39”Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him [Moses], but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40saying 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.’ 41At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42But 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? 43You 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.’”
Referring to “[o]ur fathers,” Stephen makes it clear he is speaking “in family,” to his people. There is no thought that his message is trying to change Judaism into something new. His entire message fits the stream of the OT history, with irrefutable facts that his hearers cannot deny. In fact, Stephen provides an accurate “salvation history” of God’s efforts to redeem His people and their continual rejection of God’s messengers. That is the message of the OT in one sermon!
Case in point: after God delivered Israel out of Egypt, they rejected both God and His messenger, Moses, and instead turned back to the ways of Egypt, even worshiping their false gods. The story was stamped on the collective memory of the Jewish people, being part of the highly esteemed “Torah,” the name given to the first five books of what we Christians call the Old Testament. We find the story recorded in Exodus 32. It was a heart issue, for they “repudiated [Moses] and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.”
Stephen selected the most poignant and picturesque example to make his point, namely sacrificing to calf-idols. In the wilderness wanderings, Israel turned to the “tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha” (see Amos 5:25–26). Stephen also reminded his hearers that Aaron, who had played a significant role in this return to Egyptian gods, was later first in the succession of high priests. This must have stung the ears of the high priest who was leading the inquisition against Stephen (Acts 7:1)!
It is ironic that Stephen’s accusers claimed, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law” (Acts 6:13b). In reality, the nation of Israel had worshiped at a tabernacle dedicated to a false god at its outset, at the very beginning of its exodus. They turned away from God, and as a result, God turned away from them. The noose is tightening on Stephen’s listeners. They are in the same danger.
Lord, keep reminding me that You take idol worship of any kind seriously.
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