MOSES - WARRING BY FAITH
Text: Heb 11:23-29
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, 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 pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of 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 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
1. Moses’ Faith By Influence (Heb 11:23)
Moses’ Hebrew parents had an obvious impact and influence upon him becoming a great man of faith.
1) Moses’ parents believed that God had a
- Heb 11:23—“…because they saw he was a proper child…”
- Acts 7:20—“fair” unto God
2) Moses’ parents
- This was perhaps their greatest legacy. Just as Moses’ parent defied Pharaoh and refused to stand in fear of him, even so Moses would one day square off and go toe to toe in a spiritual battle fearlessly: “Let my people go!”
2. Moses’ Faith By Choice (Heb 11:24, 25a)
The word “choosing” means to select by the act of taking.
1) Faith is a
What did Moses choose to do by faith?
He chose to identify with God’s people (Heb 11:25).
- He chose to suffer (Heb 11:25a).
- He chose the reproaches of Christ (Heb 11:26, 2 Cor 6:17, 18).
He chose future reward (Heb 11:26b). He considered God’s heavenly reward to be greater than the wealth of Egypt.
Faith should lead us to make choices (take actions). Moses believed and acted in accordance to his beliefs.
2) Faith is a
The word “refused” means to deny, decline, reject, renounce, disown.
He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He refused worldly honor and title (Heb 11:24)
- He refused to enjoy the brief pleasures of sin (Heb 11:25b).
He refused the world (Heb 11:27a; 1 John 2:15-17).
Egypt was familiar. Egypt was home. Moses didn’t just leave Egypt. He forsook it. He turned his back on his adopted family. He left the palace, the money, the fame, the fortune, the power, etc.
He left the land of Egypt all together. He went to another country.
How did he do this? By not fearing the king. He instead saw and trusted in the One true God who is invisible.
You cannot live as the world lives and be a good Christian. God wants first place in your life.
- It is not asking too much to give yourself to God. Who would remember Moses had he stayed in Egypt? (Rom 12:1, 2)
3. Moses’ Faith By Experience (Heb 11:27-29)
Moses’ experience in at least three areas:
1) Moses’ faith gave him the experience of obedience (Heb 11:28).
- He kept the Passover (vs. 28; Ex 12:1-13, 21-24). He had faith in the blood.
Had Moses failed to respond in faith nothing else in the roll call of faith could have taken place.
The life of faith is always a life of obedience (2 John 6).
2) Moses’ faith gave him the experience of
The word “endured” means to hold out, bear the burden. Real faith is enduring faith.
Life is tough. The Christian life is tough. Moses’ life was tough. And his last 40 years were perhaps the toughest. He spent 40 years with one and one-half to three million complaining Jews.
We must endure. Life is not easy (1 Cor 15:58; Gal 6:9).
Moses endured because he could “see Him who is invisible.” Don’t quit. It will be worth it all.
3) Moses’ faith gave him the experience of God coming through time and time again (Heb 11:29).
CONCLUSION:
If we’re going to follow in the footsteps of Moses, waiting, watching, walking, and warring in faith, then we should make the same decisions he made:
1) We must refuse to go with the flow of a sinful society.
2) We must leave the familiar to venture into the foreign.
3) We must swallow our pride and be willing to do the unusual.