Decisions Rooted in Faith
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
Introduction
Introduction
Living in this world requires many decisions to be made through the course of our lives.
Most of those decisions are quite innocuous and don’t have a significant impact on the overall course of life. But other decisions have serious impacts on life, and can very well change the course of our lives in a radical way.
But whatever the size of the decisions that we are making, there is a fundamental aspect to our decision making as Christians. The question that we need to ask ourselves is, are our decisions being made in faith.
Romans 14:23 tells us that anything that is not from faith is sin. That is a broad statement, but an exceedingly important one for us as Christians to keep in mind.
But I also want to suggest that it’s usually the more difficult decisions in life, or the more challenging circumstances in life that lead us to have to truly make decisions in faith.
James tells us that it is the trials and difficult circumstances of our lives that lead to the testing of our faith, and that we need our faith tested in order to grow and mature as Christians as we learn to trust in God.
As we begin this morning, I’d like to pose the question to you, how much thought do you give to the decisions that you make, particularly some of the more significant decisions, and what does your decision-making say about your faith in God? To what extent are demonstrating a deep trust in God in the difficult and trying circumstances in life?
We are going to consider these questions by looking at the decisions that Moses made at various critical points in his own life. We find these moments in his life outlined in Hebrews 11 in what is generally known as the “Hall of Faith.”
In this section of Scripture, the writer to the Hebrews is presenting to his readers a series of great examples of faith in God.
Notice the opening verses of chapter 11...
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
The writer to the Hebrews is speaking here about these “men of old” that “gained approval” through acting out of faith, rather than fear. They were those who trusted in God when the circumstances of life were difficult, and things seemed to be going against them. They were those who acted in faith and trust in God when to do so often went against “common sense” approach.
Now, we must keep in mind that the reason that the author to the Hebrews is presenting these scenarios and demonstrations of faith to the Hebrew Christians, is because they were facing severe difficulty and testing of their faith. They were being tempted and called to abandon the way of Christ. The most likely situation was that these were Jewish Christians that were being tempted to go back to the types and shadows, rather than to look to the fulfilment in Christ.
I won’t delve into all the possibilities now, but the fact is that these Christians were facing immense trials, and these trials were tempting them to not trust in God. They were tempted to act not in faith, but according to human wisdom and reasoning.
They were tempted to make decisions according to what would benefit or suit them from a purely physical or worldly perspective.
With that in mind, we must look to these few verses as we consider together the example of Moses, and how he made decisions that were extremely difficult to make. He made Decisions Rooted in Faith… even when humanly speaking it wouldn’t make sense to do so.
With that in mind, let us consider these decisions that Moses took in Faith...
1. A Decision to Forsake Worldly Comfort (vv.23-26)
1. A Decision to Forsake Worldly Comfort (vv.23-26)
The first decision of Moses that is outlined by the writer to the Hebrews relates to the growing up life of Moses, as he was raised by Pharoah’s daughter, and the decision that he had to take to rather identify with the people of God, despite the suffering and hardship it would bring him, rather than to continue enjoying these comforts and pleasures that he grown up with. In verse 24 we read…
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
It’s helpful to consider the background story of Moses as we consider his actions here. We know that he was born during a time of great danger for the Israelite people, particularly for children born in that day.
The Israelites had become very numerous, and the Egyptians were afraid that they were becoming too powerful. The Egyptians were using the Israelites as slaves, and they would mistreat them (we’ll consider that further in a moment). But the Pharaoh of that day made a decision to put all the newborn boys of Israel to death. This was population control in the most extreme form. It was horrific.
Moses was born right at this time when the command was given to put these sons of the Israelite women to death. But when Moses was born, his mother acted in faith and hid her child.
2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.
And then when he grew too big to look after and care for, she hid him in a basket and placed him in the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket with the baby, and had pity on him, and through God’s providential working, Moses ended up being raised by Pharaoh’s daughter.
What is important to note is the fact that even through these exceedingly distressful and troublesome times for Israel, Moses found himself in a position that most others, even in Egypt itself, would greatly envy.
Think in our day, who wouldn’t love to be able to experience being raised in the royal palace of the son or daughter of the king / queen of England (apart of course from the paparazzi.... which didn’t exist in the days of Moses).
But think about the privileges of luxury and comfort of living in the palace, or in massive houses. Dining at the table of the most wealthy and powerful of the land. Feasting and pleasure as a normal part of life. The education that you would receive is of the best you can imagine.
This is what Moses grew up with. This is the context that he grew up in. He had everything a man could wish for.
22 “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
This was the context of Moses. He really had it all, and he could well have continued to live this wonderful life of comfort and prestige in Egypt. But he didn’t, because he made a decision that was rooted in faith.
Verse 24 goes on to say that…
Hebrews 11:24 (NASB95)
24 ...when he had grown up, [he] refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
As Moses was growing up, he would have been aware of the circumstances that brought him to live as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He would have educated himself in the background and circumstances that led the Israelites to come to Egypt.
The writer to the Hebrews clearly demonstrates that Moses had a deep understanding of the promises of God to Abraham, and the subsequent genealogy, and all that took place in Israel’s history up until that point.
It’s this understanding of his own background as an Israelite that led him to one day go and look upon the labours of his own people.
23 “But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
This is probably when this decision of Moses is about to be made. According to Hebrews 11:24, his decision took place when he had grown up. In Acts 7:23 it says that he went out as he approached the age of 40. This means that he had 37 years of growing up in Egypt with all its benefits.
But notice that Hebrews 11:24 says that he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The word used there speaks or points to a specific act of choice.
In other words, Moses was actively making a decision in this context...
And this decision was one that was rooted in faith.
It was faith acting in a crisis. In other words, he had come to a realisation of his identity with the people of God, and had to make a decision to leave the courts of Pharoah, and to go and live as one of the Israelites, or to stay in the place where he had everything that he could have dreamed of in this life.
Notice what this decision involved, or what the implications were of this decision.
25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Let’s consider this scenario of Moses a step further. It speaks here about the ill-treatment of God’s people.
We’ve already touched on this as we considered the birth of Moses and the context that brought him into the family of Pharaoh. But in considering this decision of Moses, we need to recognise the extent of the suffering that the Israelites were facing at that time under the exceedingly oppressive rule of the Egyptians.
10 “Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.”
11 So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.
13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously;
14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.
It was these circumstances that eventually led to Pharaoh instructing the killing of babies. The severity of the workload and the oppressiveness would only have increased.
It was under these circumstances that Moses went out and visited his Israelit brothers at about the age of 40.
11 Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
At this point, Moses is confronted with a crisis of faith. What is he going to do? Is he going to support Pharaoh and the people of Egypt, because he’s benefited all these years?
Is he going to now turn his back on Pharaoh and his household, which would lead to severely impacting his own life in terms of comforts and wealth etc? This would be a costly exercise.
Ultimately, he chose to identify with the people of God. He took a stand to say, he will not support and condone the acts of the Egyptians, but rather will place himself in the camp of those suffering, of those being mistreated, and face the consequences of that decision.
This was not an easy decision.
Notice what drove his decision, or what led him to make this decision…
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
This is what’s driving the decision in his mind.
We see here that Moses had some idea in his mind about a promised Messiah, a deliverer. Although Moses never saw the Messiah, and never really knew very much about the Messiah apart from some of the very early types and shadows, he knew sufficient, says the author of Hebrews, for it to have an impact on decision-making...
Back in Genesis 3:15, when we read of the man crushing the serpents head, and the serpent bruising the heal of the man, there was a promise of a Messiah. Something was going to take place in the future.
That promise was hinted at again as God spoke to Abraham in Genesis 22:17-18
17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
We know that ultimate the “seed” referred to Christ Himself. Paul makes that clear in Galatians.
The point over here is that even in this time of Moses (who wrote the Pentateuch) there was a knowledge that God would be sending a deliverer.
Whatever the extent of his understanding, the point that the writer to the Hebrews makes is that he was more committed to suffering for the sake of honouring God and His people, than he was to securing a comfortable and profitable future for himself.
He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt...
Consider this phrase in conjunction with the end of verse 25, where it refers there to the “passing pleasures of sin...”
Moses could indulge all he liked in the sinful conduct of the Egyptians, and it would have been deemed acceptable and good. Moses could have continued to enjoy the riches of his home - in Pharoah’s home - and it would have been considered the smartest, truly the most sensible and natural thing to do!
But Moses chose to abandon those things in order to follow Christ. In order to be obedient to God.
The verse tells us that he was looking to the reward.
All that abundance of wealth and good things in the land of Egypt were of lesser significance and pleasure in Moses’ mind than the promised reward to which he was looking forward.
We need to ask, what was this “reward” that he was looking for? Well, we know that Moses knew the promises that God had made to Abraham, and thus ultimately to Israel. And we must not limit this merely to earthly rewards of a Promised Land etc.
Even Abraham is commended as a man of faith....
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Abraham never reveived the promise in his own life, but he would receive the promised reward.
Moses knew and understood that God would reward those who would seek Him, and seek to honour and glorify Him. He knew and understood that obedience to God, and identity with the people of God, was the desire of God, rather than a person pursuing the things of this world.
And Moses chose to suffer, to sacrifice, to humble himself and be ill-treated, because ultimately, the blessing of God was of higher priority in His mind than the comforts and pleasures of this life.
Practical Implications of this:
There is an immediate application here in terms of where our focus in life is.
What are the factors that influence and shape our decision-making?
Do we place a greater emphasis and priority on our present advancement, needs, success… on the immediate solutions to the problems we face, to the neglect, or expense of our spiritual health?
Are we prepared to forsake our worldly comforts?
Children / young people… let me ask you this question… Do you stand firm on Gospel convictions, on the truth of God’s word when you face contempt and scorn at school.
When your friends at school are seeking to enage in worldly pleasures, and they invite you to the occassions where this will take place, do you say, no thank you. To do so would put my faith at risk, and I choose rather to walk in humble obedience to God.
The same question can be asked of us in our workplace… The manner in which we carry out our work. The decisions we make - are they ethical, in accordance with God’s word and truth? Or are the decisions we make expedient? They’re ultimately going to be for the benefit of the business, so we’ll arrange a little bribe on the side (call it a Christmas gift).
All kinds of applications here…
Secondly, we note…
2. A Decision to Fear God rather than Man (v.27)
2. A Decision to Fear God rather than Man (v.27)
This is the second area of decision rooted in faith that Moses makes. Verse 27 tells us…
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
The first question we should ask about this verse is, is this referring to the first time he left Egypt (after he had killed the Egyptian taskmaster) or the the leading of the people of Israel out of Egypt. I think the context clearly indicates that it’s the latter.
Moses had been away in Midian for around 40 years, he was called by God to go back to Egypt and lead God’s people out of that land of slavery.
This would certainly have taken a significant act of faith for various reasons. The first is that Moses had fled Egypt forty years prior, having made a decision to rather take sides with Israelites. This had cost him. So, personally, it would have been a significant thing.
Beyond this, however, we must consider how entrenched the idea of the Israelite’s slavery was in the minds of the Egyptians. The normal pattern of life for the average Egyptian citizen was, we’re the ones in charge, the Israelites are our servants and they must build our cities. To be sent to upset the status quo in such a context was no small matter.
Consider the current situation in Iran, with the women wearing (or not wearing the Hijab) and just how difficult it is for them as they seek to bring about a change in thinking and attitude.
Think also in that context about the threat to the lives of those upsetting the status quo. They have a leader who is prepared to put them to death because of their acts of rebellion. In fact, this has started happening.
Now, Moses is instructed by God to go to Pharaoh, this powerful ruler, in a nation where children had historically been put to death because of a fear that they were growing too powerful, where the people of Israel are mistreated and abused, and to tell this Pharaoh that he must let these people go.
When we read these accounts, we’re so familiar with what happens, and we’re so familiar with the outcome, that I think we loose touch with how difficult of a situation this was.
Now, perhaps understanding this context, the man that Moses was sent to confront, and the socio-economic circumstances and setup that marked the way in which their country was operating, we can begin to understand the gravity of this task.
It’s not wonder that Moses asked a number of questions. Am I really the one that must go? I don’t speak very well? The people of Israel are not going to listen to me, let alone this powerful Pharaoh who’s quite comfortable with the working arrangement he has with the Israelites.
This was huge!
But he ultimately went, and he confronted this man who was oppressive towards the people to whom he belonged. He listened to the instruction of God. He acted out of faith.
He responded to a situation in which humanly speaking it would have been entirely logical to fear Pharaoh, and to say that there is no point in confronting this man, I don’t stand a chance in bringing about any meaningful change. It’s an impossible situation.
But notice what the reasoning of Moses was in this situation. Our text says that he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Moses endured because he had set his face towards God. He was not looking at or focusing his attention on Pharaoh, who was powerful and could easily put him and Israel to death. His focus, instead, was upon God. He was seeing the unseen.
Isn’t that a wonderful description of faith - seeing the unseen. Trusting in the One who is there although not visible.
Our temptation in life is to focus on our circumstances, or on the power of a person before us. Our temptation in this life is to become overwhelmed and filled with fear and anxiety when faced with challenging circumstances, rather than to fix our hearts and spiritual eyes upon the God who leads us.
In this context of Moses, he feared God, rather than man.
The third decision by Moses was...
3. A Decision to Obey the Ordinance of God (v.28)
3. A Decision to Obey the Ordinance of God (v.28)
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
I think that most of us will know the situation reasonbly well. There was a series of plagues brought against the Egyptians because Pharaoh refused to let the people of Israel go. The last plague that God said he would bring about was the destruction and death of every first-born throughout the land of Egypt.
Now, this in itself was a significant threat. The first question the people would have asked is, will this really happen? Such widespread destruction in the span of a night? There was the first question.
The next question would have been, how do we protect our own young children, our first-born? How do we ensure that they don’t get put to death along with the rest. Should we hide away… Double-bolt our doors, and cover our children? Lock them in a box?
But the answer was, sacrifice a lamb, and the lamb according to the prescriptions given. Also, take some of the blood of the sacrifical lamb, dip a bunch of hyssop into the blood, and then take that and sprinkle that blood on the doorposts and lintel of the door, and you go inside and stay there, and don’t come out until morning.
The answer, although simple again to our own minds (because we know the story so well) would have sounded somewhat strange to the people of that day.
Besides sounding a little bit out of the ordinary, it may have sounded somewhat simplistic. Will some drops of blood on the doorposts save our children from death?
Whatever the questions were in the minds of the people of Israel, they obeyed. This was not merely an act of faith on the part of Moses, but it was an act of faith on the part of all of the people. They obeyed, and their first-born was spared on a night of great wrath in Egypt.
But I think we should note something a little further in terms of the faith of Moses here.
He didn’t only tell them to sacrifice the lamb, and put the blood on the doorposts, but he said that this was to be a perpetual institution in the land the Lord would bring them into.
In other words, he commanded them to do this, fully believing that God would do that which He had promised in terms of the people of Israel, but also that He would bring them out of Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land!!
Note particularly Exodus 12:23-27
23 “For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.
24 “And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.
25 “When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.
26 “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’
27 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’ ” And the people bowed low and worshiped.
This was a profound act of faith on the part of Moses, and he was leading the people of Israel to obedience to God.
Practical Application in our Day
In one sense, we need to see the link from this act of faith on the part of Moses and Israel, to the faith that we are to place in the sacrificial lamb that was slain on our behalf.
As people, we want to do all kinds of things in order to win our salvation, to protect ourselves from the wrath of God. We instinctively divert to a works-based righteousness as the basis of our salvation. This is the natural inclination of our hearts.
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
But God has told us, we are to humbly trust in the means that he has provided for our deliverance, and we will be saved. He will show us mercy. The rest of our Christian life must flow out of that.
Finally, we see..
4. A Decision to Obey Despite the Greatest of Obstacles (v.29)
4. A Decision to Obey Despite the Greatest of Obstacles (v.29)
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
Here again is a demonstration of the leadership of Moses as he exercised faith in God.
Immediately we must consider the words of Moses to the people of Israel.
Keep in mind that they were petrified of what was unfolding.
The Red Sea lay before them. The Egyptian army was approaching from the rear.
The Israelites were filled with fear that this powerful nation under whom they were in subjection; this powerful nation that had eventually, hesitantly let them go, were going to overtake them and kill them…
And why wouldn’t they… after all that had happened through the plagues!!
With that in mind, look at the words of Moses...
13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.
14 “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
There was the demonstration of the faith of Moses.
Following this, God commanded Moses to lift up his staff, hold it over the water… and the sea parted and they went through. They went through in faith. Even that very act must have been frightening. But they went ahead in faith.
But the Egyptian army, as it followed behind, was drowned in the sea.
Practical application of that?
We can very quickly look at our circumstances through the lense of logical reasoning.
My circumstances right here are exceedingly troublesome and difficult. Perhaps its a situation in which you don’t have work, and you’ve struggling to find work for an extended period of time.
Perhaps its a struggle with marriage; or its a challenge with your children - maybe their learning disabilities; or their rebelliosness; or a drug addiction....
These are the kinds of situations that face us from day to day. They are very real. They present to us very real and tangible struggles. They are not easy to face. The question is, do we endure those situations by exercising faith in God?
Do we trust in the nature and the character of God, and rest in the knowledge that God does not change. God’s love towards us as His people; His faithfulness to lead and guide His children irrespective of the hardships and trials that they face; His commitment to His own purposes of bringing His people into the promised eternal rest. He has not abandoned His character and nature.
And like the Israelites were given the promises to be led out of slavery, and to be taken into a Promised Land, one flowing with milk and honey, so we’ve been given the promises of God, that He will give us a future inheritance. We are given the promise that if we endure the sufferings of this life, He will bring us eventualy into the promised rest.
You see, ultimately, the test for us is not can we get this job… or can we get our kids onto the path that we believe is best for them, or can we achieve greatness and success.... the big question is, will we respond in faith. Will we humble ourselves under His mighty hand, and so walk in faith and trust in Him, irrespective. No matter what.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
A.1. Cultivate A Close Relationship
A.1. Cultivate A Close Relationship
What led Moses to live this life of faith? He spoke with God face to face.
9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses.
10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent.
11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
7 “Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
8 With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?”
We must realise that Moses knew God personally.
How is your relationship with Christ?
I’m not asking how much of the Bible you know.
I’m not asking what wonderful things you do for the church.
I’m asking… do you love God, and love His Son JEsus Christ, because you have come to know the glorious grace that He has shown in saving you… redeeming you from death and the dominion of Satan. Do you live daily in gratitude for what God has done.
And are you cultivating that relationship through meaningful, pleasant times in the Word, and in worship of God as you consider and meditate upon the truth of the Word of God?
A.2. Filter Circumstances through Faith
A.2. Filter Circumstances through Faith
What are the present difficult circumstances you face?
Or perhaps a different question.... what are those glorious opportunities that you face now, that you’re tempted to pursue, but knowing that ultimately they are not going to strengthen or advance you faith, but rather are going to lead you away from Christ and the Gospel?
You see, not every opportunity is God’s opening the door to your success. Because ultimately God is more concerned for the growth of your faith, than your growth in worldly success.
I’m not saying you should turn down every good opportunity… but ask honest questions. Seek wise counsel from your Elders and other godly Christians, and listen to their counsel!!
A.3. Fix your Eyes on the Reward
A.3. Fix your Eyes on the Reward
We need to keep our eyes on the goal of being with Christ, and receiving the welcome into glory with the words, well done, my good and faithful servant.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Are your eyes fixed on the goal?
Are you eyes fixed in eternity?
Are you focusing on that which is unseen, but that which although unseen, is more certain than anything in this world, because it’s been promised by God!?