Hebrews 11:23-29
By Diane Barstow
Moses became the figurehead, represented the Law to the people, but the author of Hebrews (perhaps Paul) adds him to this ‘faith hall of fame” not just for his tenure as leader of the exodus, deliverer, or copywriter of God’s spoken Law - but from his earliest existence, his birth! In this section well explore 5 statements
23: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25: choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26: considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
27: By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
28: By faith he (Moses) kept the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
29: By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
23: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
A little about his background - Moses’ parents were Amram (kindred of the most high) and Jochebed (who’s glory is Jehovah) were both of the family of the Levites by Kohath. They’re the 3rd generation to live in Egypt.
Isn’t it amazing how quickly history is forgotten? They’re only the 3rd generation since Joseph, who saved not only the Jews, but the Egyptians as well. Also at his counsel, the “king” solidified his sovereignty over the citizens by taking all the land and animals in exchange for food.
Amram and Jochebed only knew poverty, slavery, and now genocide. Even in their captivity God blessed the Jews with many children (the women were vigorous), they were exceedingly mighty, and filled the land. This didn’t go unnoticed by the king. He was afraid that they would fight against them with other nations. His decision was to make their lives miserable through harsh task-masters. They afflicted them more and more but the Jews continued to multiply. This is where the wickedness enters, the king orders Jewish midwives to strangle all boy babies when they’re born, but they refused to obey because they feared God more than the king. When that tactic failed, the king instructed the Jews to cast their sons into the Nile to be eaten by crocs. This was a 3-fold solution, get rid of the Jews, appease Sobek the god of fertility, and protect his citizens from being eaten. It is under these circumstances that Moses’ parents chose by faith to expand their family. He was born into persecution! Recognizing his ‘specialness’ they again by faith chose to hide him for 3 months from the authorities. Then by faith they hatched a plan to save his life by strategically floating him right under Pharaoh's daughter’s nose, then providing a wet-nurse to raise him until he was weaned! Read Exodus 2, Acts 3, and Acts 7.
24: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25: choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26: considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
Now we get to Moses’ personal faith. It’s important to note that of all his recorded actions, which of them the writer of Hebrews chose to enumerate - those who exemplify his faith! I believe he is righting a massive wrong which the Jewish religious leaders had perpetrated - namely identifying him solely with the law (sin and death), and not by his faith Life and grace)! It took GREAT FAITH (after 40 years) to choose to identify himself with a nation of slaves, to disown his royal privilege, and to reject the glorious delights of palace life! Doesn’t this sound familiar? Read Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 2:5-8. His choice was ratified when he had to flee Egypt because of his impetuous murder of an Egyptian overseer. In this instance he did ‘fear the wrath of Pharaoh.’ In this verse we have half of the key - he was looking to the reward. You see while he was away (40 years) he had a supernatural, radical, life-altering experience with God! He saw a burning bush and God spoke to him from it!!
The faith of Moses teaches us to choose our new identity/citizenship over the old. In today’s fractious society, IDENTITY IS EVERYTHING!! This is a serious issue - are you your gender, your ethnicity, your sexual preference, your nationality, political party preference, your covid opinion, your church affiliation - what do you allow to classify you?
The faith of Moses teaches us to identify primarily with the Kingdom of God, and thus its King!
The faith of Moses teaches us to value God’s reward over “Egypt’s treasures.”
The faith of Moses teaches us that the least from God is better than the best of this world! If God gave us nothing further than escape from hell, we count ourselves lucky! To add grace to this mercy is UNFATHOMABLE!
27: By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. This is when he left Egypt taking all Israel with him! He had received his marching orders from the Lord. He feared (respected) the Lord more than the might of Pharaoh! He trusted the invisible promises of God versus the apparent treasure and danger of Egypt! He valued God’s power over anything man/Pharaoh could do! This is THE KEY - for both of Moses’ faith and the book of Hebrews. Remember verse 13; ‘All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.’ And verse 1, ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’
The faith of Moses teaches us to accept as evidence of God things unseen.
The faith of Moses teaches us that God sees our afflictions, and that they are temporary in nature - they will pass! Just as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17; ‘For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.’
28: By faith he (Moses) kept the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
29: By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
I don’t have time to teach passover, but come tomorrow night and experience it for yourself! You won’t be sorry!
The faith of Moses teaches us to obey the voice of God, down to the last jot and tittle! As their leader, teacher, example, representative, intercessor he displayed his faith by doing exactly as the Lord had instructed him. You can read all the deets in Exodus 12-14.
And finally, no examination of Moses would be complete without noting what the Lord Himself had to say about him.
Exodus 3:4 He knew Moses and called him by name from the burning bush.
Exodus 33;17 God says ‘he found favor in My sight, and is known by name.’
Exodus 33:11, ‘the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as when a man speaks to his friend.’
Numbers 12:7, ‘Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household, with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the Lord…’ a paraphrase version says that God ‘in all My house, he is the one I trust!’
Numbers 12:3, ‘Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.’
Revelation 15:3 John calls him ‘the bondservant of God’ doulos Greek for love-slave.
Jesus said (added Moses to the Prophets) to the men on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:27, ‘Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.’ He later did the same for the Disciples in verse 45 when ‘He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.,’