Hebrews 11:23-29 - Homiletics

The faith of Moses.

These verses exhibit specimen deeds of faith done in connection with the redemption of Israel from Egypt. None of the heroes of faith in this illustrious roll is more eminent than Moses, and no other biography is more dramatic. He shines amongst the constellations of "the elders" as a star of the first magnitude. Consider—

I. THE FAITH OF MOSES ' PARENTS DURING HIS INFANCY . ( Hebrews 11:23 ) Had it not been for their piety, the child would have perished. The preservation of his infant life was due to an act of faith in the covenant God of their fathers. On what revelation did this faith rest? It may be that Amram and Jochebed saw in the pre-eminent beauty of the child a forecast of the Divine favor. More probably, however, they had received a revelation from heaven respecting him, and had been taught to regard his beauty as a sign for the confirmation of their faith. So their confidence in the God of Abraham, and in the promise of deliverance from bondage, and in the testimony regarding the part which their newly horn son was to act in the emancipation, led them to disregard Pharaoh's cruel edict. Jochebed was quite consciously resting the floating cradle of papyrus in the hollow of God's hand when she left it among the reeds on the brink of the Nile. She believed that he would protect the child, although she herself could do so no longer. And the romantic rescue of Moses, and his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, were the reward which God gave to his parents' faith.

II. THE FAITH OF MOSES , AS SEEN IN HIS LIFE - CHOICE . ( Hebrews 11:24-26 ) Being himself the only free Hebrew of his time, he occupied the unique position of having it within his power to make a life-choice. And he did this "when he was grown up;" i.e. after his judgment had ripened, and as the result of sober and manly deliberation. Moses elected to acknowledge Jehovah as his God, and to claim kindred with the Hebrews as God's peculiar people. His choice was purely voluntary, and in making it he was actuated by principle and impelled by conscience. Notice:

1. His choice involved him in tremendous sacrifices. ( Hebrews 11:24 ) Moses' prospects in Egypt were very brilliant. He was a man of great natural genius and of extraordinary attainments ( Acts 7:22 ). Wealth, refinement, ease, pleasure, power, were within his reach. He might have become a great statesman—perhaps Pharaoh's grand vizier. Josephus says that he was destined for the throne itself; and in those days Egypt was the most powerful of kingdoms. Yet, without any misgiving, he forsook the court, and renounced forever these dazzling prospects.

2. His choice exposed him to sore afflictions. ( Hebrews 11:25 ) It involved his identifying himself with a nation of wretched slaves, who were oppressed by a grinding tyranny. It brought him into close contact and companionship with hordes of ignorant bondmen. It called him to undergo persecution as the leader of the movement for their emancipation. Moses made his choice at the risk of his life; for, when he had avowed it in act, by killing the Egyptian slave-driver, "Pharaoh sought to slay" him ( Exodus 2:15 ).

3. It was a heavenly-minded choice. ( Hebrews 11:25 , Hebrews 11:26 ) It was not patriotism alone that dictated it, although Moses was passionately patriotic. Neither was it mere sympathy with his distressed countrymen, although he had a tender and feeling heart. His choice was determined by his faith in Christ, in the future of his people, and in the realities of the unseen and eternal world. Moses chose

III. THE FAITH OF MOSES AS SEEN IN HIS LIFE - WORK . ( Hebrews 11:27-29 ) For he not only took Jehovah for his Portion; he served him courageously, and to the end.

1. His faith inspired the Exodus. ( Hebrews 11:27 ) "He forsook Egypt," the reference being, as we judge, to his final departure at the head. of the Hebrew nation. Moses believed the Divine promise regarding Israel's redemption. His confidence in God nerved him for the unparalleled enterprise. He felt that he could not seriously be afraid of Pharaoh, for his faith saw always the approving smile of the invisible Lord. Had it not been, however, for his trust in Jehovah, the great leader could not for forty years have sustained so nobly his onerous offices. It was this humble confidence in the I AM who had sent him, that kept Moses from either developing into a despot or degenerating into a demagogue.

2. His faith prompted to the celebration of the Passover. ( Hebrews 11:28 ) Moses believed the Divine threatening respecting the destruction of the firstborn of the Egyptians, and- the promise of exemption for every blood-besprinkled Hebrew dwelling. His trust in God was the root of his fearless courage in observing the Passover feast amidst the bustle and. excitement of that last eventful night in Egypt.

3. His faith, together with that of the Israelites, led to the passage of the Red Sea. ( Hebrews 11:29 ) There was much unbelief, doubtless, mixed with the faith of the mass of the host, when they stood before the waters through which they were to march. Still, the fact of their obedience to the command to "go forward" did evince some faith on their part. The confidence of Moses, however, never wavered. And it was his faith and theirs that moved [he arm of the Almighty to prepare a pathway for them through the bed of the sea. The Egyptians, pursuing them, sank in the sands and waves; for Pharaoh had received no revelation and no promise, and his pursuit was not an act of faith, but of presumption.

CONCLUSION . The chief lesson of this section centers in the choice of Moses. It requires faith still to enable one to make the right life-choice; for worldly advantage does not always seem to be on the side of godliness. The question is sometimes asked, "Is it possible to make the best of both worlds?" And from the point of view of sense the answer is—No. Moses certainly did not make the best of this world, according to a worldly estimate of his life. He did not follow the principle of self-help, in the secular way in which unspiritual men do. Rather, his choice led him "to be evil-entreated," and to endure "reproach." But from faith's point of view the unhesitating answer to the same question is—Yes. "Godliness is profitable for all things;" although the benefit of it in "the life which now is" consists almost certainly in the profit of affliction and tribulation, the profit of taking up the cross, and of treading in the footsteps of the Man of sorrows.