How is Israel's rejection of Moses the groundwork for their rejection of Jesus?
Israel's rejection of Moses laid groundwork for their rejection of Jesus because they used the same refusal of authority. When Moses intervened, a Hebrew demanded, 'Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?' At Jesus' trial, Israel similarly asked, 'Who made you a ruler over us?' and said, 'We have no king but Caesar.'
Les explains that Israel's rejection of Moses becomes a pattern for their rejection of Jesus. Moses had killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand; the next day he saw two Hebrews fighting and asked the wrongdoer, 'Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?' The Jew answered, 'Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?' Les says that statement should ring a bell, because it is the same attitude Israel later showed toward Jesus. When Jesus presented Himself as Israel's king, Israel asked the morning of His trial, 'Who made you a ruler over us?' And when the Roman authorities asked Israel, 'Is he your king?' they answered, 'We have no king but Caesar.' Les concludes that all of this is laying the groundwork: they reject Moses and have nothing to do with him because 'who made you to be a ruler over us?' The same rejection carries over to Jesus, leading into Acts chapter 7.