Introduction
- Remember the condition of the people who first received Hebrews. Because of the blood of Christ, they were losing their place of privilege in their society and were beginning to experience mistreatment.
- Like Moses, they were driven from comfort because of Christ, so Moses' faith would stand as a great example for their situation (and ours).
1 Faith Is Fueled By A Greater Love (11:23)
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents^, because they saw that the child was beautiful,^ and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
- First, we have the faith of Moses' parents.
- Their situation:
- They were named Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59).
- They married and had a baby boy.
- 23 Hidden for three months by his parents: For three months, they raised him in secret.
- Their situation:
- Note: If there was ever a time to listen to fear and refrain from having children, this was the time, but we are so thankful they pushed past their fears!
- Fears:
- How will we provide for them?
- How will we raise them in a Christ-rejecting climate?
- How will I ever be a good example for them?
- How will I not become swallowed up by them?
- Their child became a gift and force for God's kingdom!
- Fears:
- 23 Because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict:
- Moses' parents acted the way they did because they saw that the child was beautiful.
- Stephen gives us a further clue: Acts 7:20 (ESV) — 20 ...Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight.
- These parents thought their son so exceptionally beautiful so they believed God had a special plan for his life.
- Believe this about your kids!
- Moses' parents acted the way they did because they saw that the child was beautiful.
[Faith is fueled by a greater love.]
- Amram and Jochebed would've like security, acceptance, and peace, but they loved Moses more than any of those things.
- We must love Christ more than security, acceptance, and peace.
- He gives us all those things and more!
- He must become beautiful to you.
- Security, acceptance, peace...
- It is important to have God as our aim and love.
- If you endure because...
- ...you've thought of what you'd lose...
- ...you've thought of who you'd lose...
- ...you thought of what you'd become...
- ...you might not endure.
- Instead, you must crave God.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV) — 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
- God knows this will set you free -- if you pursue him as another form of self-love it will hurt in the long run.
- If you endure because...
2 Faith Holds Greater Values (11:24-26)
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused^ to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,^ 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.^ 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.^
- 24 Moses grew up and refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
- Refused: A word which indicates a specific choice, and it was likely preceded by considerable premeditation.
- 25 Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
- Moses’ choice was manifested this way: Exodus 2:11–12 (ESV) — 11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
- Word got out and Moses fled to Midian where he became a shepherd for 40 years.
- Moses’ choice was manifested this way: Exodus 2:11–12 (ESV) — 11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
- 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
- He had open to him a place of great prestige and could have lived comfortably among the Egyptian aristocracy. But he gave it all up.
- Like Christ...
- He had open to him a place of great prestige and could have lived comfortably among the Egyptian aristocracy. But he gave it all up.
[Faith holds greater values.]
- 26 He consider the reproach [shame, disgrace] of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.
- His reward: legacy, eternity, God's friendship (face to face with Him), the winning team and...
- Matthew 25:21 (ESV) — 21 "...Well done, good and faithful servant..."
- Think about the Hebrews who read this originally! They must've been so encouraged as they faced more minor decisions to consider the reproach of Christ greater wealth.
- Moses' whole value system, over time, was rearranged.
- His reward: legacy, eternity, God's friendship (face to face with Him), the winning team and...
- Faith holds greater values, for it rearranges our value system.
- A conflict arose in Moses: Who am I?
- Society is asking this question.
- The tattoos we get, the technology we adopt, the entertainment we consume, the people we associate with, etc. are all supposed to tell the story of our identity.
- Who am I? Look at my Pinterest board.
- Many, at this point, make the easier decision and disassociate from God and his people.
- But Moses made the hard choice.
- Society is asking this question.
3 Faith Sees Greater Realities (11:27)
27 By faith he left Egypt,^ not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.^
- 27 He left Egypt: Twice, actually.
- But it says Moses was not being afraid when he left.
- Exodus 2:14 (ESV) — 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.”
- And this is likely a reference to the first exodus of Moses.
- The Passover is mentioned next.
- His second exodus was with a whole nation (hardly a "he left Egypt" moment).
- The second exodus was because of Pharaoh's begging, not the anger of the king.
- Perhaps:
- The author is pointing out the truest reality Moses experienced.
- The author knew the Old Testament.
- He knew Moses ran because of fear.
- In the same way he lists the altar of incense inside the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:4, perhaps the author is showing us the way things ought to be.
- Grace accounting of God!
- Fear + no fear = human.
- The author is pointing out the truest reality Moses experienced.
- But it says Moses was not being afraid when he left.
[Faith sees greater realities]
- 27 Seeing him who is invisible:
- Jesus
- John 8:29 (ESV) — 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
- John 4:34 (ESV) — 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
- Jesus
4 Faith Clings To Greater Blood (11:28)
28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood,^ so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.^
- 28 Sprinkled the blood: By the point the Passover was introduced, it didn't take much faith to believe in a coming judgment of God.
- The plagues bore witness of God's discipline of the nations.
- The angel of death would bring the tenth plague.
- It was a demonstration of how hard humankind's heart can be against God.
- Even in the future tribulation: Revelation 16:11 (ESV) — 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
- But it did take faith to believe the blood of a spotless lamb would save them.
- The plagues bore witness of God's discipline of the nations.
[Faith clings to greater blood]
- 28 Might not touch them:
- Isaiah 64:6 (ESV) — 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
- Romans 3:9 (ESV) — 9 All, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin...
- Revelation 1:5–6 (ESV) — 5 he loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father...
Close
- Jesus Christ had something greater than Moses' faith.
- His blood is our Passover.
- He endured as seeing his Father.
- He left the glory of heaven to connect to his people.
- He chose to be born into danger.
- Matthew 13:44 (ESV) — 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
- Matthew 13:45–46 (ESV) — 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.