1 Study 9 THE DECISION OF FAITH - MOSES (Hebrews 11:23-27; Exodus 2:1-10,21-25) In Hebrews 11:23-27 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 recompense 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. we are introduced to Moses, once described as the greatest man among mere men in the whole history of the world'; and the particular emphasis made in these verses concerns the decision, or decisions, which Moses faith led him to make. Every child of God is called upon to make decisions. The first great decision is when we repent of our sins and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him as our own Personal Saviour - look up Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And after this, all through our Christian life, decisions have to be made which affect God's glory and our own lives. Moses' life spanned 120 years, and was divided into three equal periods. For the first 40 years he was in the Egyptian court as a prince; for the second 40 years he was in the wilderness as a shepherd; and for the last 40 years he was the leader of God's people. Notice that Moses began his life-work after 80 years of preparation - look up Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, and compare Galatians 1:15-17 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Are you anxious to begin some life-work? Do not be impatient during the waiting time, for if you are seeking to walk with the Lord, the waiting time is not wasted time - look up Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Those 80 years were tedious and testing times for Moses, but they qualified him for the great work which God had planned for him. The late Dr Campbell Morgan pointed out that although Moses is mentioned in Hebrews Eleven because of his own faith, "whatever is mentioned there about the faith of Moses is the result of the faith of his father and mother, Amram and Jochebed' - look up Hebrews 11:23 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. What a blessing it is to have believing parents! But however much our parents seek to bring us up 'in the training and instruction of the Lord' (look up Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. and however much they pray and long for our salvation and spiritual growth, we have to decide these issues for ourselves; and these are the decisions of faith. If we study Hebrews 11:24-27 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 recompense 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. carefully we shall see that for Moses these decisions involved refusing (verse 24), choosing (verse 25) and leaving (verse 27). These are the decisions of faith. Let us notice three things about Moses' great decision: 2
1. THE TIME OF MOSES' DECISION We are told in Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; that Moses faced this great decision and made it 'when he had grown up*. At what age can it be said that we have grown up? Moses was at least 40 at the time of which this scripture speaks, and by faith he made a tremendous decision which influenced the remainder of his earthly pilgrimage. He was in the prime of life, when the lure of the world and the pleasures of sin would seem most attractive, and when the opportunities for gaining prominence in Egypt would be most tempting; and it was then that 'by faith Moses refused... chose... left. Can you think of men and women in these days who have made similar decisions? Have you made a similar decision? 3 2. THE NATURE OF MOSES' DECISION We are told five things about the precise nature of Moses' decision: (1) It Involved a refusal. This is clearly stated in verse 24. When faith comes into operation we are led not only to do what is right, but to discern between right and wrong, and to refuse the wrong. By faith Moses made this great refusal. The Bible is full of illustrations of the refusals of faith - for example: Joseph Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego - look up Daniel 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel- look up Daniel 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
4 and Peter and John - look up Acts 4:18-20 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (2) It involved a great refusal. What did he refuse? He refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter' (verse 24); he refused the pleasures of sin' (verse 25); he refused the treasures of Egypt' (verse 26). From a worldly standpoint he was mad! But he was not acting and choosing within the context of the world, but within the context of eternity. Our Saviour is calling us today to refuse all that is contrary to His will. (3) In refusing what for him was wrong he also chose what was right. He chose to be ill-treated 1 (verse 25); 'disgrace' (verse 26); an eternal reward (verse 26); and the present peace of God filling his heart - look up Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Notice in verse 26 that away back in approximately 1500 BC Moses 'regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ". The decision of faith will mean just this for us today - look up and compare Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. and 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Hebrews 13:12-14 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
5 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. Refusing is negative, choosing is positive. Let us be careful that we are balanced in our Christian life and that it is not made up of negations. (4) It was a considered decision. The word 'regarded' in verse 26 literally means 'accounting' or 'balancing up'. So Moses weighed the whole matter up carefully, then made his decision - look up Luke 14:28-32 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Write down the pros and the cons of what Moses would gain and lose by not making the decision of faith, and see what he did gain and did lose by making his great decision. (5) And so, It was a right decision. Costly, but right! And what a great word that is - Is it right? is it right for me, a child of God, a believer...? It may seem right to the world, but I am not of the world - look up John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. therefore, is it right...? - look up Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
3. THE CONSTRAINT OF MOSES' DECISION What was it that constrained Moses to make this great decision? There are two things to notice in verses 25-27. Moses carefully weighed up the whole matter, then decided that: (1) It is worth more to follow Christ than to stay in Egypt. Any gains by staying in Egypt would only be temporary; but to follow Christ and to live for Him would result in spiritual and eternal blessedness, which must be infinitely more to be desired than anything merely temporal and material - took up and compare Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Romans 8:14-18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (2) Whatever he might deny himself in time would be fully compensated by the reward he would receive in eternity. Verse 26 tells us Moses 'was looking ahead to his reward ; In other words, he looked beyond that which he could see, into eternity, and knew that there he would be rewarded for faithfulness to his Lord. What influenced Moses when he was faced with these decisions was this - he had an eye on Heaven and eternity, and therefore he acted in the light of eternity and eternity's values. Look up Colossians 3:1,2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. and 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 6 Face the question: Am I living for time or for eternity?