God’s Redemptive History
Acts 13:16–21 (NASB95)
16Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17“The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18“For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19“When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. 20“After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21“Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
As we approach Easter, Paul’s sermon that begins in these verses is certainly timely! Paul stands before his fellow believers to provide an eloquent recap of Israel’s storied history—a history marked by God’s unwavering faithfulness and redemptive purpose despite their unfaithfulness.
He begins by reminding his audience that God, in His sovereign mercy, delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, guided them through the wilderness, and graciously granted them a promised inheritance. This sweeping narrative underscores that God not only provided judges and leaders when the people fell into despair but also elevated David as a man after His own heart. Through this historical portrait, Paul emphasizes that the unfolding of Israel’s story—from liberation to the establishment of kingship—is not a series of random events, but a divinely orchestrated progression toward the ultimate fulfillment found in the Messiah. His message is rooted in the tradition of synagogue homilies, blending Jewish scriptural heritage with the rhetorical flair of the Hellenistic world, and it serves to affirm that the promises given to Israel are the very foundation on which our hope in Jesus is built.
Paul’s timeless message challenges us today to anchor our faith in the rich history of God’s redemptive acts. As we navigate our challenges and uncertainties, we are reminded that our journey is part of a larger divine narrative—a story that has transformed nations and ultimately reached its fulfillment in Jesus. Let us be encouraged to study and share our spiritual heritage, recognizing that the same God who liberated Israel, guided them through trials, and raised David is at work in our lives. May our ministries and daily encounters reflect a deep trust in His unbroken covenant, inspiring us to walk boldly forward, knowing that we are part of a continuing legacy of God’s grace that spans across the ages.