Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
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.
As we look at what is happening in our once “glorious and free” land and as we look at what is taking place on the world scene, it should be more and more obvious how important faith in something real must be. Some of us have known for some time now that we cannot trust our governments, nor our medical profession. Sadly even the police and the judicial system have become very corrupt. Yet, we are designed by God to need someone to trust in. The good news is that we can trust God explicitly. He cannot fail. He is all powerful. No one can outdo Him. He knows all things. No one surprises Him. In the midst of all that we are experiencing in this world, it is important to know Him and to trust Him. Those two words go together. It is not possible to claim to know Him and yet not trust Him. To know Him is to trust Him. As we see throughout the Bible, those who knew the Lord, grew in their trust of Him. The evidence of knowing Him will be seen in the obedience to His Word.
Moses is the next example of a man of faith God gives us in Hebrews 11. In verse 23 Moses’ parents hid him for three months when the Pharaoh had decreed that the Hebrew mid-wives were to kill all male babies born to the Hebrew women. The mid-wives did not follow the ungodly orders of the government and the parents also rejected the ungodly orders and they risked their own lives for the safety of their newborn sons. That, by the way, is how things should be. If a society will not protect its’ most vulnerable people, it is a very evil society. Today we have the murder of unborn children taking place with the sanction of all governments. The police will support and defend this murderous act. Doctors and nurses willingly act as the murderers and accomplices of the murder.
Thankfully there are still some people today who have enough fear of God to protect the vulnerable in society. Back in our text we see that Moses’ parents acted with faith in God. They did not know the final outcome of their actions, but they trusted God to work this out for His glory. We read further in verse 23 that Moses’ parents were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
We need to put our trust in the LORD today. When God’s people humble themselves and actually believe in the God that saved them, He is exalted. He is pleased with that and He responds with showing Himself strong:
II Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
We see here that king Asa failed to honour God and the result was that he would have wars for the rest of his reign. It did not have to be that way, but he made a choice that brought judgment from God. As we have noted before, God is sovereign and He has the right to demand obedience from those that claim to be His children. Many of them are frauds and He exposes them. He can and does act in judgment against those who persist in going against His will.
Back in our text we see that God did not leave Moses’ parents defenceless. Moses was miraculously spared the death sentence of the Pharaoh by (humanly speaking) his own daughter. We know that God intervened in a unique way, and Moses’ parents did all they could to protect their young son. Throughout that whole process, they were trusting in God. They trusted God when Moses’ mother became pregnant. They trusted God throughout that entire pregnancy. They trusted God when she gave birth to that child, and they trusted God to guide them in protecting their precious gift from God as long as they could. When they could not longer keep him hidden, they did what they could under God’s direction to take the next step.
The God of Moses’ parents is still the true God today. Those who truly know Him can still trust Him in all things. We too will be amazed at how He works things out for His glory.
In verse 24 we see that the short time that Moses’ parents had with their son, had a huge impact on him. He witnessed what true faith looks like. When it came time for him to choose who he wanted to identify with, he did not allow money or prestige to get in the way of making the right choice. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. She may have provided food and clothing and a place to live for him for a number of years, but she did not give birth to him and she also did not provide the love and care that his mother and father had provided. He knew better than to align himself with the enemies of God. His parents had instilled in him some truths that bore fruit in his life as a young boy.
Every child needs to choose who they will follow. Every parent has a responsibility to seek to impart to their child(ren), God’s truth to help them to choose wisely with their lives. Not all parents do a good job of that, and not all children choose to honour God and their parents with their decisions.
In verses 25-26 we see that Moses’ choice cost him something. The cost was minor compared with what he gained. Again, Moses placed his faith in the true God and thus he could see that earthly treasures are not very significant. Jesus asked the question:
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
That is a very important question that every person needs to carefully consider. It is not one of many options. It is THE question that must be answered. Moses knew that Pharaoh had nothing in his court that could pay for his soul. He knew that all the wealth that was available in that court was nothing in comparison to true faith in Jesus Christ.
Notice in verse 25 that Moses had observed that there was pleasure in sin. He no doubt witnessed many parties that were held in Pharaoh’s courts. He would have seen the guests that came through that place and the way they were treated. Moses also had a good understanding of what sin is. He did not have his parents there to remind him. He had an awakened conscience that guided him as he observed what went on in Pharaoh’s court. He took advantage of the short time he had with his parents, and God worked in his heart to help him to see where true value lies. God is doing the same thing for every child. Sadly, many parents put many diversions in the way of their children and they encourage their children to ignore what God wants to show them. They will be held accountable for this abusive behaviour.
In verse 26 we see that Moses had an understanding of Christ. He knew that the nation of Israel were to be the people of God.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
God referred to Israel in Its early years as a child. He spoke of His love for them and He called the nation His son. The incarnation of Jesus Christ would come out of Israel. He is the eternal Son of God, but at the right time, He took upon Himself flesh. Moses believed in God and understood that the Messiah would come one day and he believed that his hope could only be in the true Messiah.
Moses was open to allow God to teach him things that most of the nation of Israel never grasped. That is the difference between having true faith and being a bystander. While the majority of the nation of Israel wasted time grumbling and complaining about their lot, Moses was growing in the Lord and being blessed of God.
Moses could see real value. Some years ago my father-in-law ordered a ring through some mail-order place. It was a cheap ring, but it looked nice. He wore that ring and he told us that he went to pay his car insurance one time and the agent saw that ring and told my father-in-law that he had a very expensive ring on his finger. Looks were deceiving and that man misjudged the value of that ring.
There is a danger in looking only superficially at life. Asaph was directed by God to write about his short term deception in Psalm 73. He came to see that deception when he went into the house of the LORD. When God’s people have their eyes on Him, they see things much more clearly.
The wise person takes the position of Moses and by faith, sees where real value is. Moses faced some great challenges in his life. He never owned any land. He did not live in a palace. He took care of sheep for a while and then was chosen by God to lead a rebellious people for 40 years in the wilderness because of their grumbling and complaining. Yet, Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Moses had good discernment. He understood where true value is found.
Pastor Bartel
