HEROES OF THE FAITH: MOSES Part IV Hebrews 11:23-29

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1 1 HEROES OF THE FAITH: MOSES Part IV Hebrews 11:23-29 In contrast to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph comes Moses the Lawgiver, who dominates the Torah and whose significance in biblical history is perhaps only surpassed by Abraham. We know that Moses grew up at the Egyptian court where he was considered to be the son of Pharaoh's daughter and may have ultimately succeeded to the throne of Egypt. While in the Egyptian Court, he showed a deep, almost obsessive commitment to fighting injustice. This next section (vv ) draws from five highlights from his life. THE FAITH OF MOSES AND THE ISRAELITES (11:23-29) The highlights in Moses life begin with the faith of his parents and end with the Israelites' passage over the Red Sea: THE FAITH OF MOSES PARENTS (11:23) Nile: The faith of Moses' parents is evidenced by hiding their infant son among the reeds of the By 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 (v. 23). The events in view are recorded in the first two chapters of Exodus where we are told about another king who decided for policy's sake to reduce the number of their slaves and thereby decreed that all male children should be destroyed. Prompted by the birth of their son Moses and because of their robust faith, Moses parents (Amran and Jochebed) disobeyed the king s order. His parents placed Moses out of the Nile River into the lap of the princess who adopted him as her own son. This provided Moses with all of the education, training and experience which would be so necessary in his great mission of deliverance of the Hebrews. Is it any wonder that the author of Hebrews includes the parents of Moses among the immortals of faith! They saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict (v. 23). The phrase no ordinary (asteion) child (implies one not only handsome or beautiful but also gifted. As a result, Moses' parents became so convinced of their son's special destiny that their faith was sufficiently robust to eliminate all fear of the king's cruel command to kill all male Israelite babies. Since Jochebed, Moses' mother, was employed by Pharaoh's daughter to become Moses' nurse and help raise him to adulthood, Moses' parents (Amram and Jochebed) are included as those who impacted Moses faith.

2 2 MOSES RENOUNCED HIS EARTHLY PRIVILEGES (11:24-26) In spite of all his privileges in the court of Pharaoh, Moses chose to renounce it all to be with his own people: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 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 (vv ). There are four famous persons in the Bible who turned a renunciation into a great opportunity. Moses, David, Daniel and Jesus all refused what others would have eagerly embraced. Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; David refused Saul's armor (1 Sa 17:39), Daniel refused the king's meat (Da 1:8) and Jesus refused an earthly kingship (Jn 6:15). These renunciations or refusals led to decisive victories in the battle of good over evil and have thus provided for the rest of mankind inspirational examples of what it means to live for God. It should be noted that each of the four renunciations mentioned above involved young men in the vigor and vitality of life. Furthermore, each refusal involved a rejection of royalty, of privilege and prestige. In the case of Moses, what or who influenced him so powerfully that when he was forty years of age (Ac 7:23), having been trained in the culture of Egypt and even regarded as an heir to the throne itself, he renounced his earthly privileges? Who impacted him so significantly that he went on to identify himself with the people of Israel and resolutely refused the royal title son of Pharaoh's daughter (vv )? Stephen tells us that Moses "thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not" (Ac 7:25). Notice that Moses chose to give up not only his privileges but also the pleasures of sin. This was a deliberate resolve, not a hasty impulse. The writer to the Hebrews points out that such pleasure lasts for a short time (v. 25). The luxury and prestige in Egypt s royal palace that Moses is asked to give up will only last a little while. Obviously there is pleasure in sin; otherwise, we would not be tempted. However, it lasts only for a short time. Imagine how difficult it must have been for Moses to do what he did. After all, how could he refuse the offer by Pharaoh s daughter, who had rescued him as an infant from the terrible death by drowning in the great river and then brought him up as her very own child? How could he refuse her loving affection and accept the scorn and hatred of them who had clothed and fed and educated him? And how could he sacrifice all the wealth, honor, power and glory that would have come to him as the presumptive heir to the throne of Egypt?

3 3 His decision, therefore, is impossible to understand, except on the basis of what is said here, that it was "by faith" that he did so. It is obvious that Moses must have had a clear understanding of his calling from God. And it was his faith that motivated and strengthened him to be able to renounce the privileged life in Egypt. It was costly because he gave up the treasures of Egypt to suffer disgrace for the sake of Christ (v. 26). Since such disgrace carried with it the promise of infinite reward (eternal life) what he renounced appears insignificant by comparison. In the Sinai Desert, Moses climbs Mount Sinai and comes down with the Ten Commandments, only to discover the Israelites engaged in an orgy and worshiping a golden calf. It seems that it is only at the very moment God or Moses is doing something for them that they are loyal believers. The instant God's or Moses' presence is not manifest, the Israelites revert to amoral, immoral and sometimes idolatrous behavior. Like a true parent, Moses rages at the Jews when they sin, but he never turns against them even when God does. To God's wrathful declaration on one occasion that He will blot out the Jews and make of Moses a new nation, he answers, "Then blot me out of the book you have written" (Ex 32:32). Moses so identified with his people that he was willing to be damned if it meant their rescue. Many have stumbled at the word Christ here because they cannot see how Moses should have any knowledge of Him. It may be said that it was just as easy for God almighty to reveal Christ to Moses as it was for Him to reveal Him to Isaiah, to the shepherds, to John Baptist or to manifest Him in the flesh. The Christ or Messiah had been revealed to Moses: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like Me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.... I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him (Dt 18:15,18). Now that Moses is to leave his people, he says that another spokesman will take his place, and then another will be necessary for the next generation. This is therefore a collective reference to the prophets who will follow. As such, it is also the basis for Messianic expectation and receives a unique fulfillment in Jesus (Jn 1:21,25,45; 5:46; 6:14; 7:40; Ac 3:22-26; 7:37). The reproach that God's people had because of their opposition to idolatry may be termed the reproach of Christ because they resolutely refused to compromise and become one people with the Egyptians. Whether during ancient or modern times, God s people invariably suffer when righteousness encounters the inherent antagonism of evil.

4 4 MOSES FEARLESSLY PERSEVERED (11:27) Moses' faith also led him to leave Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible (v. 27). But in Exodus 2:14 and 15 (KJV) it points out that "Moses feared... and fled from the face of Pharaoh." He was afraid and fled from the danger where no duty called him to stay. This would have meant that if he had stayed without a divine call to duty he would have tempted divine providence and sacrificed his hope of being Israel's future deliverer. In this later incident (Heb 11:27) it is also true that Moses fled to save his own skin, but it was not because he feared the anger of the king. Rather, it was because he knew because of his faith that God would fulfill His promise to deliver His people. And Moses was willing to wait for that deliverance. This meant waiting forty long years in Midian, with his faith continually being renewed because he saw Him who is invisible (v. 27). What made it possible for Moses to wait so long? It was his ability to see the unseen. And one day God surprised him with a remarkable experience with a bush that burned but was not consumed (Ex 3:2; see also Mk 12:26; Lk 20:37; Ac 7:35). Peter exhorts us: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time" (1 Pe 5:6). Moses acted as though he were not dealing merely with people, but only with God, even though He was invisible to the naked eye (Ro 1:20; 1 Ti 1:17; 6:16). This is why he did not fear the wrath of visible man (11:1). Moses understood what Jesus warned us: I tell you, my friends, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him (Lk 12:4-5). The phrase He saw Him who is invisible (Heb 11:27) means that by calling the Divine Being the invisible, Moses distinguishes his God from the gods of Egypt, who were visible, corporeal, gross and worthless. The Israelites were worshippers of the true God, and this worship was not tolerated in Egypt. His spiritual worship could never be reconciled with the adoration of oxen, goats, monkeys, leeks, onions, etc. Our author does not give the account of Moses' return to Egypt and his confrontations with the new Pharaoh and the devastating series of plagues which Pharaoh's pride and stubbornness brought upon Egypt.

5 5 MOSES AND HIS PEOPLE KEPT THE PASSOVER (11:28) The author does include the final night when Moses and Israel kept the first Passover: By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel (v. 28). Pharaoh had repeatedly resisted God s will concerning freeing the Israelites. Finally God responded to Pharaoh s stubbornness by deciding to slay the firstborn of man and animal. As the tragic night drew near when God would do so terrible a thing, He devised a plan by which the Israelites were spared in this dreadful visitation through their observance of the Passover. On the tenth day of the month Nisan, three days before the catastrophe, each family selected a perfect lamb or kid from the flock and kept it up until the fourteenth day of the month when it was slain between the two evenings at 3:00 p.m., the hour Christ died. Shortly after sunset, each family of Israel gathered indoors, sprinkled the blood of the lamb upon the posts of the door, and ate the Passover lamb. The lamb was roasted perfectly whole with fire and eaten with unleavened bread (1 Co 5:7-8) and not a bone of it was broken (Ps 34:20). No one went outdoors until morning. It was a crucial experience for Israel as she found redemption by the sprinkling of the blood of a lamb over the doorpost of each Israelite household. When the angel of death saw the sprinkled blood, he would not enter that household. The historical event is attested by its invariable observance for nearly three millenniums by the Jews. It is the most important memorial services in the history of the world. This great deliverance from a momentous catastrophe with its deliverance of Israel was clearly a divine act of God Himself. This miraculous deliverance of the Jews is used in Scripture to point people to the true Passover Christ. John the Baptist honored Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29) and John, in the book of Revelation, refers to Jesus as "the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Rev 13:8). It was through the eye of faith that Moses foresaw the death angel that night of the Passover; even though no one could possibly see how the killing of a lamb and the sprinkling of its blood could have made any difference. It was only through faith that Moses could have believed that there would be the death of the firstborn at midnight since there was no physical evidence of impending disaster. Moses faith in God s protection was implicit and richly rewarded. Pharaoh's firstborn son was found dead the next morning with thousands of others throughout Egypt (Ex 12:29). In Israel, not one firstborn son perished, exactly as Moses had predicted. This act of faith finally proved too much for Pharaoh who relented. The Egyptians begged the Israelites to leave and even generously gave them jewels and treasures to speed up the process (Ex 12:36).

6 6 THE ISRAELITES FAITH TO CROSS THE RED SEA (11:29) The faith of Moses and his people was challenged again when the Egyptians changed their minds and pursued Israel with an army of chariots and soldiers: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned (v. 29). As the waters of the Red Sea (also called the Sea of Reeds because it came from red seaweed or rather from Edom, which means "red") flowed in front of the Israelites and with the army of Egypt charging from behind, they were perplexed about what to do. God said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water" (Ex 14:15-16). By faith Moses obeyed, and by faith the waters were parted by a powerful east wind which turned the sea into dry land (Ex 14). By faith God s people passed between the walls of water and arrived safely on the other shore. When the Egyptians tried the same thing, Moses stretched out his staff, the waters returned and all the Egyptian soldiers were drowned (Ex 14:15-28). It was the faith of Moses and his people that saved them from their enemies. Even though the circumstances looked impossible, they dared to believe God. When trials and temptations come our way, we have God s promise that "He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Co 10:13). APPLICATION Like Moses parents, we too must trust God with our children. Like Moses, we need to patiently persevere knowing that God will eventually fulfill His promises. Like Moses, we too must renounce the world s offer of values and standards that are opposed to God (Ro 12:2). Like Moses, we need to understand that the spirit of this world system is nothing less than evil (1 Jn 5:19). Like Moses, we must not allow ourselves to be polluted by the world (Jas 1:27). Like Moses, we must not be enamored with the world s wisdom (1 Co 3:19). Like Moses, we must not love the world (1 Jn 2:15) nor be a friend of it (Jas 4:4). Rather, we must be dead to it (Gal 6:14).

7 Although the triumph of the wicked is short (Job 20:5), the righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance (Ps 112:6). 7

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