Acts 7:40

Context of Acts 7:40

This verse is part of Stephen's powerful defense before the Sanhedrin, a lengthy recounting of Israel's history of rebellion and God's faithfulness. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, uses this historical narrative to highlight a recurring pattern: God's people consistently resisting His messengers and His will. Specifically, Acts 7:40 refers to the infamous Golden Calf incident, which occurred shortly after the Israelites were miraculously delivered from Egyptian bondage by God's hand through Moses. The people, impatient with Moses' prolonged absence on Mount Sinai, demanded visible gods to lead them, demonstrating a profound lack of faith in the invisible God who had just performed mighty signs among them.

Key Themes and Messages

• Idolatry and Rebellion: The verse vividly portrays the Israelites' immediate turn to idolatry, demanding Aaron to "make us gods." This was a direct violation of the first two commandments given by God, emphasizing their profound spiritual blindness and rebellion against their deliverer. It highlights the human tendency to seek tangible, controllable deities when the true God seems distant or slow to act.
• Impatience and Lack of Faith: The phrase "we wot not what is become of him" (meaning "we know not what has become of him") underscores their impatience and lack of trust in God's timing and Moses' leadership. They presumed Moses was lost or had abandoned them, quickly abandoning their faith in the God who had led them out of Egypt with a mighty hand (Exodus 12:51). This serves as a cautionary tale against spiritual impatience.
• Rejection of God's Appointed Authority: By dismissing Moses and seeking new leaders, the Israelites rejected God's chosen messenger. Stephen uses this historical example to subtly accuse his listeners of a similar pattern of rejecting God's ultimate messenger, Jesus Christ (Acts 7:51).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "we wot not what is become of him" uses an archaic English verb, "wot," which simply means "to know." So, the people were saying, "we do not know what has become of him." This highlights their perceived uncertainty about Moses' fate, which they used as an excuse for their sinful demands. It reflects a willful ignorance and a desire to escape accountability rather than a genuine concern for Moses.

Practical Application

Acts 7:40 offers enduring lessons for believers today:

• Beware of Modern Idolatry: While we may not fashion golden calves, we can still fall into idolatry by prioritizing material possessions, careers, comfort, or even relationships above God. When God's answers seem slow, or His path is unclear, we might be tempted to create "gods" in our own lives that promise immediate gratification or control.
• Cultivate Patience and Trust: The Israelites' impatience led to grave sin. This verse reminds us of the critical importance of patience and steadfast faith, especially when circumstances are uncertain or God's timing differs from our own. Faith is essential because it trusts in the invisible God, not just what we can see or immediately understand (John 4:24).
• Recognize and Respect Authority: The rejection of Moses was a rejection of God's chosen leadership. Similarly, we are called to respect and pray for spiritual authorities and leaders God has placed over us, even when we don't fully understand their decisions or feel their presence.