Acts 7:39 – “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, Stephen is pointing out how the Israelites, even after being rescued from slavery in Egypt, refused to obey Moses. Instead of trusting God’s plan, they rejected Moses and longed for Egypt—the very place of their oppression.

Their “hearts turned back to Egypt” means they still desired the comfort of their old lives, even though they had been set free. They struggled to fully trust God, often complaining and even wishing they had never left Egypt. This is a powerful picture of how people can be rescued by God yet still cling to their old ways instead of fully following Him.

Stephen was using this as an example to show that Israel had a long history of rejecting God’s messengers. Just as their ancestors rejected Moses, the Jewish leaders of Stephen’s time were now rejecting Jesus—the true Deliverer.

Historical Context

1. Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness – After leaving Egypt, the Israelites quickly became discontent. They complained about food (Exodus 16:3), feared their enemies (Numbers 14:1-4), and even made a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32). These actions showed that, in their hearts, they were still tied to Egypt.
2. Moses as God’s Chosen Leader – God had clearly chosen Moses to lead Israel, yet they repeatedly questioned his leadership and God’s plan (Numbers 16:1-3).
3. Stephen’s Trial Before the Sanhedrin – Stephen was speaking to Jewish leaders who saw themselves as guardians of Israel’s faith. But he was exposing how their ancestors had a history of rejecting God’s chosen leaders—just as they were now rejecting Jesus.

Theological Implications

1. Rejecting God’s Leader is Rejecting God Himself – The Israelites didn’t just reject Moses; they were rejecting God’s plan. Likewise, rejecting Jesus is rejecting God’s ultimate plan of salvation.
2. People Often Long for Their Old Life of Sin – Even after being freed, Israel looked back to Egypt. This mirrors how many people struggle to fully let go of their past and trust God completely.
3. Obedience to God Requires Trust – Israel’s problem was not just physical but spiritual. They didn’t trust God to provide for them, just as many today struggle to trust Him fully.
4. Sin Begins in the Heart – The verse says “in their hearts they turned back to Egypt.” Sin isn’t just about actions; it starts in the heart.

Literary Analysis

This verse contains parallelism—what happened to Moses also applies to Jesus. Stephen was skillfully drawing a comparison:

• Moses led Israel out of slavery → Jesus leads people out of sin.
• Israel rejected Moses’ leadership → The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus.
• Israel longed for Egypt → People today struggle to leave behind sin and trust God fully.

The phrase “in their hearts turned back to Egypt” is powerful because it shows that rebellion against God often starts internally. Even though they were physically free, their minds and hearts were still enslaved.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Exodus 16:3 – The Israelites complain and say they wish they had stayed in Egypt.
• Numbers 14:2-4 – The people rebel and talk about going back to Egypt.
• Exodus 32:1-4 – The Israelites create and worship the golden calf while Moses is on Mount Sinai.
• Luke 9:62 – Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
• Hebrews 3:7-12 – A warning against having an unbelieving heart like Israel in the wilderness.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

• God has freed us from sin, but do we truly leave it behind? Many people believe in Jesus but still struggle with wanting to return to old habits, just as Israel longed for Egypt.
• Following God requires trust. Just like Israel had to trust God for food and direction, we must trust Him in our daily lives.
• Obedience is a heart issue. The Israelites’ real problem was not just outward actions—it was what they desired in their hearts. If we want to follow Jesus, we must surrender our hearts completely.
• We must be careful not to reject God’s truth. Just as the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, people today still resist God’s Word when it challenges their way of life.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God didn’t abandon Israel even when they rejected Him. He continued to provide for them, leading them through the wilderness and giving them opportunities to turn back to Him.

This shows that God’s love is patient. He is willing to work with stubborn hearts, guiding them toward repentance. However, rebellion has consequences. Many Israelites never entered the Promised Land because of their unbelief (Numbers 14:22-23).

God loves us too much to force us to follow Him. But He continually calls us to trust Him instead of longing for the past.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

1. Jesus is the ultimate Deliverer – Just as Moses led Israel out of slavery, Jesus leads people out of sin (John 8:34-36).
2. Jesus calls us to leave behind the old life – He warns against “looking back” like Israel did (Luke 9:62).
3. Jesus is the only way to true freedom – Israel wanted to go back to Egypt, but true freedom was ahead of them. Similarly, we must trust that Jesus leads us to true life (John 14:6).
4. Rejecting Jesus is a serious mistake – Just as rejecting Moses led to wandering in the wilderness, rejecting Jesus leads to spiritual lostness (John 3:18-19).

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are there areas in your life where you feel tempted to “turn back to Egypt” instead of trusting God?
2. Why do you think people struggle to fully obey God even after experiencing His goodness?
3. What steps can you take to trust God more and leave behind old habits or doubts?
4. How does this passage challenge the way people view rejection of Jesus today?
5. What does this story teach us about faith and obedience in difficult times?

God has delivered us, just as He delivered Israel. The question is, are we moving forward in faith, or are we looking back to our old ways?