The people rejected Moses when he came to them with a message of national salvation. God, however, had chosen him to bring spiritual guidance, and thus he became like Jesus, whom his people also rejected. Nevertheless, God remained faithful to Jesus, and raised Him from the dead, so that He might redeem an uncountable number of slaves to sin. One of the complaints against Stephen was that he had rejected Moses. Stephen, however, had exalted Moses’ name and addressed him with the highest titles. He called him a ruler and a deliverer, who was the head of his people, and who had suffered to unite his stubborn people to God. Likewise, Christ is the head of His church, the true Deliverer and Redeemer. He leads all spiritual men and women, in the beauty of holiness, to His Father, that he may confirm them in His new covenant!
Stephen said that the angel of God’s throne, who represented God’s appearance, had accompanied Moses for forty years in the desert. Moses, the aged man, was weak in himself, having no skill in persuasive speech. He was inclined toward pessimism regarding the huge responsibility of daily feeding his numerous people in the desert. The angel of the Lord, however, took him by his hand and led him step by step, drawing him away from intensive oppositions. He let him succeed at the center of the power of darkness, and adorned him with great wonders by the power of God. Moses was not a ruler and a deliverer in himself. God, however, had revealed His omnipotence in the poor man, and helped his servant for forty years.
We, too, have a triumphant Lord and Deliverer who Acts.for us, without the help of angels. He was God manifested in the flesh, and today He leads His people, chosen out of all nations and people, in His triumphal procession. In the midst of the dark deserts of our universe we follow Him with acclamation, gratitude, and praise.