11. Moses’ Faith

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Hymns: RHC 416 Wherever He Leads I’ll God, RHC 418 O Jesus I Have Promised, RHC 567 Follow Me

Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV)

 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 recompence of the reward.

Moses’ Faith

OUTLINE

(1) Faith’s Humbling Choice/Sanctified Choice

(2) Faith’s Heavenly Reward/True Riches

 

INTRODUCTION

God choose beforehand, determine in advance in eternity past, whom He will save to bear the name of His Son upon the earth. What a great privilege it is to be called into faith and to live the life of faith.

Moses was one such character in the Bible. He was God’s man to lead Israel’s exodus out of Egypt. Israel will be freed from the grievous bondage of slavery!

The three stages of this man’s life were summarized well by Stephen and in Hebrews 11’s hall of faith in three periods of 40 years – from his birth as a prince in Egypt, as a shepherd in the wilderness and as Israel’s leader for the exodus out of Egypt.

The in-between story, the unsaid portion of Moses’ life in the palace was recorded in Acts 7:20-22 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months… And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

Stephen tells us that Moses was well-versed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and mighty in words and in deeds. He was one who did exploits for Pharaoh in Egypt. A mighty leader in Egypt. His education stood him in good stead to establish him as a notable man in Egyptian society, a man who stand in good stead to be the next Pharoah of Egypt. He was, as it were, the envy of any man of his generation. He has it all made for life, all the right connections, the visible riches and the exclusive privileges as son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Egypt was the greatest empire on earth at that time – the most advanced and first of the first world of nations and he was almost at helm of it. He almost had the whole world in his hands. What make him choose to forsake it all?

How could Moses remember his root as a child of the Hebrew slaves when he was brought up in the palace of Egypt? This was God’s providence, as we saw last week, where his mother was given wages to raise him to know Israel’s God from a young age before he entered the palace. His mother was able to teach him enough for him to not forsake his own people. We do not underestimate the power of prayer and instruction from a tender age of parents that impact a person’s life in adulthood.

There seemed to be a directing voice within him that led him to make such a conflicting decision to side with the Hebrew slaves that is attributed to his faith in the God of Israel.

Two thoughts:

  • Faith’s Humbling Choice/Sanctified Choice
  • Faith’s Heavenly Reward/True Riches

 

(1) Faith’s Humbling Choice/Sanctified Choice

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;

 This was the account that determined set the course of his life when he chose to forfeit his privilege as a prince of Egypt.

 Exodus 2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

 The portion of emphasis in the text was not Moses’ wisdom but his folly before God. All the wisdom that Egypt could offer him did not make him a spiritual man. He learned to wield the sword and he learned to shed blood.

This is hardly the credential of a man of God. Moses’ worldly credential was of no use to him in the work of God’s kingdom. Again, we also balance this with the fact that at a young age, his Hebrew mother nurtured him to recognize himself to be first a Hebrew.

Moses took matters into his own hands. Certainly, it was not a right thing for Moses to do. He murdered an Egyptian to protect one of his brethren. This seemed to be the skill he acquired in Egypt “worldly, carnal wisdom” really did not help his people.

Egyptian beating a Hebrew (v11). Beating slaves was certainly not uncommon or illegal in the ancient world. Was this a fatal beating? The Hebrew word for “beating” here is the same as the one for “killed” in v12. The word can have either connotation, depending on the context. Even killing a slave was not a serious crime. When a person caused the death of another’s slave—in this case, the taskmaster may have killed one of Pharaoh’s slaves—the perpetrator typically only had to pay a fine to compensate the victim’s owner for loss of labour. Here the taskmaster would have had Pharaoh’s authority to beat the slave and may not, therefore, have been culpable of any wrongdoing. Thus, Moses’ reaction is severe—especially if the slave did not die—but, the text implies, understandable in light of his relation to the one beaten.[1]

We will notice the change after God called him and he returned to Egypt upon God’s instruction after spending 40 years in the wilderness tending sheep. He would now listen to God’s instruction for action. This is a vast difference. He learned to yield himself to the spirit of God, the voice of God, the ways of God.

Nonetheless, though immature in spirit, he was able to make a sanctified choice to follow the God of his people Israel. He understood deep within him a directive voice guiding his decision.

Acts 7:17-29 (KJV) 17  But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18  Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19  The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 20  In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: 21  And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23  And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24  And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25  For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26  And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27  But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28  Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 29  Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

By the words of Stephen, 40 years before Moses’ call at the burning bush in the wilderness, Moses seemed to have understood his duty before God, the life that God has set for him. He made faith’s sanctified choice! How does he know that God would use him, Moses, by his hand, to deliver his people from slavery? Deep within him, he understood who he was, not a prince of Egypt, by the deliverer and lawgiver who will by his hand write the first five books of God’s eternal book!

And that faith that God planted within him enabled him to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter…

 That faith is well articulated by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:29-30 (KJV) 29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 God has a plan for Moses’ life and God has from a young age put that faith in Moses heart so that he will make the choice for God. He understood that his association with Pharoah and all that is in Egypt

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

In April 1904, some missionaries and Indian pastors gathered together for prayer at Sialkot in Punjab. They were distressed by the low spiritual ebb of the Christian Church in the state, the worldly and indifferent Christians, the slack ministers and Christian workers, the want of evangelistic fervour and zeal.[2]

The news about the revival in Wales, then taking place, filled them with hope. They decided that they would not leave the place until they knew definitely from God what they should do to meet the situation in the Punjab.

In that meeting the Punjab Prayer Union was formed. Those becoming members pledged themselves to set apart at least half an hour every day to pray for a spiritual awakening.

Before the year closed, on December 18, 1904, God revealed Himself through a vision of Christ to a Sikh boy of 15 years old named Sundar Singh. This boy sought for peace by the study of the scriptures of India and by the practice of Yoga. He had sat at the feet of Hindu religious teachers. But he had not found the peace for which his soul craved. The vision of Christ which he now saw revealed to him that Christ was the living Saviour of mankind and the he should follow Him. This he did and found the peace for which he had hitherto striven in vain. On September 3, 1905, he was baptized and joined the Christian Church.

We need to ask whether this is a mere coincidence – the earnest prayer of missionaries and Indian pastors and the vision of the living Christ which was granted to Sundar Singh, I cannot but believe that God in answer to the prayers of his people raised up from an unexpected quarter a witness to His power and love.

Sundar Singh began immediately preaching Christ to others. His influence for good steadily increased and in the course of the years spread through the world. Sundar Singh passed away in 1929.

The people of Israel were praying for deliverance. God answered their prayer.

 – Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

 There is a saying, “The world is a net; the more we stir in it, the more we are entangled.” It seemed impossible to avoid being stained by the evil influences of this fallen world.

The Bible says, 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)

Worldliness or friendship with the world constitutes adultery. Spiritual adultery, worldliness takes us away from God and His will. Worldliness is spiritual adultery against God. We are unfaithful to God when we desire the things of the world to be a friend of the world, Satan’s dominion, the prince of this world.

Cultivating the friendship of “the world,” to be like the great majority of mankind that is indifferent and hostile toward God will reveal our compromising heart, acting as an enemy of God.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 (KJV)

 

(2) Faith’s Heavenly Reward/True Riches

26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

 God reaching out to fallen men is the blessed story of redemption that all must hear. God reached out to fallen men by sending His Son Jesus Christ, the exact representation of God (Heb.1:3) to show men the way back to Him. The story of fallen men has always been one of sin, sorrow and death. What a miserable prospect! But that is the plight of fallen men. He is cast into this mold that he could not free himself from. If this indeed is the end of men, we are all men most miserable!

There is a higher life in the spiritual realm that God has enabled us to live. This comes with the new birth. God makes us anew. He gives to us a new heart. This misery is replaced by happiness. True peace and joy fill such a heart.

The good work that He has begun in each heart, He will perfect it. God enables the believer to imbibe His wisdom that brings about that transformation. From salvation, then sanctification and finally glorification. We are on that journey to heaven and God molds us to conform to His image more and more as we yield ourselves to Him through His Word. He paints for us the picture of godliness, washed clean of the taint of sin that turns sorrow to joy.

 

CONCLUSION

Faith’s Humbling Choice/Sanctified Choice, Faith’s Heavenly Reward/True Riches.

[1] ZondervanIllustratedBibleBackgroundsCommentary – Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

[2] “The Real Life” published by the Christian Literature Society in 1965 with the permission from The Sadhu Sundar Singh Trust.