Are you aware of God’s goodness to you? Every day of our lives we use and enjoy the most amazing abilities – God has given them to us – to see and to hear! What an incredible blessing. We are able to observe things created and things that are happening around us. If we are able to see and hear we are blessed beyond description.
But let us briefly consider the New Testament Scripture. “I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee to Egypt.†(Acts 7:34)
Stephen is on trial for his life. His face is as the face of an angel as he expresses God’s love for His people. It is as if the Lord is speaking directly through him, pleading for them to respond, to notice His heart desiring to deliver. Stephen expresses what is not written in the account in Exodus – for there, the words,“I have seen,†are only mentioned once. The people did not comprehend. They were too involved in defending their “faith†to hear the voice of God through His servant.
The “Cross†is the revelation of God’s love to all who are afflicted by sin, sickness and oppression. He has “come down†to deliver us. The people who heard and saw Stephen were outraged at the suggestion that they or their fathers were responsible for the death of Jesus. However, they missed the point. This same spirit prevails today.
Notice, “I have seen – I have heard – I have come down.†It was not hate that put Jesus on the cross. Rather, it was love. Jesus came as the “Lamb of God†for the express purpose of going to the cross. It is not a question of “who†is to blame.
We are all bound by sin and are the reason for his “coming down†to bring deliverance. Because God loves each of us, He permitted the crucifixion of Jesus for both Jew and Gentile.
“I have seen, I have seen…†Lord, help each of us to see.
Charles Grisham is the former pastor of New Life Apostolic Church in Detroit, Michigan.
