THE FAITH OF MOSES

Hebrews 11:24-28 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Moses, the son of Amram and Jochebed, was born in Egypt at the height of oppression by the ruling Pharaoh. By faithful parents, he was saved from the death that was decreed by Pharaoh to all male Hebrew children. He was adopted by an Egyptian princess and reared in its royalty courts. He could have had pomp and ceremony; having the best of training under Egyptian tutors, he could have had wealth, and a life of ease, due to his royal status; he could also have had power, and all other benefits inherent in the Egyptian ruling family, through the princess that adopted him as her own child. However, when he was come to years, that is when he reached the age of adulthood, it is evident that Moses had full knowledge of his Hebrew heritage, still respected it, and still preferred to be known as the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and a descendent of the tribe of Levi.

Moses was a Hebrew, and preferred to remain a Hebrew. Because of this, and because of his faith in God, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. With his royal status, some think that he could eventually have become the next ruler of Egypt, however, this is a matter of considerable debate among bible scholars. All seem to agree that Moses, indeed, had placed before him a great degree of Egyptian status, power, and wealth. With all these temptations of life inherent in being the son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses forfeited it all in order to be called a child of God's chosen nation of Israel, Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Why was Moses willing to make, what would seem to be, a great sacrifice? Why would he trade the pleasure of an Egyptian royal, for the affliction of an Israelite? The answer is given in verse 26, of the lesson text. It was because Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. Wait a minute!How was this possible? Moses lived some fifteen hundred years before the birth of Christ! How did Moses know of the Messiah that was to come at some time in the future to save the world? As an Israelite, surely Moses knew of the promise God made to the patriarch, Abraham, that in thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Gen. 22:18). No doubt Moses also knew of the same promise made to Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 26:4; 2814). Without any doubt, Moses knew of the Messiah - the Christ that was to come, as promised by God's covenant with his ancestors. Moses believed in the coming of Christ, and this was the very subject he taught the children of Israel in this prophecy to them: The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken (Deut. 18:15). Moses did, indeed, prefer the suffering necessary to uphold the will of God, far greater that the material benefits of being a formidable Egyptian ruler.

Just as the faith of his mother, Jochebed, caused her to be not afraid of the king's commandment (Prev. Vs. 23), so Moses' faith led him to forsake Egypt, and not fearing the wrath of the king. Also, it was through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By God's commandment, this plague was proclaimed: all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die (Exod. 11:5). So the firstborn of Israel would not suffer death, God instructed Moses to tell the people to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their dwellings. Doing so, God would "pass over" them and spare their children from this plague (See Exod. 12:1-13:16). It was by faith that Moses believed God's command and instructed Israel to carry it out to the letter. The blood of the lamb saved the lives of the children of Israel.

How strong is your faith in God? Do you believe the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, can save your soul? Are you willing to obey God's will, and be baptized for the remission of your sins? It takes faith - it takes the faith of Moses!