Acts 7:39

To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned backe againe into Egypt, Acts 7:39 (KJV)

Acts 7 records Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin, where he traces the history of Israel from Abraham to the time of the early church. In this particular verse Stephen points to the Israelites’ disobedience and their rejection of God’s appointed leadership, highlighting a pattern of rebellion that led them back toward Egypt.

The phrase “our fathers would not obey” (or “when they had cast him out”) refers to the Israelites in the wilderness who repeatedly resisted and dismissed the leader God had raised among them. Despite God’s miraculous deliverance from Egypt and His guidance through the desert, they chose to reject that authority.

Stephen further notes that after casting out Moses the people were turned back into Egypt in their hearts and were forced to wander in the wilderness. This demonstrates a serious spiritual problem: rather than trusting the divine direction that had brought them out of bondage, they longed for the former life of slavery or, at the very least, fell back into hardship by turning away from God’s leading.

The verse serves as a reminder to believers of the dangers of disobedience, of yearning for the past, and of rejecting God’s appointed leadership. It highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God’s guiding hand, trusting His plans, and fully embracing the new life we have in Christ, even when faced with difficulties or unfamiliar territory.

Christians are therefore urged to examine their hearts, be vigilant against the allure of returning to old sinful patterns or seeking comfort in familiar but ungodly ways, and to remain steadfast in faith, obedience, and trust in God’s guidance, especially when trials arise.