Question
The Faith of Moses
Hebrews 11:23-28
Key Verses 11:24-25
(Read Exodus 1-2; 12, and Acts 7:20-35 for background)
1. Read verse 23. What does "the king's edict" refer to? What is an "edict"? Why might it not have been easy for the Hebrew parents of Moses' day to go against the edict? Yet, his parents were able to hide the boy "by faith." How does faith make a difference for this kind of action? What practical applications can we learn from Moses' parents?
2. Notice the relationship between what Moses' parents did in verse 23 and what "the people" did in verse 29. What does this indicate about the significance of what Moses’ parents did? What lessons can we learn from Moses' parents?
3. Read verse 24. How did Moses come to be known as "the son of Pharaoh's daughter"? (Exodus 2:5,10) What would it have been like for Moses to grow up as the son of Pharaoh's daughter? (Acts 7:22) In what respect might it have not been easy for Moses to refuse to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter? Yet, how was Moses able to do so?
4. Read verse 25. Describe the two choices Moses had. Can you think of any modern day parallels comparable with the two choices Moses had?
5. Read verses 25-26 again. This passage describes why Moses made the choice he did. In what respect is "the disgrace for the sake of Christ" of greater value than "the treasures of Egypt"? How was Moses able to see the difference (in value) of the two choices he had? What can we learn about the way to make a good judgment on the values (of the choices coming our way)?
6. Read verse 27 and think about the two verbs: "left" [Egypt] and "persevered". In order to do these (leaving and persevering) what do you think Moses had to overcome? How was he able to leave and persevere to the end? What can we learn from Moses' example?
7. Read verse 28. The events concerning the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood are recorded in Exodus 12. Why was "faith" necessary for Moses to keep the Passover and the sprinkling of blood? What spiritual applications can we learn from Moses' example? (Hebrews 10:22; 1Co 5:7; Col 3:1-10)
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CRITICAL FAITH
Hebrews 11:23-28
Besides Jesus our Lord there hasn’t been a man of God so inspiring to believers as Moses. His impact on believers in the Old Testament era and New Testaments era has never been matched. For by reading about Moses we see that he came close to the LORD in unprecedented fashion. His personal relationship with God and his ministry to the Israelites has become the perfect example of spiritual success. His life is a standard for believers who aim high. And his greatness gives us vision for our personal growth. But how did a man like Moses grow to such greatness? Today’s passage tells us of four moments of critical faith that shaped his life.
The faith of his parents when Moses was a baby.
The faith of Moses when had “grown up”.
The faith of Moses when he left Egypt
The faith of Moses when he kept the Passover.
Of all the acts of faith to mention the ones listed in Hebrews are the least spectacular. These are more like common acts of faith that all believers partake in. And this is the author’s point. Instead of putting in Moses’ amazing act of faith like the striking of the rock to bring forth water or healing the waters of Marah with a piece of wood we see a common list that is accessible to all people. For not everyone is destined to have a huge ministry but everyone is required to perform the acts of faith mentioned. This was probably done with the audience of the book in mind. For as we have heard in previous messages; the original recipients of the book of Hebrews were a troubled group who were barely hanging-on to their faith in Christ. The author therefore makes Moses’ life of faith more accessible, taking him off the pedestal so a person struggle with faith can be encouraged by his example.
SETTING-UP FOR SUCCESS (V.23)
Let’s read v.23
23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
This first moment of critical faith has to do with the faith of Moses' parents when he was born. You may be familiar with the book of Exodus and how Pharoah was fearful of the growing number of Jewish males. So he ordered them to be killed at birth: Exodus 1:22,
22Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."
Notice that there are two threats in the edict from the king: one is explicit, that Jewish baby boys are to be killed; the other is implicit, that if you disobey this command and keep a Jewish baby boy alive, you will be disobedient to the king's law and risk your own life. In other words, parents had two choices: they could kill their sons and save themselves, or they could try to save their sons and risk their own lives. There was no middle way. This was a life and death matter but his parents didn’t “fear the king’s edict.” Instead they held to faith and believed in God. How could they be certain that their plan would work? If we look back at Hebrews 11:1 we will remember, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Moses’ parents couldn’t see how God could keep a crying baby from detection for three months. But they had faith that God was able to do it and that God wanted to do it.
How did they know God wanted to do it? When Moses’ parents looked at him the passage says,
they saw he was no “ordinary child”. What does that mean? Was he some kind of “super baby”? No. The greek word used here means “beautiful” and most translations say, “they saw he was a beautiful child”. Maybe Moses had above average looks for a baby but the point is that his parents saw that he was precious and they loved him. This love gave rise to a faith in God who protects. Though the circumstances were scary and they didn’t know how to pull it off, they put their confidence in God who would certainly help them. It worked great for three months. But as we read in Exodus, after three months were up Moses’ mother acted again in faith by putting Moses in a basket where Pharaoh’s daughter would find him. He grew up in Pharaoh’s household and was educated in all the knowledge and wisdom of Egypt. This education would later become important in his ministry. Therefore, to set their son up for success Moses’ parents had to act by faith multiple times. What they did was not so miraculous for any parent can have faith on the count of their children.
These days there are a lot of conversations about how to protect our children from the evil influences of our modern Egypt. The questions go around because no one really knows what to do but the answer is clearly stated in the passage. “By faith” they did something. Making decisions by faith in God, not fearing other’s opinions or negative consequences is the best thing we can do for our children. So not being overbearing because of fear and not being a push-over because of pressure we can plant the blessing of faith in the lives of our children too.
REFUSING EMPTY PROMISES (V.24-26)
The critical acts of faith by Moses’ parents carried Moses forward for forty years. But let’s read verses 24-26.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
For a long time Moses was presented with an offer and promise bidding for his attention. The fork in the road that he faced was this: On the one hand, the opulence, arrogance, and power that came with being an Egyptian prince; on the other hand, the people to whom he had been born, who were slaves. That was the stark divide in front of Moses.
Wherever Moses went everyone knew him as “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”. He was identified by this association. It must have been written on his business card. People recognized him and respected him because of it. This identity was the key to indulgence and power. He didn’t give up that ID for forty years because it was the better choice. What ever changed his mind and made him refuse to be called “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”.
The helpful thing in this text is how those concepts are described. The expression “short time” eventually sunk into Moses head and he realized that all the pleasures of sin would only last for a “short time”. This awoke him to the true value of his identity as “the son of Pharaoah’s daughter”. He realized the fleeting status of such a life and decided to refuse being known as “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”. He therefore took on the Identity of an Israelite and chose the life of being mistreated that came along with it.
Verse 26 says, “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
Simply stated, by faith he looked at his life on earth through eyes that see eternity and it flipped his world upside down. Seeing eternity and his short time on earth dramatically changed his value system. Now instead of valuing fast pleasure he valued suffering for the sake of Christ. The reason being he saw a “reward” for his struggle (an eternal reward) in the future. This isn’t anything really so awesome and it is a basic realization on true believers come to. Moses changed his identity and was willing to suffer “mistreatment” for it. (PERSONAL STORY / “Bible Buddies”) — This is called your testimony.
BURNING BRIDGES (V.27)
Let’s read verse 27 together.
27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
The bridges had already been burned between Moses and Egypt. It had happened in his heart. Not yet geographically, but spiritually and morally he was gone already. Now the question was, would he endure in this chosen path of disgrace for the sake of Christ? Or would he cave in - like so many cave in today to their Egypt - the passing pleasures - of this world? Was Moses' new identity a spurious decision or would he live it out at any cost. Verse 27 says, Yes. "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”
This verse here actually covers the second forty years of Moses life, the time he spent in the land of Midian in the house of Jethro his father-law. During these forty years he lived as a herder of sheep. He had a family and went to Bible study with his father-in-law. This was the forty years of hard-training where Moses’ edgy character was broken down. This training was unbelievably tough for a man who had lived as a prince of Egypt. Verse 27 says he “persevered because he saw him who is invisible”. Once we leave Egypt and begin a new life we must focus on “persevering” through the time of training. Those who drop out during this time are those who lose sight of “him who is visible”. We therefore must keep our eyes fixed on “him who is invisible” from first to last.
KEEPING THE PASSOVER (V.28)
Look at verse 28,
28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
The event being described here is the tenth and final plague against the land of Egypt. After this plague the entire nation of Egypt was knocked down including Pharaoh himself. This plague was unique in that it contained a “destroyer” of the firstborn. Before the plague hit. Moses was told to slaughter a lamb and put the blood on the door frames of the homes. All the people were ordered to do this. This lamb would protect the Israelites from the judgement that God was bringing against all of Egypt. For God was going to flush Egypt down the drain. If the Israelites didn’t put the blood of the lamb on the door frames and keep it they would suffer from the destroyer along with the Egyptians.
To keep the Passover and the sprinkling of blood is analogues to preaching the gospel and holding firm to the gospel. Moses taught the people the power of God’s Passover lamb to save them from the destroyer. He taught people the power of the lamb’s blood and instructed them in how to apply it and to eat it. In essence, by faith in gospel, Moses taught others how to be saved. This isn’t a fancy miracle, this isn’t something that a lot of people would speak highly of but it is the legacy of Moses’ faith — “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood.”
One Word: Critical Faith
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The faith of Moses
Hebrews 11:23-28
Key Verses 11:24-25
(Read Exodus 1-2; 12, and Acts 7:20-35 for background)
Moses is one of the great servants of God, whom God used to fulfill His purpose of redemption.
Moses could have lived as one of the most terrible sinners of all sinners, but thanks to his faith he rose above his own level to God's level, so that the Lord could use him preciously for His redemptive purposes. From his example we too can have the hope to overcome our lowly condition and grow to maturity, reaching a lightened state of our being.
1. Read verse 23. What does "the king's edict" refer to? What is an "edict"? Why might it not have been easy for the Hebrew parents of Moses' day to go against the edict? Yet, his parents were able to hide the boy "by faith." How does faith make a difference for this kind of action? What practical applications can we learn from Moses' parents?
** Exodus 1:22
** Edict = decree, order, injunction, proclamation
In those days Pharaoh's power was absolute; his edict meant law itself, enforceable with the punishment of Pharaoh's choice for disobedience.
** As described in Hebrews 11:1-3, faith enabled them to see that there is a higher being, that is, God himself, who represented an authority which is higher than that of Pharaoh. In fact in God's eyes, Pharaoh is merely one of many subjects God uses to fulfill his own purposes. Therefore, to those who have faith in God, Pharaoh can be seen just like one of the pieces a chess player moves here and there on a chess board.
** Among other things, from their example we as shepherds or shepherdesses learn the importance of faith. When a shepherd has faith in God, he can work to protect and save sheep from being thrown into the river of sinful corruption of the present generation.
2. Notice the relationship between what Moses' parents did in verse 23 and what "the people" did in verse 29. What does this indicate about the significance of what Moses’ parents did? What lessons can we learn from Moses' parents?
** It planted a seed of hope for the redemption of the slave nation Israel; this seed started growing in Moses.
** Parents (physical or spiritual) should not just point out the problems of their children/sheep. Rather they must first live by faith, and thereby make disciples out of their children/sheep.
3. Read verse 24. How did Moses come to be known as "the son of Pharaoh's daughter"? (Exodus 2:5,10) What would it have been like for Moses to grow up as the son of Pharaoh's daughter? (Acts 7:22) In what respect might it have not been easy for Moses to refuse to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter? Yet, how was Moses able to do so?
** Exo 2:1-10
** For forty years Moses received royal education, perhaps receiving on the job training as the successor of the Egyptian Empire.
** It has been said that parents who adopt and take care of a child are the true parents rather than the biological parents who only give birth to a child physically and then do nothing to raise them. Indeed, Pharaoh's daughter was a benefactor to Moses. So it might not have been easy to ignore her favor, turn his back against her, and leave.
** He had faith in God. Faith is faith that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Faith in God enables a man of faith to see everything clearly, enlightening him to make a correct judgment on what is valuable what is not, what is worthy, what is not, and why anything or anyone is worthy or not worthy. In Moses’ case, he must have learned from his biological parents that God is in control of everything; it was, after all, the invisible hands of God who put Moses under the care of Pharaoh's daughter. So in the eyes of faith, Pharaoh's daughter is no better than merely a tool or an instrument which God uses to fulfill His purposes.
4. Read verse 25. Describe the two choices Moses had. Can you think of any modern day parallels comparable with the two choices Moses had?
** 1) to be mistreated along with the slave nation Israel (the people of God); or 2) enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short period of time.
** All peoples on earth can be divided into two categories: those who belong to Jesus' camp; and 2) those who do not. Read Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."
So you are either with Jesus or against Jesus. There is no middle ground. This means you must either suffer along with Jesus and his people or remain in this world and indulge in what the world has to offer.
5. Read verses 25-26 again. This passage describes why Moses made the choice he did. In what respect is "the disgrace for the sake of Christ" of greater value than "the treasures of Egypt"? How was Moses able to see the difference (in value) of the two choices he had? What can we learn about the way to make a good judgment on the values (of the choices coming our way)?
** The phrase "for a short time" is a hint. The life of sin is short, and after that comes the penalty for such a life, for the Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and after that you’ll have to face judgment and pay the penalty all on your own, for the sins you’ve committed. But the life that participates in the remaining sufferings of Jesus comes with lasting rewards. Read 2Co 4:17.
Remember that while those who are self-seeking and indulgent in sinful pleasures, are going from bad to worse, so that they only "earn" pains in exchange for momentary pleasures, those who serve the Lord, participating in his sufferings, will be compensated richly for every little sacrifice they are making for the Lord, for unlike worldly employers, our Lord Jesus is a graceful Lord who never takes for granted anyone's sacrifice for him, even the little service of giving a cup of water to one of his servants. Read Mat 10:42; Mark 10:29-30.
** Again, it was thanks to his faith that he was able to see the difference. Faith can be compared to eyeglasses or a telescope or microscope with which you can see things that are not seen to normal eyes. Without the aid of faith (spiritual eye glasses), one is stuck to see what is physical, for what is physical, such as Pharaoh, exists on a lower level (in importance or order of existence) whereas what is spiritual (or invisible) exists on a higher level, so that what is physical comes from and is dependent upon what is spiritual.
6. Read verse 27 and think about the two verbs: "left" [Egypt] and "persevered". In order to do these (leaving and persevering) what do you think Moses had to overcome? How was he able to leave and persevere to the end? What can we learn from Moses' example?
** In order to leave Egypt, he had to overcome the gravity pull coming from the Royal Palace of the Egyptian Empire. And the pull consisted of the temptations for the pleasure-seeking life, the desire to please people around him, such as Pharaoh or the daughter of Pharaoh.
The first forty years of life at the royal palace must have been very comfortable, but the next forty years of life in the desert must have been very uncomfortable, at least physically, because instead of many people serving him, he had to serve many others, including the seven daughters of his father in law. Plus, during this period of time of service, he must have struggled to overcome the sense of despair and frustration, the thoughts that his life was being wasted away for nothing. And it is not easy for anyone to be treated as “Mr. Nobody” for 40 long years.
** He had faith in God. He saw the Lord who was not physically visible. He lived before the Lord. I think he meditated on the Lord, making the most use of his time with God's creation, such as the blue sky, rock formations, olive trees, lizards, sheep, the stars at night, winds, and mountains.
** His example teaches us among other points:
- the way of service, for a truly great servant of the Lord must first learn to humble himself, by learning to serve others with the attitude of an unworthy servant; and
- the way of prophecy, for a prophet must thoroughly empty himself of the world (Egypt is symbolic of the world), and of himself (for during the first forty years of life at the royal place, he was filled with a proud self which consisted of the ideas, -isms, theories, and all other bodies of knowledge that exist on the levels that are lower than the level of God), and thereby fully attach himself to God without any undesirable stuff hindering the fellowship.
7. Read verse 28. The events concerning the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood are recorded in Exodus 12. Why was "faith" necessary for Moses to keep the Passover and the sprinkling of blood? What spiritual applications can we learn from Moses' example? (Hebrews 10:22; 1Co 5:7; Col 3:1-10)
** The promises of God (to break down Pharaoh and grant the Exodus from Egypt) were not visible; he had to first believe in the promises. In addition, he had to believe that keeping the instructions on the Passover lamb and its blood would keep them unharmed from the impending judgment that was to fall on the Egyptians.
** The Passover lamb in Exodus 12 and the sprinkling of the blood are foreshadows of the reality to come, that is, Jesus, the Lamb of God, who came to shed his blood to save us from the hands of God's judgment. It is thanks to Jesus, the Lamb of God that we came to receive the grace of salvation.
The end
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