Moses — Faith in Working God’s Plan
Hebrews 11:23-28
The writer of Hebrews provides a description of faith in Hebrews 11:1 when he writes, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” He then provides several examples of faith in the people written about in the remainder of the chapter. He encourages the readers to continue in the faith because of the examples of the godly men and women described in chapter eleven. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Among the people discussed in chapter 11 is Moses. Hebrews 11:23-38 says, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”
The faith of Moses is seen in the actions of his parents and the actions of Moses, himself. Several things about godly faith can be learned by these people of old.
The faith of Moses begins in seeing that faith of Amram and Jochebed. They hid Moses because of the decree of an Egyptian king. The Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. They were specifically afraid they would become too strong and overthrow them one day. Pharaoh commanded that all Israelite sons be cast into the river. Exodus 1:22 says, “So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, ‘Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.’” Amram and Jochebed faced a decision that everyone faces. They had to decide to obey God over obeying men (Acts 5:29). They hid him because they saw that he was a beautiful (‘proper’ - KJV) child. They saw Moses was special and they protected him for it. Finally, notice they were not afraid of the kings command. They knew the eternal benefits of obeying God. Today, Christians need to spend more time focusing on what God knows and not on what man decrees.
Moses, like his parents, made a choice. He chose a life of slavery (being an Egyptian) over a life of luxury or living in the palace of the king. He chose suffering with God’s people over being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The writer of Hebrews says this choice was a choice of faith. Hebrews 13:13 says, “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Christians today must choose the reproach of Christ over the pleasures of the world. Moses chose to be numbered with the slaves who were God’s people over the Egyptians who were not. Christians today have the same choice. This is vividly seen in the other three ‘by faith’ statements the writer of Hebrews makes in reference to Moses.
He says that Moses forsook Egypt by faith. He left Egypt fearing Pharaoh but eventually returned to Egypt fearing God. Today, Christians need to focus on the commission God has given and not on the commands of men. There are times when danger will come upon the children of God. Yet, the child of God must focus and push on. When Moses learned of God and His will, he returned to Egypt, not fearing Pharaoh but doing the will of God.
Next, Moses kept the Passover by faith. This vividly shows faith is manifested by obedience. Moses obeyed God by keeping the Passover. God declared that He would kill the firstborn of every house but then stated that where blood was sprinkled on the door posts then He would pass over that house sparing the first born. This led to an annual ‘feast of unleavened bread,’ which the nation of Israel observed (Exodus 12:14). This Passover which God observed showed the eventual sacrifice of Jesus. Paul declared, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” Moses observed the Passover both initially and the feast that came because of it. He obeyed God and did so by faith.
Finally, it was through Moses that God parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could pass through on dry land. When the Egyptians began to pass through, the waters began to flow again causing their demise. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says they drowned (Hebrews 11:29). All of this took place by faith. The Israelites believed in God, obeyed God, and passed through the Red Sea by faith. Again, faith is obedience.
Today, we learn some lessons about the faith of Moses. Moses had faith and this faith led him to obey God regardless of the consequences. Moses had eternal consequences of God in mind rather than the temporal consequences of man (see Matthew 10:28). Moses also led the Israelites to obey God in observing the Passover. Today, Christians need to personally obey God and attempt to lead others to do the same.
Hebrews 11:23-28
The writer of Hebrews provides a description of faith in Hebrews 11:1 when he writes, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” He then provides several examples of faith in the people written about in the remainder of the chapter. He encourages the readers to continue in the faith because of the examples of the godly men and women described in chapter eleven. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Among the people discussed in chapter 11 is Moses. Hebrews 11:23-38 says, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”
The faith of Moses is seen in the actions of his parents and the actions of Moses, himself. Several things about godly faith can be learned by these people of old.
The faith of Moses begins in seeing that faith of Amram and Jochebed. They hid Moses because of the decree of an Egyptian king. The Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. They were specifically afraid they would become too strong and overthrow them one day. Pharaoh commanded that all Israelite sons be cast into the river. Exodus 1:22 says, “So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, ‘Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.’” Amram and Jochebed faced a decision that everyone faces. They had to decide to obey God over obeying men (Acts 5:29). They hid him because they saw that he was a beautiful (‘proper’ - KJV) child. They saw Moses was special and they protected him for it. Finally, notice they were not afraid of the kings command. They knew the eternal benefits of obeying God. Today, Christians need to spend more time focusing on what God knows and not on what man decrees.
Moses, like his parents, made a choice. He chose a life of slavery (being an Egyptian) over a life of luxury or living in the palace of the king. He chose suffering with God’s people over being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The writer of Hebrews says this choice was a choice of faith. Hebrews 13:13 says, “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Christians today must choose the reproach of Christ over the pleasures of the world. Moses chose to be numbered with the slaves who were God’s people over the Egyptians who were not. Christians today have the same choice. This is vividly seen in the other three ‘by faith’ statements the writer of Hebrews makes in reference to Moses.
He says that Moses forsook Egypt by faith. He left Egypt fearing Pharaoh but eventually returned to Egypt fearing God. Today, Christians need to focus on the commission God has given and not on the commands of men. There are times when danger will come upon the children of God. Yet, the child of God must focus and push on. When Moses learned of God and His will, he returned to Egypt, not fearing Pharaoh but doing the will of God.
Next, Moses kept the Passover by faith. This vividly shows faith is manifested by obedience. Moses obeyed God by keeping the Passover. God declared that He would kill the firstborn of every house but then stated that where blood was sprinkled on the door posts then He would pass over that house sparing the first born. This led to an annual ‘feast of unleavened bread,’ which the nation of Israel observed (Exodus 12:14). This Passover which God observed showed the eventual sacrifice of Jesus. Paul declared, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” Moses observed the Passover both initially and the feast that came because of it. He obeyed God and did so by faith.
Finally, it was through Moses that God parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could pass through on dry land. When the Egyptians began to pass through, the waters began to flow again causing their demise. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says they drowned (Hebrews 11:29). All of this took place by faith. The Israelites believed in God, obeyed God, and passed through the Red Sea by faith. Again, faith is obedience.
Today, we learn some lessons about the faith of Moses. Moses had faith and this faith led him to obey God regardless of the consequences. Moses had eternal consequences of God in mind rather than the temporal consequences of man (see Matthew 10:28). Moses also led the Israelites to obey God in observing the Passover. Today, Christians need to personally obey God and attempt to lead others to do the same.
-J
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