Moses' Faith (Part 3): A Saving Faith

Opening:

Have you ever shared the gospel with someone and as you were explaining the hope you have, you thought to yourself… “This sounds so unbelievable.”

Or perhaps you were even a bit embarrassed because the gospel, as you share it, came across as being “unsophisticated.”

Maybe even sharing with friends or family you feel like what you are spouting, come across as implausible, and you might be tempted to think, “This evangelism thing, God has called me to do is impossible.”

If you ever had thoughts like that, I have good news for you. Our text this morning addresses those issues. Moses would be faced with both the improbable and the impossible, and he would be victorious by faith.

Recap:

Once again, and for the last time in this epistle, we will examine the faith of Moses, God’s chosen leader of the Hebrew nation.

We have seen his faith which began with the faith of his parents in verse 23. We then examined his faith as he came of age in Pharaoh’s palace. And, last week, we gave attention to his 40-year sojourn in Midian as he faithfully awaited God’s timing for him to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.

Introduction:

In today’s study, we will learn something about saving faith. After all, when it comes down to it, saving faith is precisely what this chapter is all about. And saving faith is exactly the kind of faith we need to both commence and to continue in our Christian life.

This morning we do so under two main topic points:

Saving Faith Embraces the Improbable

Saving Faith Experiences the Impossible

v. 28) Saving Faith Embraces the Improbable

This verse speaks of Moses’ faith at the first passover. Upon his return from Midian, Moses confronted Pharaoh on numerous occasions; demanding, under God, the release of the Hebrew people. God’s chosen people were no longer to serve as the slaves of Pharaoh and his people. They were to march forth to inherit the Promised Land as a new nation formed by the gracious saving power of God. They were to God forth by faith.

Of course, Pharaoh would not let them go, and so, through a serious of plagues, God destroyed the land of Egypt while at the same time exposing the complete fallacy and impotency of their gods:

Numbers 33:4 NKJV

4 For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments.

Water to blood

Frogs

Lice/Gnats

Flies

Livestock Disease

Boils

Hail and Fire

Locusts

Darkness

Although the land was ruined, Pharaoh, like sin, refused to bow the knee to the Lord. God therefore had one more plague to unleash on the land: the death of the firstborn sons.

The indignation (righteous anger) of the Lord is terrifying. Moses warned God’s people of the judgement to come. He also made known to Pharoah the righteous anger of God, and having done so, left Pharaoh’s presence for the last time.

Exodus 11:7–8 NKJV

7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

Moses was angry. I suspect he was angry because he know that Pharaoh would still not heed the Word of the Lord. In spite of all that had transpired, Pharaoh would not bow the knee to the Great I AM. His consequence resulted with the Egyptians suffering tremendous loss.

God pronounced that he would make a final distinction between His people and those who were not. He would do so by the death of the firstborn sons.

This wasn’t the first time Moses was aware of this judgement.

Exodus 4:22–23 NKJV

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

I can’t help but conclude that this is why Moses was so furious as he faced Pharaoh for the final time. Certainly on a human level, this was unnecessary. Had Pharaoh submitted to the Lord, this final plague, would not have been necessary.

Why must Pharaoh be so hard-hearted? Why must he be so belligerent in his unbelief? If he would simply believe, things could have gone differently.

We can probably relate to this… Why don’t unbelievers bend their knee to God in light of all the pleading, preaching, and prayer?

We know of God’s righteous indignation against unbelief, and we are certain of God judgement against unbeliever because of their sin for eternity. It is heart breaking because they are running toward needless eternal ruin.

Saved by Grace:

The children of Israel would be spared from the wrath of God, not because they were better than the Egyptians. Rather, they would be spared because God had shown then grace.

As we just read in Exodus He made a salvific distinction between Hebrews and Egyptians. And proof of this is that all households, both Hebrew and Egyptian, were under treat of death.

The saving grace was the Passover lamb. Those who obeyed God’s Word, those who obeyed His instruction concerning the Passover lamb, including the application of blood to the door frame, would be spared.

Judgement was averted by grace through faith. And it was, of course, this very point that the author of Hebrews was seeking to get across to the readers of this epistle.

The Hebrews reading this were to exercise faith in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. By God’s grace, they had heard the good news that God’s wrathful indignation had been placed upon the substitute sacrifice Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Becoming our propitiation, taking the full wrath of God upon Himself and now they needed to faithfully embrace this good news by believing and confessing.

The readers of Hebrews were faced with the same temptation of unbelief as were the original recipients of the good news of the Passover: on a surface level, this seemed improbable.

Consider for a moment if you heard this for the first time, would you not possibly have been sceptical? After all, leaving aside the difficult message that God was going to destroy the firstborn of humans and livestock, how probable was it that one’s household could be spared by slaying a lamb and painting its blood on the doorframe.

I suppose we typically take it for granted that, Moses gave this message to the people, and that they easily believed. In light of the earlier plagues, it would make it easier sure. Yet, on the surface, this surely seemed highly improbable solution to their really big problem.

Many in our day scoff at the idea of a holy God judging an unholy world. The God-is-love-and-only-love idea is so prevalent that the concept of wrath is thought of as improbable and almost laughable.

How else could you explain the ecclesiastical justification of sin in the church like “homosexual churches?”

On the other hand, many scoff at the idea of a personal God and so any talk of judgment is ridiculed. I saw an interview where the host expressed their indignation at the rise of Islamic terror attacks. Their conclusion was that all religious are “stupid.” The notion of God’s judgement, to them and millions of like minded people, it is completely ridiculous.

So, how can we prove this? The simplified answer is that we can’t. We can point to the state of the world in light of:

Romans 1:18–20 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

We can highlight the innate sense of justice that we all have and then ask how it is possible for us to have this if there is no absolute justice or judge in this world? We must first come to the conclusion of judgement in faith. God states in His Word, that there will be judgement… Do you believe that?

Keep in mind the historical context of this epistle: Judgement was about to fall on Jerusalem. But there was a way of escape: by taking to heart the world of Jesus in Mark 13. And just has he said the destruction came about 37 years after the proclamation.

Family God is not mocked, so don’t mock Him. Judgement is coming. You may fool yourself into thinking that it is improbable, but when it comes to God’s track record it is not only probable; it is certain.

Having discussed judgment and how perhaps in Moses’ day they weren’t really surprised by the judgement of God. I wonder if it would have been harder to come to terms with deliverance from the judgement of God.

We are talking about death; talking about God’s judgement; the destroyer coming upon Egypt.

“There was nothing in the previous experience of either Moses or the Israelites to justify this action (Passover)”—Morris

They may have thought, “Could God be believed? What difference would lambs’ blood make amid this terrifying judgement?”

“hmmm…Blood on a door frame is going to keep at bay the wrath of God.” Humanly speaking it looks a bit improbable. Yet, they believed. Moses had God’s Word on the matter. He had the gospel; of God and that was sufficient. And when he proclaimed it to the people, they believed him.

Do you believe me that what we have is the Word of God?

The good news of God’s provision came not from Moses, it came through God Himself. And since Moses was confident in the character of God, he was confident that this would work.

Application: Parents, lead by example. Leaders, lead by example. Grandparents, lead by example.

The gospel message was not only probable: it was completely possible and fully believable.

And as Believers today, we understand that the ultimate passover lamb is Jesus Christ. God the Father sending His Son for sinners. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I was once lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.

Family this is a reality that we cannot afford to grow callused to. We need to drive this home every time we are confronted with the glorious truth and reality of the Gospel.

The true height of God’s holiness and the depth of our sin is staggering. And that we have been shown mercy, not receiving the punishment we rightly deserve. Grace, God’s unmerited favor. That we have a way of escape from the righteous judgement of God upon ourselves.

Gospel:

Accountable

Bad News

Good News

Future Promise

Response

Like the children of Israel during the first Passover, we today have to rely on the blood too. Not the blood of an animal, but of the perfect God/man Jesus Christ. My encouragement for each an every one of you is to believe this gospel. Whether you are or are not a believer, believe the gospel, and be saved.

Share the gospel with others too: Faith can prove to be contagious in a congregation. When others hear of God’s grace in our lives, they may be encouraged that He can and will do similar things for them. The same can be said of public baptisms, of faithfully gathering and faithfully joining our voice in praise and of the corporate gathering around communion.

v.29) Saving Faith Experiences the Impossible

In verse 29, the author turns his attention to the act of faith at the Red Sea. When we cross reference this verse with those found in Exodus we understand that in the observance of Passover the people left with haste.

They were to leave the dead-end nation from the land of milk and honey. They were:

Colossians 1:13 NKJV

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

But this would require another miracle. And a pretty big one at that.

The Exodus was the defining event for them. It would be recalled in the future on many occasions to encourage them as a people when all looked otherwise hopeless. After all, if God could do such a thing in the past, why should they (and we!) not believe Him for great things in the present? that is when things look impossible, remember the Exodus.

The author here reminds his Hebrew brothers and sisters how Moses believed God for a nation-saving miracle at the Red Sea—and how God supplied it. We have discussed briefly, not only did Moses believe, but, as with the Passover, the people believed as well.

We know the story well enough, but lets revisit its basic details.

After the final plague Pharaoh finally relented and allowed the Hebrews to go. But as we know Pharaoh had second thoughts. He was filled with foolishness and furry (a dangerous combination) and sent his armies after them.

The Hebrews were between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place. They had the Egyptian army on one side and the Red Sea on the other. It seemed to them that they had two options: destruction by the army or drowning in the sea.

Of course when faced with a crisis we don’t typically see the third option: believing God. The people were panicked, and began to complain. Suddenly having amnesia, claiming that actually they never wanted to leave Egypt.

I love Moses’ response:

Exodus 14:13–14 NKJV

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

The Lord had informed Moses on what He was planning (Exodus 14:1-4). Moses had been leading these people by faith that the Lord would accomplish a great deliverance. The time for that deliverance had arrived and God did not disappoint.

Raising his staff, the Red Sea began to divide as the Lord sent a strong wind to separate the waters. And by the grace of God the people complied. And marched forward by faith.

“It was none the less an act of God, who used the east wind to accomplish His saving purpose, but it was by faith that they appropriated the deliverance thus procured for them.”—Bruce

Then and Now

The recipients of this letter needed to be reminded that what was impossible with men was possible with God. They needed this encouragement more then ever since being faced with death. For many of the, it may have seemed hopeless. However, if they were paying attention, they would have realized that Jesus, the greater than Moses, had shared His secret with His disciples.

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Yes, the enemy would pursue them, but God would deliver them. Satan continues his fruitless assault to this day. But, by faith, we too must persevere just like our ancient brothers and sisters.

In our culture and throughout the world it seems that Islam, paganism, nominalism, and secularism are winning the day, but we dare not panic. Rather, by faith, we must trust in the promises of God and be obedient to His calling. Like Moses family, we need to see the one who is invisible and we must endure.

The Red Sea account is one of the great pictures of God’s salvation, a salvation by grace alone that nonetheless requires us to step forward in saving faith.

Family be encouraged to continue being a believer. With God, all things that are consistent with His character and plan are possible.

Do not believe the lie, “God will not give you more then you can handle”

Or, “I can do all things though a scripture verse taken out of context.”

Rather, trust God to remain faithful to His character and purpose. Family believe in God because:

God alone can save your love ones.

He can deliver you from your sinful habits.

He can free you from slavery to sin.

He can and will be exalted among the nations.

He can empower you to endure a difficult and challenging and even painful marriage.

He can empower you to stand for truth as you face an ungodly academia or work environment.

He can sustain your faith in the midst of chronic illness.

He can overcome your limitations and make you fruitful in ministry.

He can enable you to be content in whatever state you find yourself in.

He can build a stronger local church.

He can make our future even brighter than our brightest history.

In Closing:

It is quite clear from the contents of this letter, as well as from what we know of its historical context, that there were some who were only externally Christians. These were the ones for whom the author was particularly concerned. They were on the verge of apostasy, to which there is no return.

These men and women were publicly identified with the gospel, but not actually transformed by the gospel. And if they did not repent and believe the gospel, they would be faced with the same predicament as Pharaoh’s army.

Remember that the Egyptians who pursued the children of Israel also experienced a miracle. As they rode into the dry seabed, they too saw the wall of water piled up on both sides. They, like the Israelites, attempted to get across on dry land. So why were they destroyed? Because according the text, the Israelites crossed “by faith,” and quite obviously the Egyptians did not.

“That their faith and not merely their courage was important to show by the fate of the Egyptians. The Egyptians were just as courageous as the Israelites, for they attempted to cross in the same way. But the lacked faith, and the result was disaster, Their fate shows that the faith of Moses and his followers was real and not just a formality.”—Morris

Family faith made all the difference, both in this world and in the next.

Do not believe the lie that you can save yourself by your own efforts. Until a person comes to see that your only hope is in the blood of the Lamb, you will face the very real possibility of being drowned by the wrath of God.

Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, that the gospel is both an aroma of lie and of death. If, by faith, you believe on Christ, you will experience eternal life. If you do not, then the gospel message is one of condemnation. So, what to do?

Trust the Word of God.

Believe and confess that Jesus is Lord.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.