Grace” recognizes the sovereignty of God.  “Irresistible Grace” gives all glory to God for our salvation.

 ²⁷  So he got up and went;  and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

 ²⁸  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

 ²⁹  Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

 ³⁰  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

 ³¹  And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?”  And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

 ³²  Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
         “HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
         AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
         SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
    ³³  “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
         WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
         FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”

 ³⁴  The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this?  Of himself or of someone else?”

 ³⁵  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

 ³⁶  As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look!  Water!  What prevents me from being baptized?”

 ³⁷  [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”  And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

 ³⁸  And he ordered the chariot to stop;  and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

 ³⁹  When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away;  and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

 ⁴⁰  But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.”  Acts 8:25-40.

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There seems to be an amazing number of coincidences in this Scripture.  But, are they really coincidences?

Philip had been preaching in the north, in Samaria, and was headed “back to Jerusalem”.  Why would he then go south? 

“But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  So, Philip goes and runs into the Ethiopian eunuch.  Coincidence?

The Ethiopian eunuch “was reading the prophet Isaiah” which provided an opportunity for Philip to ask:  “Do you understand what you are reading?”  Coincidence?

The Ethiopian eunuch said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?”  And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”  Coincidence?

“The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this?  Of himself or of someone else?”  Coincidence?

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.”       

They were on a desert road, but yet they came upon water “and the eunuch said, “Look!  Water!  What prevents me from being baptized?”  Coincidence?

In conclusion, we know that these are not coincidences.  We are reminded of Romans 8:28:  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  We are reminded of that part of the Answer to Question 1 of The Heidelberg Catechism:  “yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.”

 ¹⁹  saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

 ²⁰  But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

 ²¹  “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

 ²²  “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.”  Acts 8:18-22.

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We remember the story of Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, in 2 Kings 5:20-27 who tried to personally profit from Elisha’s miracle of healing the leprosy of Naaman by going behind Elisha’s back to falsely state to Naaman that Elisha wanted certain gifts from Naaman.  Here is the link to that Scripture – Click here: 2 Kings 5 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com

We also remember that God freely gives mercy.  Mercy is expensive;  man could never afford to buy it.  But, Christ paid the cost through His shed blood, so that God could freely give it to His elect.

“Ho!  Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
         And you who have no money come, buy and eat
         Come, buy wine and milk
         Without money and without cost.”  Isaiah 55:1.

Here is the whole link to this chapter of Isaiah 55 which is a blessing to read in its entirety –Click here: Isaiah 55 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com

So, what is one’s heart like that is “right with God”?

We would do well to consider Scripture like the following.

Deuteronomy 9:5
“It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Psalm 73:1
“Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!”

Proverbs 15:28
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

Ecclesiastes 10:2
“A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.”

Isaiah 33:15
“He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe;  He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;”

Isaiah 51:7
“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law;  Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings.”

Ezekiel 36:26
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

^“But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”  Romans 10:8-10.

2 Timothy 2:22
“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

Hebrews 8:10
” FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:  I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.  AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

In summary, we see from the beginning that our heart is not “right before God” based on our own righteousness or our own uprightness.  We need the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ.  We need a new heart and a new spirit that God gives us.  We need God’s laws written on our hearts.  Then, our hearts will no longer be stone, but will be flesh.  Then, there will be truth in our hearts.  Then, our hearts will be upright.  Then, our hearts will be pure.  Then, our hearts will be wise.  Then, our hearts will be “right before God”.

 ²  Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

 ³  But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. 

 ⁵  Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

 ⁶  The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

 ⁷  For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

 ⁸  So there was much rejoicing in that city.”  Acts 8:1-8. 

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Although the church was greatly persecuted, and they were all scattered, they went about preaching the word.  

We may not be persecuted to the extent that the church was in today’s Scripture, but we may be or feel scattered by events in our life.  We may feel pressures from work, and even family and friends.  However, we too can go about preaching and teaching God’s word and doing other acts of goodness.

We can sow God’s word and doing other acts of goodness so bountifully that it seems as if we are scattering.  Proverbs 11:23-25 speaks about such generosity of the righteous. 

“²³  The desire of the righteous is only good,
         But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
    ²⁴  There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
         And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
    ²⁵  The generous man will be prosperous,
         And he who waters will himself be watered.”  Proverbs 11:23-25.

^“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;  as it is written,
         “HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
         HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”                                                                                                                             Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;  you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-11. 

In conclusion, the righteous eagerly use whatever scattered opportunities they have to scatter (sow bountifully) God’s word and other acts of goodness.  The righteous don’t run “willy-nilly” without purpose, but they recognize that God is in control and that God wants them to use the circumstances in which they are to do good.  Like the Good Samaritan, they stop to do good even though it may not be on their agenda.

 ⁵⁶  and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

 ⁵⁷  But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.

 ⁵⁸  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.

 ⁵⁹  They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

 ⁶⁰  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.

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“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:2-4.

Despite the anger and immediate threat of the men toward him, Stephen “gazed intently into heaven”.

We may not face such anger and immediate threat as Stephen faced, but we will face so many temptations to set our mind on earthly things.  We will be tempted by earthly things that we know are bad for us:  love of money, sexual lust, gluttony, gossip, and addictions to alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.  But, we will also be tempted by earthly things that we think are good for us:  personal achievements, self-righteousness, and praise from men.  All these things, and so many more, will tempt us to set our mind on earthly things. 

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:6-8. 

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21. 

“Set your mind on the things above.”      

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21.

 ⁵³  you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” 

 ⁵⁴  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.  Acts 7:51-54.

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The “cut to the quick” effect and the consequence of hostility to this word of God is similar to what we have read two chapters earlier.

“²⁹  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

 ³⁰  “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

 ³¹  “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 ³²  “And we are witnesses of these things;  and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

 ³³  But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.”  Acts 5:29-33. 

But, although an earlier word of God also had a piercing effect in Acts 2:36-41, it caused a very different consequence, namely repentance and salvation.

“³⁶  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.”

 ³⁷  Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

 ³⁸  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;  and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 ³⁹  “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.

 ⁴⁰  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

 ⁴¹  So then, those who had received his word were baptized;  and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”  Acts 2:36-41.

In all three Scriptures, we see the piercing and cutting effect of the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

However, in two of the Scriptures, we see the consequence of the word of God as hostility, and in one of the Scriptures, we see the consequence of the word of God as repentance and salvation.

In conclusion, there are going to be some who hear the word of God and repent and humbly come to salvation.  There are going to be others who hear the word of God and resent and proudly rage to their own destruction.  “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.  And who is adequate for these things?”  2 Corinthians 2:15-16.  We trust God to cause our preaching and teaching of God’s word to accomplish His purpose.  “…  the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”  2 Peter 2:9.

 ⁴⁶  “David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

 ⁴⁷  “But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

 ⁴⁸  “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands;  as the prophet says:
    ⁴⁹  ‘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?
    ⁵⁰  ‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’ ”  Acts 7:44-50.

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In verses 49 and 50, Stephen quotes part of Isaiah 66:1-2.  We may be tempted to not check out Isaiah 66:1-2, thinking that we already know and fully believe that God is not small enough to be contained in any building.  But, if we did not check it out, we would miss the treasure of the last part of Isaiah 66:2.

“¹  Thus says the LORD,
         “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool
         Where then is a house you could build for Me?
         And where is a place that I may rest?
    ²  “For My hand made all these things,
         Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
         “But to this one I will look,
         To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”  Isaiah 66:1-2. 

Wow!  What an image and inspiration!  “him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word”!

Are we humble, contrite of spirit, and tremble at God’s word?

Or, are we proud, self-righteous, and rush through reading God’s word?

Do we slowly and carefully read each of God’s words as if each word had more value than a golden coin?

Or, do we show no remorse when we stumble reading God’s word?

Do we eagerly check footnotes for cross references to other Scriptures?

Or, do we have our own agenda and interpretation of God’s word cemented in our minds?

Do we read God’s word with joy and yet still feel “face-in-carpet” convicted by God’s word?

Or, does reading God’s word affect us like water off a duck’s back?

Isaiah 66:1-2 reminds me of Psalm 33:13-19.

“¹³  The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men;
    ¹⁴  From His dwelling place He looks out
         On all the inhabitants of the earth,
    ¹⁵  He who fashions the hearts of them all,
         He who understands all their works.
    ¹⁶  The king is not saved by a mighty army;
         A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
    ¹⁷  A horse is a false hope for victory;
         Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
    ¹⁸  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
    ¹⁹  To deliver their soul from death
         And to keep them alive in famine.”  Psalm 33:13-19.

“¹  The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble;
         He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
    ²  The LORD is great in Zion,
         And He is exalted above all the peoples.
    ³  Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
         Holy is He.”  Psalm 99:1-3.

 ³⁷  “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’

 ³⁸  “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,

 ⁴⁰  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.’

 ⁴¹  “At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.

 ⁴²  “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?

 ⁴³  ‘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 7:35-43.

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Despite receiving Moses, such a great ruler, deliverer, and prophet, Israel was unwilling to be obedient to him.  Despite receiving such wonders, signs, and living words of God, Israel turned their hearts back to Egypt to their old worthless idols. 

Despite receiving such great preachers and teachers, I likewise am too often unwilling to be obedient to them.  Despite receiving such wonders, signs, and living words of God, I likewise too often turn my heart back to my old worthless idols.

It is sad and almost unbearable to read verses 39 through 43 in today’s Scripture.  And, it is sad and almost unbearable for me to face my sins.

But, there is hope!    

“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. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  Matthew 5:6. 

“¹  What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

 ²  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

 ³  For what does the Scripture say?  “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

 ⁴  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

 ⁵  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

 ⁶  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
    ⁷  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
         AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
    ⁸  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”  Romans 4:1-8.

 ³¹  “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight;  and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:

 ³²  ‘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.

 ³³  “BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.

 ³⁴  ‘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.’  Acts 7:29-34.

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Moses was an alien, an orphan, and an outcast who was disowned by his people.  But, here comes God who assures Moses that he is not alone.  Moses is not alone, because God is here!  And, God also reminds Moses of Moses’ connection with his fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Also, Moses is not alone, because Moses is still part of his family, God’s people.  

How amazing it is that God would identify Himself as “THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB”!  Yet, how often we see this identification throughout Scripture. 

How amazing it also is that Christ, Who is very God and very man, would identify Himself as “the Son of Man”!  Yet, how often we see this identification throughout Scripture. 

How amazing that God would identify Himself as our Father!  How amazing that Christ would identify Himself as our Brother!  Yet, how often we see these family relationship identifications throughout Scripture.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13.         

In this Scripture for today, we view a snapshot of God’s covenant.  God comes down to rescue us.  God draws us His elect into a band of family fellowship with Himself and His people.  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

 ¹⁹  “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.

 ²⁰  “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.

 ²¹  “And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.

 ²²  “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.

 ²³  “But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

 ²⁴  “And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.

 ²⁵  “And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

 ²⁶  “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?’

 ²⁷  “But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?

 ²⁸  ‘YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’

 ²⁹“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.

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God gave Moses to His people so that they would look forward in faith to a Savior Who would be like Moses.  Like Moses, the Savior would deliver them from their enemies.

In today’s Scripture, we see Moses delivering one of “his brethren” from the hands of an Egyptian.  Later, Moses would deliver the whole nation of Israel from the bondage of slavery from the whole nation of Egypt. 

Moses was a type of Christ “a ruler and judge”, similar to the office of a king.  Moses’ action of defending one of his brethren by killing the Egyptian is an act of justice.  Like Moses’ brethren, Christ’s brethren would not understand that “God was granting them deliverance through him”. 

Our image of Christ has been so polluted that we need to be reminded of what Scripture informs us of the attributes of Christ:  “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;  Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”  Psalm 89:14  From the beginning, by his act of justice, Moses gives us a clue of what Christ would be like.

By choosing sides and saving “his brethren” and killing the Egyptian, Moses also gives us a clue that Christ would not love everyone nor save everyone.  Like Moses, Jesus would only deliver His people, the elect of God. 

However, Christ would save many, many more than Moses both in terms of number of people but also in terms of groups of people.  Christ would also save His people from a much more important fate (spiritual death) than the fate of what Moses saved his people (physical hardships). 

The elect of God would include people from every nation.  “And they sang a new song, saying, ” Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”  Revelation 5:9