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Presented, September 25, 2005 am
FAITH – THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR (6)
Hebrews 11:21-27 – Faith of the Patriarchs (2)
We are continuing our study of faith based on the examples of Hebrews 11. We have studied a number of characters thus far. Today, we continue our study with 3 more examples of the type of faith we need to develop in our lives. Last week as we studied the patriarchs we noted Sarah and how with faith she received strength at 90 years of age to bear the promised son, and Isaac who by faith blessed the younger son against his personal, fleshly desires.
I. Jacob – Faith Overcoming the Will of Man (21)
a. Jacob was a deceitful person in his early years. In fact his name means, “Supplanter” which aptly fit him. Nevertheless he prospers greatly fleeing from Esau to Haran where he takes two wives – Leah and Rachel and their concubines. Combined they give him 12 sons and 1 daughter. Because of numerous problems eventually Joseph is sold into slavery and ends up in Egypt where in time, with God’s providence he saves Jacob and all of his family. Realizing these blessings in later life, as Jacob is about to die – he pronounces blessings to each of his twelve sons.
b.
Genesis 48
records the events mentioned in our text.
Joseph appears to Jacob as he is nearing death. Jacob sees Joseph’s sons –
Manasseh, the eldest and Ephraim, the youngest. He asks Joseph to bring them to
him so that he can bless them. Because of the good Joseph has done he receives
a double inheritance (Ephraim & Manasseh are each given a portion along with
Jacob’s other 11 sons). We are told that Joseph brings his sons intending for
Manasseh to receive the greater blessing, being the eldest. Jacob as he
blesses them crosses his hands, and gives Ephraim the greater blessing. Joseph
tries to stop him stating that Manasseh was the firstborn. Jacob replies, “I
know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great,
but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendents
shall become a multitude of nations” (vs. 17-19). While not mentioned in the
text, it is evident by what Jacob says that this was God’s intent. Thus Jacob
is simply doing what God instructed him to do.
After this we continue to see his faith as he blesses each of his sons and then
requests that he be buried in the cave of Machpelah where his ancestors are
buried. (49:29-33)
c. Jacob had a faith that overcame the will of man. While Jacob had many faults, he NEVER denied God. And as with his father, Isaac and his grandfather, Abraham, he came to fully trust in God to fulfill the promise. While Joseph desired greater honor for his eldest son, Jacob knew what God wanted and acted accordingly. As such, his faith overcame the will of man.
d.
We too need a faith that will resist the demands and
requests of men which are contrary to God’s will. Even if it be a loved one –
if they want us to do something contrary to God’s law – we must resist.
We ought to avoid placing the traditions of man over God’s word – Matthew
15:3, 8-9. Blessing the eldest WAS tradition in the times of the patriarchs –
this time was different [God was involved].
We ought to avoid doing something simply because “everybody else is doing it.”
Quite often the majority is wrong! As you study the Bible you will find that
God’s people are ALWAYS in the minority (i.e. Noah, Enoch, etc.)
We must avoid going with the crowd because standing for what is right is
difficult -
Consider Peter playing the hypocrite in Galatians 2:11-14.
We need the attitude of Peter along with the other apostles on earlier
occasions –
Acts 4:19-20 & 5:29, “we ought to obey God rather than men”
e.
The concluding statement of Jacob says that he
worshipped God leaning on the top of his staff. There is great
discussion over what this means. I believe it simply means, he was
faithful even in his old age and as he was dying. His act of faith in
blessing the sons of Joseph WAS worshipping and obeying God even in his
frailties. AND he believed God.
OUR service to God is – till death shall separate us.
You don’t retire from serving God. Revelation 2:10, 14:13.
II. Joseph – Faith in Death (22)
a.
So much is recorded about Joseph in the book of
Genesis. His life is recorded in Genesis 37-50.
He is first introduced as the favorite son of Jacob (partiality that showed
jealousy). He even received the coat of many colors as it is referred to. He
dreams great dreams of superiority over his brothers. We know the various
accounts of his life including being sold as a slave and ending up in Egypt. He
flees the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. He is cast in prison and excels
wherever he is. God is ALWAYS with him. In time, he is delivered from prison
and rises in prominence to second in command in Egypt (Gen. 41:40). In all this
he remains faithful to Jehovah God and eventually as a result of his position,
he safely delivers his relatives – the family of Jacob – from great famine and
the corruption of Canaan. Because of Joseph, they settle in Egypt safely and
are well taken care of. Jacob dies and Joseph’s brothers are fearful that he
will now exact revenge on them. Joseph assures them, that all that has happened
was God’s will and he “comforted them and spoke kindly of them.” (Gen.
50:15-21).
b. Yet in all these great acts of FAITH in the life of Joseph, only one is mentioned. That is recorded in Genesis 50:24-26. Joseph could have been buried with honors in Egypt and immortalized in their history. He could have left this life with the pride of life. But instead he chose to be preserved and his bones be carried with his brethren to God’s Promised Land WHEN they inherited it and buried there. This is TRUSING God even as we leave this world and journey into the next.
c.
As we face death, will it be with the assurance we
find in the example of Joseph (and the others we have studied thus far)?
2 Corinthians 5:1 speaks of “if this earthly house is destroyed, we have a
building from God.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8 – Paul’s departure was at hand but he was not afraid.
d. Other interesting observations about the faith of Joseph
i. In his dying words he demonstrates an understanding concerning Israel that their time in Egypt was temporary. Basically, he reminded them, “Don’t get too comfortable here!” Even dying, he was concerned about his brethren. (2 Peter 1:12-15)
ii. He was NOT afraid of death either. Are we?
III. Moses’ Parents – Faith Over the Fear of Men (23)
a. Next to Abraham, more is said about Moses in this chapter than any other. For the remainder of our time in this lesson we will notice his faith in his early life, until he leaves Egypt. The life of Moses can be divided into 3 parts – Moses born and raised in Egypt, Moses in the Wilderness, Moses leading Israel to Canaan.
b.
The birth of Moses is recorded in the first two
chapters of Exodus. The book begins noting that that Jacob came into Egypt with
a group of 70 persons. Now, a couple hundred years later, they are a mighty
company of people. Another Pharaoh arises in Egypt who did not know Joseph and
feared the children of Israel. As a result of this, they were put into bondage
and oppressed. As they continued to multiply, steps were taken to stop them
including orders to kill every male child born among the Israelites. Chapter 2
records the birth of Moses in secret. It mentions that he was a Levite –
meaning it was the tribe from whom the priesthood would originate. After 3
months, he could no longer be concealed, so his mother created an ark of
bulrushes and hid Moses in the river. As his sister watched, Pharaoh’s daughter
was bathing and found him. We are told that as he wept she had compassion on
him. Miriam (Moses’ sister) offered to fetch a midwife for Pharaoh’s daughter
and brought back her mother. She was employed by Pharaoh’s daughter to care for
the child (he own son). Moses became Pharaoh’s daughter.
The life of Moses is an example of God’s providence in caring for His people.
Extraordinary steps were taken to ensure that a deliverer would be provided.
c.
Our text - The faith of Moses’ parents –
overcoming the fear of man. It is mentioned that they did not fear the
king’s command. Some commentators believe that because this text says they
acted “by faith” that God had appeared to them and given them
instructions. Time for deliverance WAS nearing.
That IS very much a possibility, because, “faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), but there is no proof of it in
the text.
NEVERTHELESS, they trusted God to deliver their son, or at least that His will
would prevail.
All they did was in spite of Pharaoh. IT is clear he hated the Israelites, so
their actions could have brought severe punishment, to themselves and their
family, but they trusted God to do what was best. Love for an innocent child
prompted them to take great risks. Knowledge that what was expected by the king
was WRONG prompted them to stand up to do what was right.
d.
What about us? Do we allow fear to intimidate us into
NOT standing for that which is right? Will fear cause us to fail to defend the
innocent?
Revelation 22:8 – the cowardly are condemned
Matthew 10:28 – Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul,
rather FEAR GOD!
1 John 4:17-18 – Perfect love casts out fear. The actual question is, “Who do
you love more?” Do you love the praise of God or the praise of men?
We need to be willing to stand up for what is right like Peter and the other
apostles in Acts 4:19-20
e. NOTE: This does not mean we throw caution at the wind. Note how Moses’ parents acted very carefully – hiding the child, putting him some place where his identity was not obvious, watching him (through Miriam), keeping his identity secret in Pharaoh’s house, etc.
i. I am a firm believer that when possible – we should NOT provoke persecutions and trouble.
ii. Peter tells us to have our conduct honorable among the Gentiles (1 Peter 2:11-12)
iii. NEXT he tells us to submit to every ordinance of government (1 Peter 2:13-17) so that you can silence foolish men (There is the exception of course – Ac. 5:29).
iv. Romans 12:18, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Thus we can see more examples of faith and hopefully, a clearer picture of the impact true faith ought to have in our lives. Is our faith as it ought to be? Does it help us accept the truths of God’s word, even when it is against the will of the flesh or the will of men? Will we remain faithful unto death? If we cannot answer these questions in the affirmative with assurance we need to work on our faith. Think about it.