A Great Cloud of Witnesses: "Moses" Part 2

We are continuing our series, “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”. Hebrews 11 has 17 individuals, mentioned by name, that serve as witnesses or testimonies of faith. Several more are referred to by the things they experienced or endured, because of their faith. The great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11 testify about the power, love and faithfulness of God.

20 times in the 40 verses of this chapter we are told these witnesses lived “by faith”.

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is only as good as its object. These witnesses in Hebrews 11, trusted what God said and trusted Him enough to act out it. And we too are called to live be faith, to trust the Lord Jesus with our lives. Loving, worshipful faith is what God desires from us...

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

6 ...without faith it is impossible to please Him...

Faith is pleasing to God. The Great Cloud of Witnesses confirm it. We don’t please God by trying harder or doing better. Instead, by faith, we deny ourselves, trust Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, and follow Him in the strength of the Holy Spirit. That’s faith. That’s what God wants. Faith.

So far we’ve covered the first 27 verses in Hebrews 11, looking at the witnesses found in the book of Genesis, namely, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph and now we have entered into the book of Exodus and examine the faith of Amram and Jochebed, the mom and dad of Moses, and last week, we took a look at the witness of Moses. This morning is Moses part 2.

Hebrews 11:28–29 (NASB)

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.

We are having communion next Sunday and Passover is a picture of the substitutionary atonement of Christ. The blood of those lambs applied, by faith, saved the Hebrews from death… Jesus is our Passover Lamb, whose blood shed on the cross can saved us from our sins, and it is recieved by faith. That part of Hebrews 11 we will look at in greater detail next Sunday. Today, we are focusing on verse 29 and you will need to turn to Exodus 14 for that.

Exodus 14:10–31 (NASB)

10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 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.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 “Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.” 19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

[Pray]

The problem Moses and the people faced and the people’s natural reflex...

10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Faith stands firm on the truth.

(v. 13) 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.

(v. 19-21) 19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.

Joshua 24:15 (NASB)

15 “...choose for yourselves today whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:10–11, 13-14 (NASB)

10 ...be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Matthew 7:24–27 (NASB)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Psalm 14:1 (NASB)

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” ...

Psalm 53:1 (NASB)

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” ...

Faith silences fear and doubt.

(v. 14) 14 “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

The fear and doubt of the Hebrews...

(v. 10-12) 10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

God did what He said He would do…

(v. 24-30) 24 At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

There are over 60 passages in the Bible that speak of God fighting for His people. Here are just a few...

Deuteronomy 3:22 (NASB)

22 ‘Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.’

Deuteronomy 20:4 (NASB)

4 for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’

2 Chronicles 20:17 (ESV)

17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf...

Jeremiah 1:8 (NASB)

8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love...

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

10 “Be still, and know that I am God...

Faith strengthens and saves.

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.

22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NASB)

3 ...the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NASB)

57 ...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you standing firm on the truth of God today? No matter what the world says…no matter how you feel…by faith, trust what God says and put it into practice. Faith stands firm on the truth of God.

Are you struggling with fear or doubt today. Worry and anxiety are common place. Faith…trusting the Lord and His word will drive out that fear and doubt. Fear and doubt are just the opposite of faith. Faith silences fear and doubt.

Do you feel weak or hopeless today? God promises to save. God empowers the weak. He heals the sick. Trust Him today. In Christ we have the victory. Trust in the Lord Jesus today. He succeeded everywhere we failed. He died on the cross for our sins. He rose again, conquering death. If your are struggling and find yourself too weak, you need faith in Christ today to make you strong. If God has shown you today that you are sinner in need of mercy, forgiveness and grace, trust in the Lord Jesus today. He is that savior. Faith strengthens and saves.

Let’s Pray.

Memory Verse of the Week:

Exodus 14:14 (NASB)

14 “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Bible Study Questions:

What does this Scripture teach us about God?

What does this Scripture teach us about ourselves?

What does this Scripture teach us about the world?

Do you see any commands to obey or principles to apply?

Do you see any promises to claim or blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any truths to meditate on or Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else in the passage stick out to you?