Moses’ Faith

Hebrews 11:23-29 – 23 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. 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 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 was learned from his parents who had a faith that saved (11:23) and a faith which was active. Verbs denote action. Note the verbs expressing action on Moses’ part: “refused,” “choosing”, “esteeming”, “had respect,” forsook,” and “kept.” Faith that saves is faith that produces action in accordance with God’s will. Like his parents faith takes risk when the right choices are made.

Moses’ Faith Refused Royalty

The daughter of Pharaoh had rescued Moses as an infant. When he was old enough, Moses rejected the royal adoption and all the earthly glory that went with it. Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). He would have learned to read and write hieroglyphics, hieratic, and probably some Canaanite languages. He learned Hebrew from his mother. He may have never been Pharaoh but he gave up a great life for one of hard work and pain.

Moses’ Faith Chose Suffering With Slaves

Moses could not identify himself both with the Israelites and with the Egyptians. The Egyptians were the most advanced civilization at the time while the Israelites were slaves. He killed an Egyptian taskmaster thinking perhaps this was part of God’s plan. It was not. He left the palace and never returned as a son of pharaoh, but only as a spokesman for the slaves. Moses’ choice was not to be with his people, but with the children of God.

The choice of Moses to suffer along with God’s people results in rejecting the pleasures of sin. Sin is often fun (Job 21:7-9; 21:10-15; Jer. 12:1; Ps. 73:12,13). Being a member of the royal court of ancient pagan Egypt would have afford Moses all kinds of temporary pleasures through a sinful lifestyle.

Moses’ Faith Esteemed Reproach Over Riches

Paul had quite a pedigree according to the list he gives of his life in Philippians 3:4-6. Yet he counted it all as if it were pile of manure. Moses also rejected riches and esteemed reproach. First, Moses rejected the honors of Egypt, next its pleasures, and then its wealth. Museums will display the riches discovered in the tombs of King Tutankhamen to illustrate how vastly rich the pharaohs had become by this time. Moses gave an accurate appraisal of the riches. Seeing the riches of Egypt he believed they could not begin to compare with the unseen riches in store for Him.

Just what are the reproaches of Christ? Several views have been put forth. Some believe Moses was to suffer just as Christ Himself had to endure. Others believe his suffering was on account of the coming Christ since the beginning all suffering for the sake of righteousness is suffering for Christ’s sake (1 Pet. 4:14). After the apostles were beaten for preaching Christ they were found “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41b). All Christians should willingly bear the same reproach (Heb. 13:13). Possibly it was the reproach of Moses becoming the messiah for God’s people and delivering them out of Egyptian bondage. This in turn would make him a type of Christ who delivered out of bondage mankind who was enslaved to sin. Moses knew he had a mission to perform for God and for His people (Ac. 7:25). As Jesus knew He was to be accomplishing His Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

Moses’ Faith Looked For Future Reward

Having rejected the treasures offered in Egypt, by faith Moses accepts the heavenly riches. ”From the worldly standpoint, he was sacrificing everything for nothing. But from the spiritual standpoint, he was sacrificing nothing for everything.” Only by faith can a man properly discern the true value of spiritual blessings. Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:25,26). “A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked” (Ps 37:16). “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble” (Pr 15:16).

Moses’ Faith Forsook Egypt

Moses having killed the Egyptian taskmaster fled from Egypt. When Pharaoh learned about the taskmaster’s death he may have sought after the life of Moses. Perhaps Moses could have used his position to cover up his crime. Nevertheless, Moses feared God rather than man. His leaving Egypt was an act of faith. Hebrews is referring here to the flight of Moses into the land of Midian (Ex. 2:13-15).

Fear will cause many men to flee in the wrong direction away from God. Gideon’s army was afraid and 22,000 were discharged (Jg. 7:3). The one talent man in Jesus’ parable was afraid and hid his talent. Faith will motivate us to turn to God and trust Him.

Moses’ Faith Saw the Unseen

Not fearing the visible King of Egypt Moses looked to the invisible King of kings. His faith is characterized by “a conviction of things not seen.” Philo describes Moses as the “beholder of that world of nature which cannot be seen” by contrast with Pharaoh, who “did not acknowledge any deity that could be discerned by the mind alone, or any apart from those that could be seen.”

The eyes of faith being able to see the unseen made it possible for Moses to endure. The Greek term used for “endure” is not found anywhere else in the New Testament. It means having the strength to bear up under the dangers and pressures of life with resolve and courage to the end. Moses’ faith was not like a hundred yard dash but more like a marathon.

Moses’ Faith Kept the Passover

The Hebrew writer now skips Moses’ return to Egypt and the first nine plagues to focus on the tenth plague: death of the firstborn (Ex. 11:5). Moses had faith in what had not been seen and was yet in the future. He had no idea that instituting a perpetual feast and making sure every detail of the Passover was obeyed was going to save the Israelites’ firstborn (Ex. 12:21-28). Yet, the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and lintels of each home kept “the destroyer” away (1 Cor. 10:10). This demonstrates to the Hebrew Christians of the day the need for the blood of the redeemer which is found only in Christ (Heb. 9:22). The faithless Egyptians were not spared whereas the Israelite homes were protected.

Christ our Passover Lamb (2 Cor. 5:7,8) instituted the Lord’s Supper during His last Passover supper. It stands today as a testimony of the faith of Christians in Christ’s redeeming blood of the New Testament and the hope of His return (1 Cor. 11:20f).

Moses’ Faith and Crossing the Red Sea

After the death of the firstborn of Egypt Pharaoh let God’s people go. However, they found themselves trapped at the Red Sea and full of doubt. “Then they said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?’” (Ex. 14:11). As the people passed through the sea, they were surrounded on either side by the heaped up waters. Their faith would surely be tested. “Literally, they ‘made a trial of’ the sea” (Fudge 205). They had no assurance the safe passage would be maintained.  All they had to go on was the word of God. By their faith they crossed in complete safety without even mud on their feet. In contrast, the Egyptian army all drowned when the followed them into the sea not out of faith but out of disobedience (Ex. 14:15-31).

– Daniel R. Vess

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