Our fathers refused to obey him.

Acts 7:35-42a, “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets...”

Stephen shows the refusal of the nation in his recap of the history of the nations. Shortly after being rescued from Egypt, taken through divided waters, seeing amazing miracles from the Lord they raise up a golden calf and abandon Moses and the Lord. Amazingly, the Lord still cares for us even when we are unfaithful; He is always desiring that we turn towards Him. This love that He has is far different from the love of the world which gives grace only to those deemed to deserve it!

We thank You that You love us and that You are always ready to forgive us and to cleanse us when we turn to You.

ESV Lectionary