Acts 7:17-36 - Moses, A Rejected Savior
17 "But as the time when [the fulfillment of] the promise [God had made] to Abraham approached, the number of people [i.e., Hebrews] in Egypt grew 18 until a new king, who had not known Joseph, began to rule. 19 This king exploited the Hebrews and mistreated our forefathers, even requiring that they abandon their [small] babies, leaving them to die [See Exodus 1:22]. 20 "It was at that time that Moses was born, and he was a very handsome child. He was cared for in his father's home for three months 21 and then, when he was abandoned [as the Egyptians required], the daughter of Pharaoh took him in and cared for him as her own son. 22 Now Moses was educated according to all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became an accomplished speaker and an effective leader.
23 But when he was about forty years old he felt led to visit his relatives, the Israelites [i.e., called Hebrews at that time]. 24 And when Moses observed one [of his relatives] being mistreated, he came to his defense by hitting the Egyptian, 25 assuming his relatives would understand that God was using him to rescue them [from such abuse], but they did not [seem to] understand. 26 The next day Moses came across a couple of his relatives who were fighting and tried to settle their dispute by saying, 'Brothers, since you are fellow-countrymen, why are you hurting each other?'
27 But the one who was trying to harm his neighbor pushed Moses away saying, 'Who gave you the right to act as a ruler and judge over us? 28 Are you going to kill me like you did that Egyptian yesterday?'
29 When Moses heard this, he ran away and traveled to the country of Midian where he settled down and had two sons. 30 "Then after [another] forty years passed, an angel appeared to him [one day] out of a flaming bush in the wilderness near Mt. Sinai. 31 Moses marveled at the sight [of the burning bush] and, as he went to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord spoke out, 32 I am the God of your forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses shook with fear, not [even] wanting to look [at the bush].
33 And the Lord said to him, 'Take off your shoes, [Moses], for the place you are standing on is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people there in Egypt and I have heard their groaning and I have determined to rescue them. Now [get ready], I will send you to Egypt [to lead out in their rescue].'
35 But the Hebrews refused [to acknowledge Moses as their leader], saying, 'Who made you a ruler and judge [over us]?' [Nevertheless], God sent him [to Egypt] to be both a ruler and liberator [of the people] through the direction of [His] angel who appeared [to Moses] from the bush. 36 This man led them out [of Egypt], performing wonders and [miraculous] signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.