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"I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt." (Acts 7:34 NIV).

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The passage today is a part of Stephen's speech to the Sanhedrin. Some Jewish who did not like Stephen created an accusation towards him that he spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God - which was a lie (Acts 6). So he told them about the history since Abraham including Moses' days where the Jewish ancestors rejected him, turned to idolatry and even as Stephen was speaking they always rejected the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:39-52).

Back to the story of Moses as told by Stephen. Moses fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian who mistreated an Israelite. He was 40 years of age, and there he settled as a foreigner and became a shepherd for the cattle of his father in law. 

After the next 40 years, God appeared to him and told His plan to send Moses to Egypt to free the Israelites from the heavy slavery. God said He had seen the oppression the Israelites endured and heard their groaning. This is actually the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, long before the Israelites even existed. 

Moses was a prince for 40 years before but he became "a nobody" for the next 40 years in Midian. However that was not the end of God's plan for him. God found and called him for a very big mission, leading a nation out from the oppression of a very powerful country. The Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptians but God saw everything and he did not forget His promise to Abraham.

The promise of God is true and real even though it seems slow. He has seen all the suffering in your life. However it takes faith to hold on to His promises and trust His timing. The Word of God provides us with plenty of God's promises. When we read the scripture diligently, it enters our hearts and stays there to guide us.

Let's find the promises God has for each of us in His Word. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Let the Word of God lead your life. God bless you. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 7:17-34 by Desire Litaay

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