Listening: Acts 7:2-53

Do people hear you the first time you say something? Probably your answer is “no, but I wish they would.” God probably says that about us. The example in Scripture of people listening to God is discouraging. We have the many examples of the Israelites not paying attention to God’s prophets. And in Stephen’s “defense” before the Sanhedrin where he’s been accused of blasphemy against God, Moses, and the law, he outlines several examples of when the people of Israel failed to listen to people God sent with His messages.

The first such example Stephen uses is found in Acts 7:9-18 where he discusses the example of Joseph. A key verse is Acts 7:13, “And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh.” This verse implies the rest of the story: that when Joseph’s brothers first came to Egypt and saw Joseph, they did not recognize him. It took a second visit and Joseph’s revealing himself to his brothers for the people of Israel (Jacob’s offspring) to recognize God’s salvation for them. They were unable or unwilling to believe that God had a plan for them and they rejected Joseph (first when they sold him into slavery and then when they met him in Egypt). Yet, God provided salvation for them anyway.

The second such example is found in Stephen’s quotations recounting the life of Moses. God again sent Moses but at first the people didn’t listen to him. Verse 25 gives a possible insight into this situation. “And he [Moses] supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him; but they did not understand.” As a result of the lack of understanding, Israel had to endure 40 more years of bondage to Egypt. Even then, when Moses had led the people out of Egypt, they still questioned Moses’ message, and wanted to turn back to Egypt (Acts 7:39: “And our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him [Moses], but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.”) The people rejected God again by rejecting Moses again, which led to another 40 years of wandering in the desert. Yet, God provided salvation for them anyway.

Stephen ends his sermon in verses 51-53:

You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who receive the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.

Stephen’s point: Israel and especially its leaders, failed to listen to God through His prophets on many occasions, and now they were doing it again when it came to Jesus (whom they murdered).

What I got out of this is this: people may not hear the message of Christ the first time I tell them. I may need to repeat the message a number of times, in a number of ways. And they may need to hear it from a number of different people. And belief still may not come to them. However, for me, it means I need to continue to share through my words, my actions, and through my love before someone will listen. My children, and I, do not listen the first time someone shares or directs me to right action. I shouldn’t expect other people to listen the first time either.