2/10/2022 [Book of Acts 31] www.lifechurchmissions.com
The Defence of Stephen (6) The Israelites Made Idols for Themselves <Ac 7:39-43>
Introduction:
* Why do men make idols?
1）Men have needs.
2）Men clearly know that they are powerless.
* The above are not the issue, but the problem is men make for themselves.
* In making idols, men turn the glory of the immortal God into created things.
* Men who were created in the image of God also give their dignified worship to created things.
* Among all human needs, the greatest need of man is in fact to know the ruler of his soul.
* Thus, all his needs must be satisfied by submitting to this ruler.
* Otherwise, everything he has will be turned to vanity.
* The result of men creating idols is that they will worship themselves more, and unknowingly become more arrogant.
* Eventually, human nature will alter (natural becomes unnatural).
Read <Ac 7:39-43>
1. <v39> Problem of the human heart.
* Unwillingness to obey God is closely related to men loving things other than God.
* The Israelites’ hearts turned back to Egypt – turned back to Egypt’s thinking, beliefs, culture, living, including the idols they worshipped.
2. <v40> The reasons why Israelites made idols.
1）Make us gods – Concept of polytheism.
2）To go before us – Lost, fearful.
3）Don’t know what has happened to Moses – Kept focusing on man, but not God.
3. <v41> They made an idol in the form of a calf.
1）Aaron only made them a calf, but it was not God, but an idol.
2）They brought sacrifices to it – Made requests to the idol.
3）They liked the work of their hands.
(1) Fallen men’s vanity made them think that even God could be made.
(2) Fallen men love idols, because idols can be worshipped and followed according to men’s will.
4. <v42> God’s wrath toward the people.
* Read <Ro 1:21-27> God’s wrath which gave them up.
* The Israelites led religious living in the wilderness, their hearts did not love God at all.
5. <v43> The consequences of worshipping idols.
* Eventually taken as captives, and left with nothing.