Lawlessness and Usurped Authority

Part One

By Dr. Derek Carlsen

The principles of law and authority originate in God and to the degree that people imitate or ignore these principles, determines the degree of liberty or oppression that they will experience in their nations. 

Consent of the Governed

Scripture establishes the consent of the governed as an absolute by revealing that God allowed Israel to accept or reject His laws and His rule over them (Exodus 19:3-9). Having set this precedent, it was natural to apply it down the chain of command and so, for example, even though God chose Saul and David to be kings over Israel (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13), the peoples’ consent was still required before these men ruled (1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Samuel 2:4; 5:3).

Ignored and Violated

What does Scripture show us when the rule of law and the consent of the governed are ignored and violated? 

Moses

The actions of Moses when he was in Pharaoh's house need to be carefully studied in the light of what the whole of Scripture reveals, rather than our first impression that comes to mind when reading Exodus 2:11ff.

Knew not Joseph

The relational change between Pharaoh and Israel is critically important. Scripture says, “There arose a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). This Pharaoh didn’t know the history of how Joseph saved Egypt and he also failed to inquire about Israel’s goals; Israel had no interest in the Land of Egypt, their only interest was in the Promised Land of Canaan (Gen.12:5-7), which meant that they were not a threat to the nation of Egypt. The spirit of tyranny always fabricates situations and scenarios so as to implement its tyrannical desires. The new Pharaoh changed the rules based on ignorance and misinformation. When laws are unjust or originate from lies, that is tyranny.

Did Moses Sin?

Was it sin when Moses killed the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:11-14). Was Moses being presumptuous about God’s timing? Was it a rash act? If so, then this slaying was murder. Scripture condemns murder, however, there are no negative statements about what Moses did, which should, at least, make us cautious about portraying his actions in a negative light. We need the whole of Scripture to shape our understanding of what transpired.

When Moses was Grown

The book of Exodus explains that this incident took place when Moses was grown (2:11). Stephen, in his account, tells us that Moses was 40 years old (Acts 7:23). Jesus’ public ministry began when He was about to turn 30 years old (Luke 3:23). 30 was the age when the Levites assumed their offices (Numbers 4:47). Joseph was 30 when he attained great authority in Egypt (Genesis 41:46), and David was 30 when he became king (2 Samuel 5:4). Moses’ age of 40, suggests that he was very mature. Elsewhere Scripture says that Moses identified himself with his brethren, “when he became of age” (Hebrews 11:24) — "became of age” for what? To serve as their deliverer?

Visited his Brethren

It came into Moses’ heart to visit his brethren. This word translated as “visit” in Acts 7:23, means to help someone in need with the purpose of assisting or relieving them. God moved Moses to visit the Israelites. The book of Hebrews tells us that Moses acted by faith when he chose Israel over being the son of Pharaoh's daughter (Hebrews 11:24-27). Stephen tells us that the nation of Israel rejected Moses at the time when he killed the Egyptian (Acts 7:35). The slaves rejected someone who was acting in his legitimate role. This same word is used in Hebrews 11:24 for when Moses rejected his Egyptian privileges. 

Defended and Avenged

Stephen tells us that Moses defended and avenged the one who was being beaten by the Egyptian. The word translated as “avenged” (Acts 7:24) is only used in this form 6 times in the New Testament and each time it has to do with a manifestation of God’s justice and judgment (e.g., Lk.18:7-8; 2 Cor.7:11; 2 Thes.1:8; 1 Pet.2:14). It means to do justice to an injured and oppressed person or to maintain the rights of the oppressed. Thus, the Holy Spirit, speaking through Stephen, tells us that Moses vindicated (did justice to) the oppressed Israelite. How did Moses maintain the rights of the oppressed man? Specifically, by killing the Egyptian! The words in this verse do not lend support to the idea that Moses was a murderer or that his actions were lawless.

Moses Supposed they Understood

In Acts 7:25 we are told that Moses’ actions were not a result of uncontrolled anger or doing something without thinking because he supposed that his brethren understood that God would deliver them by his hand. The word “supposed” or “thought” is in the imperfect tense, which speaks of continuous or repeated action in the past. Therefore, this supposing by Moses that his brethren understood what God was doing through him, was something he was constantly thinking about before this incident when he killed the Egyptian. Moses believed (for some time), that his brethren knew that God was delivering Israel through his hand. “Was giving deliverance/salvation” is in the present tense and the implication is that Moses believed the Israelites knew that he was delivering them from their oppression and that by this act of killing the Egyptian, they would have realized that this deliverance had started—was upon them. The killing of the Egyptian was a sign for the oppressed slaves that their deliverance was dawning. Moses had known for some time that God would deliver Israel by his hand, and he was under the impression, also for some time, that the Israelites knew this too. 

Premature?

There is no evidence in Scripture to support the idea that Moses had prematurely entered his calling. The children of Israel rejected God’s deliverer, even as they rejected Christ. This was Stephen’s point in Acts. The Israelites in Egypt were in bondage, just as the Jews were in bondage to sin and Rome in Stephen’s day, however, just as Moses was rejected, so too Christ, God’s deliverer, was rejected. 

Opportunity for Deliverance

When Moses revealed himself in this way, it was a real opportunity for deliverance from Egypt. The fact that Israel didn’t move out of Egypt at this time does not prove that it was not the right time, any more than when Israel refused to enter into the Promised Land through unbelief, it meant that it was a premature time to enter the Land (Num.14:3,6-9,22,23). Moses is nowhere condemned for killing the Egyptian, whereas the Israelites were faulted because we are told that they didn’t understand. Moses appeared in his office as God’s deliverer and the nation of Israel didn’t merely refuse to recognize Moses, but despised him and in doing so, rejected God’s grace and provision. 

Forty Year Penalty

Israel didn’t only reject Moses’ advice, but also his office, which they claimed was self-imposed. This was a costly mistake because God had raised up Moses for such a time, but the nation’s stubbornness made them wait another forty years before God moved again to deliver them. We must never think that because God is sovereign our actions are meaningless. We are responsible at all times to walk in obedience to God’s revelation and there are consequences attached to all our actions. We do not know God’s secret will or plans, but we do know our responsibilities and thus we are to bow to what we know, rather than speculate about what we don’t know (Deut.29:29).

High Ranking Countryman

When Moses openly manifested his commitment to the slaves, he demonstrated, very clearly (as we are told in Heb.11:24-27), that he had turned his back on Egypt, closing the door very firmly on his future in Egyptian politics and privileges. It is likely that Moses was in line to become the next Pharaoh of Egypt. All this the Hebrews should have perceived. Moses wasn’t trying to lead Israel out of Egypt in his own strength. It should have been obvious to the slaves that this high-ranking countryman was being moved by God because he wouldn’t have exposed himself in such a vulnerable way if God’s deliverance hadn’t arrived—this was Stephen’s argument.

A Stranger in Midian

When Moses fled from Egypt this was not a judgment upon him, for although he was a stranger in the land of Midian, this was no different than the lives lived by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses came into contact with a good family; he had a job, a wife, children, and freedom. On the other hand, the slaves in Egypt endured another forty years of severe bondage. They chose to reject God’s deliverer, which became a characteristic of the nation throughout its history—constantly rejecting the ones God sent to them.