11/10 Beautiful in the Sight of God

Acts Sermon series #32

Title: “Beautiful in the Sight of God”

Scripture: Acts 7:17-22

Acts 7:17-22

17 “But as the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased.

18 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.

19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was cared for by his family.

21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.”

Intro

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, concludes with the story of Joseph, who became the governor of Egypt, and the migration of Jacob’s family to Egypt at Joseph’s invitation.

As we have observed, Joseph is a figure who completes the era of the patriarchs and shows a clear foreshadowing of Jesus. He consistently placed God first in every situation and served as a savior not only for Jacob’s family but also for neighboring nations, reflecting Jesus as the “light to the nations.”

However, as emphasized previously, the Bible is a record of the growth of its characters. Even someone like Joseph, who fulfilled his calling, did not reach the complete perfection of Jesus Christ. We must pay attention to the growth of these figures and God’s intervention in their lives, as it offers great benefit for us.

Starting today, we will examine a character whose influence and impact in the Bible even surpass that of Joseph. He is none other than Moses, the most significant figure in the Old Testament.

Background on Moses

The period in which Moses was born was over 400 years after Joseph’s family had migrated to Egypt. By this time, a new dynasty had risen in Egypt, and Joseph’s legacy had long been forgotten.

To this new dynasty, the Israelite people had become increasingly burdensome. Egypt, which was the leading superpower in every aspect at the time, had absorbed many immigrant groups, most of whom eventually assimilated into Egyptian culture. However, the Israelites were different—they maintained their distinct identity and resisted assimilation.

Moreover, their population grew rapidly, outpacing that of other groups. From Pharaoh’s perspective, the Israelites, as a separate community, could potentially align with Egypt’s enemies, posing a significant threat.

In his anxiety over the Israelites’ resilience despite the various cunning ways he used to oppress them, Pharaoh devised a brutal plan. He commanded the midwives to kill all newborn Israelite boys, as these boys could one day become threats to Egypt as part of an opposing army.

Exodus 1:16 — “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe them on the delivery stool; if it is a boy, kill him, but if it is a girl, let her live.”

Exodus 1:17 — “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”

Was it easy to defy Pharaoh’s cruel command to kill every male child at birth? It was a choice that required courage, a choice that risked their lives.

But the Hebrew midwives feared God more than Pharaoh, and they decided to save the children, regardless of what punishment might come from Pharaoh.

The Bible continually tells us, “Do not be afraid!” The things we are commanded not to fear are the “world,” “people,” and “death.”

Yet, there is one we are instructed to fear—God Himself. If we are not on God’s side, if we stand against His will, or if we fall into temptation, we must hold a reverent fear of God.

Jesus taught us this way:

Matthew 10:28 — “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Who is this One who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell?

The message is clear: Do not fear the powers of this world or Satan, the father of all tempters, who cannot touch your soul. Instead, fear God.

Satan perpetuates a culture where sin is taken lightly. But to a holy God, sin is unbearably offensive and draws His righteous wrath.

A.W. Tozer once shared an anecdote. A woman approached him for counsel, confiding that she was in a same-sex relationship and was experiencing deep anxiety and fear. Tozer sensed that she wanted him to say, “It’s alright. Don’t be afraid.” Yet, he knew he could not give her that reassurance.

Do you know what certain false teachings mean when they talk about being “set free from sin”?

They imply that freedom from sin means feeling no guilt for sin, becoming shameless. They even go so far as to twist Scripture passages that warn, “How can those with the Holy Spirit sin?” They claim, “Since we have the Holy Spirit, we cannot sin; therefore, none of our actions are sinful in God’s sight.”

They reverse the truth, suggesting that grieving and repenting over sin is actually evidence of not being saved.

In Hebrews 6, this condition is referred to as “falling away.” It describes such actions as exposing the Son of God to public disgrace, with a frightening warning that those in this state will not find forgiveness.

To be freed from sin because the Holy Spirit dwells within us does not mean we are excused to sin without remorse. It means that we no longer enjoy sin or succumb to it as easily. It means that we grow in discernment, develop the inner strength to resist temptation, and increasingly find the power to overcome.

This strength doesn’t come from us; rather, it is because we are growing closer to the life of Christ and learning to lean on Him more.

In this way, as children of God, we are progressively freed from sin—able to discern it, avoid it, and overcome it. And as Christians, we are people growing from fear into love, and toward greater wholeness.

Some areas of our lives change quickly, while others can still cause us to sigh. At times, God will awaken us through sudden events, and at other times, He leads us through words of encouragement and affirmation. Just as a loving parent guides their children, so the Holy Spirit leads us to greater freedom and wholeness.

When we rely on the Lord and gradually let go of bad habits one by one, we find increasing freedom each step of the way.

To those who follow this path, God gives blessings, rewards, and gifts.

Exodus 1:21 — “And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.”

God Calls for the Right Response

God’s word is alive, always asking something of us. Sometimes, He calls us to feel peace and reassurance; other times, He urges us to approach Him with a reverent, trembling heart. He tells us to change our mindset and asks for actions of obedience.

The Lord speaks, and we are to respond rightly to His words.

However, if we oversimplify and take the biblical truth that “God’s will is fixed and everything happens according to His purpose” to an extreme, we may mistakenly believe that every choice, process, and outcome in our lives happens solely according to God’s plan.

This scene makes it clear that this is not entirely the case. The Bible says that the midwives feared God more than Pharaoh, and as a result, their households prospered! God was pleased with their response and blessed them.

What was a great “crisis” in front of them became an “opportunity” to show their reverence for God. When they demonstrated their faith, God rewarded them greatly.

This is the most basic aspect of faith—a pattern that flows throughout Scripture. God provides opportunities, we respond, and according to how we respond, the outcomes are given to us in our lives.

Our thoughts, decisions, and actions are not predetermined; they stem from our free choices, and the responsibility lies with us.

Sometimes, however, our choices are limited for the fulfillment of God’s plan for the world.

For example, even if the midwives had initially chosen to kill the children out of fear of Pharaoh, it wouldn’t have made a lasting difference because Pharaoh would have eventually found another way to carry out his orders.

However, instead of receiving blessings, the midwives would have found themselves opposing God.

And still, among the surviving children, Moses would undoubtedly have been there.

God had chosen this child, Moses, to one day save the Israelites about 80 years later, and no one could alter that. This is what we refer to as God’s providence.

God’s Providence in Choosing Moses

When Pharaoh failed in his plan of slaughter through the midwives, he issued an even more brutal order: anyone who saw an Israelite baby boy was commanded to throw him into the Nile River.

Though the exact numbers are uncertain, when the Israelites eventually left Egypt, the population was approximately 600,000 men, totaling around two million people. Based on this, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Israelite baby boys may have been cast into the Nile.

In the book of Exodus, it says that Moses’ parents hid him because he was a “fine child.” The expression used to describe the beauty of this child is the same expression used during creation when God saw His creations and deemed them “good.”

When they looked at Moses, they saw something unique and special about him.

However, in today’s passage in the Book of Acts, it is not Moses’ parents who recognized this beauty but rather that “he was beautiful in God’s sight.”

“At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God; for three months he was cared for by his family.” (Acts 7:20)

God does not look at outward appearance, so what did He see that He deemed beautiful?

When God looked at baby Moses, He saw all the possibilities of his life at once. He saw him three months later, ten years later, forty years later, and eighty years later—every choice Moses would make and every potential within him. And it was this that God found beautiful.

The Beautiful Ones Who Are Chosen

Matthew 22:14 — “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

In Jesus’ parable, which He repeats in the Gospels, we may initially perceive “being chosen” as a passive act. However, in this parable, it signifies an active response: “accepting the invitation.”

Those who are “chosen” are the people who responded rightly to God’s extended hand and opportunity, setting aside other seemingly important matters to attend the king’s invitation. This is how Jesus describes those who are chosen.

And so, Jesus was angered by those who, though invited, did not come—those who were not chosen.

Those invited had the freedom to “be chosen,” but they rejected and disregarded this opportunity, and that was why He was angry.

Our future is constantly unfolding. Just as a clock’s hand keeps moving, our future continuously becomes our present, moment by moment.

When the Lord looks upon us right now, He sees all of this.

In today’s worship, something may be happening within us. We may have made certain resolutions—“I’ll finally let go of this,” or “I’ll start again.” When these genuine stirrings of the heart occur, the possibilities change, and God sees it all.

Not only does God see our inner transformation, but He also sees the beauty that will be created by these changes.

The Obedience of a Mother

When Jochebed, Moses’ mother, could no longer hide her baby, she carefully crafted a basket. Preparing for the possibility of a longer journey for the baby, she made the basket watertight and then sent it down the river, letting it drift toward the region where Egyptians lived.

Now, what command had the Egyptians received? Pharaoh had ordered them to kill all Hebrew baby boys.

Yet, despite this, Moses’ mother sent the basket toward the Egyptian area. Why? Because the Hebrews’ living areas were already being thoroughly searched. So, with only a sliver of hope, she trusted that it was better to risk meeting a compassionate Egyptian than to remain in hiding.

And then, she instructed her eldest daughter, Miriam, to follow the basket and see what would happen to the baby.

What happened next?

An extraordinary turn of events unfolds. The basket drifts all the way to the Egyptian royal palace. Is this good news? The basket reached the house of Pharaoh himself—the very man who ordered the slaughter. One can only imagine Miriam’s shock as she followed along.

And then, another unexpected twist occurs.

Exodus 2:4-10

4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it.

6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother.

9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.

10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

What Has Just Happened?

Only hours before, Moses’ mother had entrusted her baby’s fate to God, sending him down the river. Now, Moses has returned to her arms—alive, but not as a slave. He has returned with the status of a prince.

Moments ago, Moses’ home was so dangerous for him that his mother chose to release him to the Nile. But now, with his return, this very home has become the safest place in Egypt.

Not only could he now grow up safely in his mother’s arms until he was weaned, but she was also compensated for fulfilling her motherly role.

Moreover, would Pharaoh’s daughter have left the home of the child she intended to raise as her son in the poor conditions of an Israelite slave’s house? She surely would have provided the best possible environment for him.

This is the multiplied blessing that comes with obedience.

While it was a dark time of great sorrow for all Israelite families, how great must have been the joy of those who played their roles in this plan—Miriam and her mother, Jochebed.

The times spent risking their lives to hide the child, the care with which his mother prepared the basket, and the heavy heart with which she released it—all these came to an astonishingly joyful moment when Miriam courageously intervened, and Moses’ mother was reunited with her son, even within the palace itself.

This is the joy of heaven, which comes when God’s providence intersects with our obedience.

Consider this incredible drama. Who could have planned this and brought it to such an outcome?

Could it have been Moses’ mother? Pharaoh’s daughter? Even the powerful Pharaoh himself?

Toward a Life Beautiful in God’s Sight

Now, take a moment to reflect on your life.

At the very least, none of you here today are ordinary people.

But is the reason we’re here now the result of a plan we carefully laid out 20 or 30 years ago? Out of all the events in our lives, the people we’ve met, how much of it happened exactly according to our own plans?

Isn’t there a unique “drama” to each of your lives? And has that drama unfolded according to your own script? Is it progressing even now according to your blueprint?

No matter how hard I try to take ownership of my life, I am never truly its master. In fact, every time I try to take control, things seem to go wrong. Peace slips away, and my worries and anxieties only grow.

If the Lord is truly the master, we must stop trying to be in charge. What does the Lord desire of me right now? Instead of calculating my own way, I need to seek His will first. And when I begin to understand it, I need to obey. This is the best approach. When we do this, the Lord blesses us, causes us to thrive. This is the greatest happiness and blessing we can experience.

The Lord continues to invite us—each time we open our Bibles, each time we worship, and in every challenge we face in life.

How are we responding? Though we are invited, are we among those who are chosen?

Remember how the calling and choosing unfolded for Moses’ family. In the darkest of times, consider the light that came to them.

Instead of fearing Pharaoh, they feared God. And when God moved their hearts, they obeyed, risking everything. Even in the moment when they had to release the child, they didn’t lose heart or give up. They trusted God and did what they could. They prepared the basket with care, and they sent Miriam to follow, hoping in God’s deliverance.

Do you desire for this church to be beautiful in the Lord’s sight? That depends on us. What commitments are we making now? What changes are happening within us? What steps of obedience will we take after this worship? It all hinges on these things.

And when the Lord looks at each one of you, what will He see?

At this moment, the future is constantly becoming our present. If these resolutions and changes within us become “seeds of obedience,” our future will shine even more beautifully in God’s sight.

A church beautiful in God’s sight, a life beautiful in God’s sight…

This depends on each one of us, standing before the Lord who speaks to us today—upon each individual here, upon this church.