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Presented, October 2, 2005 am

FAITH – THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR (7)

Hebrews 11:23-29 - The faith of Moses

Today, we continue our study of faith, according to the examples of Hebrews 11.  WE have noted the importance of faith and attempted to describe and define it.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  It means not simply believing in God, but we believe Him.  It involves trust and endurance as we allow Him to fulfill His purpose for us.  In our lesson today we study about the life of Moses, God’s agent through which He begins to fulfill His promises.

In our last lesson, we noted the faith of Moses’ parents as they overcame the fear of man by hiding him, when the king’s decree called for him to be killed (Exodus 2).  We also noted how, providentially, his own mother was provided as the maidservant of Pharaoh’s daughter to help raise him.  He has been raised in luxury and among the powerful and elite of Egypt.  He has considerable wealth and comfort at his disposal. As we pick up with the life of Moses, it is nearly 40 years later.

I.                     Moses – Faith Willing to Suffer (24-26)

a.        Exodus 2:11-25 records Moses fleeing from Egypt to the land of Midian.  It is evident he had been taught about his Hebrew heritage and he knew about Jehovah God (and probably the stories of Joseph, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob).  He is forty years old (Acts 7:23) and concerned about the way he sees his brethren treated. One day he sees a Hebrew slave being beaten by an Egyptian.  He assumes no one is looking and kills the Egyptian and buries him in the sand (11-12).  The next day he sees two of his brethren fighting and tries to stop them.  One asks, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?  Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” (13-14). Moses realizes that what he had done is known and he flees from Egypt to the land of Midian.  He meets the priest of Midian and marries one of his daughters, Zipporah.  He has a son – Gershom.

b.       IN our text, these verses are clearly speaking of his choice to act in favor of God’s people over the prestige of Egypt on this occasion.  He could have left that Egyptian alone and continued living his life of luxury but he had integrity and a sense of what is right.  When faced with this choice, he stood with His brethren which costs him everything he physically possessed.  

c.        We have noted instances of those willing to forsake worldly possessions by faith (Abraham, Joseph, etc.) and how a godly faith is willing to give up this world (1 John 2:15-16;  Matthew 16:26)
BUT what makes Moses and this example different is what he willingly walked into – suffering afflictions.  Consider what Moses walked INTO

                                                   i.      He had to flee in fear into the wilderness not knowing if the land could sustain him.

                                                  ii.      Pharaoh wanted to kill him (Exodus 2:15) – thus Moses was now a refugee.

                                                iii.      When he returns 40 years later – he endures threatening as he faces the new Pharaoh.

                                                iv.      And perhaps the worst afflictions he faces are from his own brethren who criticize his every move, threaten his life, rebel against God and him, and continually gripe and complain about everything.  While Moses was often respected by Israel, he was also treated horribly by them.  As one would say, “With friends like that , who needs enemies?”

d.       How many of us would be willing to walk away from our comforts and places of safety if we KNEW it would lead to suffering and affliction.

                                                   i.      Understand that when you give your life to God and Christ, it is going to cost you.  There WILL be afflictions.

                                                  ii.      If nothing else, Satan now has you targeted – he wants you BACK!  And he will stop at nothing.

                                                iii.      We are told that we will suffer – 2 Timothy 3:12

                                                iv.      Matthew 5:10-12 – Blessed are those who are persecuted…

                                                 v.      Jesus summarized it in Mark 10:29-31 – “So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,  30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.  31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

                                                vi.      Peter wrote his 1^st epistle to warn that we will face various types of persecutions (1 Peter 2:20-22, 3:13-17, 4:12-16, 5:8-10, etc.)

e.        NOTE vs. 26 which applies the sufferings of Moses to “the reproach of Christ”.  Moses was willing to suffer because he knew it would all work out.

II.                   Moses -  Faith Forsaking This World’s Goods (27)

a.        At first glace, the event of this verse seems to be Moses fleeing from Egypt at age 40 as described above.  But one author points out (E.W. Bullinger) that when he flees on this occasion, we do not read of faith but fear as he flees.
Consider another possibility.  This verse applies to Moses leading Israel out of Egypt when he returns 40 years later [at age 80] (Acts 7:30).
Exodus 3 records Moses is tending flocks for his father-in-law, Jethro, when he sees a burning bush that is not being consumed.  As he approaches he is called by Jehovah God to deliver His people from Egypt.  Chapters 3-4 record numerous excuses as Moses tries to get out of it, but God refuses to accept them.  Moses is given signs to prove that God is with him – including casting his staff on the ground and it turns into a serpent.  Moses goes to Egypt and appears before Pharaoh demanding that the Israelites be released.  Pharaoh refuses and as a result, a series of 10 plagues occur in the coming weeks which totally devastate the entire land of Egypt (chapter 5-12).  After the 10^th plague, the death of the firstborn, Israel is finally urged to leave lest what little is left of the land also be destroyed.
Some reasons why it makes sense that this verse applies to these events is:

                                                   i.      Moses now has faith – He has been convinced by God that he has a job to do (burning bush, 10 plagues, signs, etc., PLUS God sustaining him for 40 years away from Egypt).  He now trusts God and believes Him – the various traits we have been speaking of.

                                                  ii.      He helps Israel forsake (walk away from) Egypt (not flee in fear) – totally leave.  Consider the compromises of Pharaoh – Worship God within the land, worship- but don’t go far, worship – but leave your women and children and stuff. 
Note also that Israel really doesn’t want to leave – they have to be convinced.

                                                iii.       He does NOT fear Pharaoh – with Jehovah’s help he has been emboldened

                                                iv.      He has seen “Him who is invisible” – through the burning bush, in the signs, God speaking with him on several occasions, etc.

                                                 v.      Secondary to all this is also the fact that of the order in which it appears in the context.  If it referred to his first leaving, it would have preceded verses 24-26.

b.       Moses here demonstrates a faith that is willing to forsake what this world has to offer to fulfill God’s commands.  He leads Israel out of Egypt toward the Promised Land.  While Israel was in misery in Egypt, they were not in a hurry to get out.  How sad it is for people to be content to live in miserable circumstances rather than make the necessary efforts to change.  But Israel needed to leave – it was time for God to fulfill His land promise to Abraham – so they needed to leave Egypt and SEPARATE themselves unto God, so that He could fulfill His promises.

c.        What about us?  Are we willing to forsake this world and its goods for God? Are we willing to SEPARATE ourselves?  Will we give up that which HINDERS us from being able to do His will?

                                                   i.      Col 3:1 – are we willing to “seek those things that are above”?

                                                  ii.      2 Corinthians 6:17 – “come out from among them and be separate…” (cf. Isa. 52:11)

III.                 Moses – An Obedient Faith that Saves (28)

a.        In the example of Abel, we have already seen that Godly faith worships God according to His pattern.  Our text here mentions another act of worship, Moses keeping the Passover and obeying the instructions of God dictated for that occasion.  The events are recorded in Exodus 12 where after 9 plagues, the Lord tells Moses there will be one final plague and then Pharaoh would release Israel – the death of the first born.  The Lord gave Israel instructions that on a specific day they were to have a special meal where they would kill and eat a lamb and sprinkle some of its blood on the doorposts and lintel where they ate the lamb.  If they complied, when the angel of death passed through Egypt and claimed the firstborn (of man and creatures), he would pass over that house and spare them of death.  Talk about an act of faith!  Israel complies and after the plague affects all others, Israel leaves Egypt for good.

b.       Time will not permit a detailed discussion of the Passover, but we must understand this was to become an important part of Israel’s worship to God.  It would become one of three feasts that the Israelites were to commemorate each year – this one remembering their deliverance from Israel – or THEIR SALVATION!
The Passover is also important to us.  Not that we are to keep the Jewish feast every year, but its fulfillment is found in Christ.  We are told in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that Christ is our Passover.  As we partake of the Lord’s Supper, it is associated with the Passover.  It was during the Passover feast the Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper (Mark 14:12, 22-25) and He became “the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).

c.        In this, we see an act of worship that SAVES Israel.  It is worthy to note that prior to this, 9 plagues had gone throughout Egypt and Pharaoh was more stubborn than ever.  What was to make this occasion different? When Moses gave instructions – there HAD to be faith or they would have ignored him.  They obeyed and that night they were saved.

d.       What can we learn from this?  NEVER underestimate the importance of worship!  Worship IS a part of our salvation!  We HAVE TO worship God – and we have to do it HIS WAY!  Faith causes us to set aside our own desires and submit to His will, even in this.

                                                   i.      John 4:24 – worship Him in Spirit and in truth

                                                  ii.      Colossians 3:16 – that is why we ONLY sing.  God did NOT tell us to play musical instruments.

                                                iii.      God has ALWAYS demanded exactness in worship.  Leviticus 10 records the deaths of Nadab and Abihu because they worshipped improperly.  The warning given after their deaths on that occasion was, “By those who come near Me, I MUST be regarded as holy; and before the people I MUST be glorified.” (Lev. 10:3)

Thus we see the example of the faith of Moses.  Is our faith as it ought to be?  Are we willing to walk away and separate ourselves from this world AND suffer for Him?  Do we cherish opportunities to worship Him as we ought to realizing how important it is?  May we all strive to develop the type of faith that pleases God.  Next week – Faith in conquering Canaan.