Hebrews 11_24_28

Text: Hebrews 11:24-29

Title: By Faith a Nation was delivered

Intro: two little girls, playmates, who were counting over their pennies. One said, “I have five pennies.” The other said, “I have ten.”  "No,” said the first little girl, “You have just five cents, the same as I.”  "But,” the second child quickly replied, “my father said that when he came home tonight, he would give me five cents, and so I have ten cents.” The child’s faith gave her proof of that which she did not as yet see, and she counted it as being already hers, because it had been already promised by her father.

Such is the Narrative of Moses’ faith.

Martin Luther learned during his years as an Augustinian Monk to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. We see that Information in the NT helps us better understand narrative in the OT. Such as we find the narrative of Moses Faith. Hebrews 11:24-29 helps us better understand Moses’ faith and Stephen’s sermon in Acts 7 helps as well.

Without question the greatest figure in the OT (mentioned by name 767 times), his influence also extends to the pages of the NT (where he is mentioned 79 times).

The first 40 years of his life were spent in the household of Pharaoh (Acts 7:23), where he was instructed in “all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (22). (4 years raised by his mother)

The next 40 years he spent in Midian as a fugitive from the wrath of Pharaoh after killing an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew (23–30).

His last 40 years were devoted to leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt to the land God had promised to Abraham and his descendants (Gn 12:1–3).

He died at the age of 120 after leading the Israelites successfully through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness to the very edge of the Promised Land on the east side of the Jordan River

CPS: The Faith are determined and they stand fast on God’s promises.

The determination to deliver Israel Vs. 24

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, HEB 11:24.

Moses grew up privileged in the house of Pharaoh, some would say he was in line to be King. Stephen tells us he was well educated by the best scholars Egypt had to offer. He was afforded the luxuries of life, money, food, entertainment, servants, all the privileges that royalty supplies. Yet there was something missing. It seems that God had been working on Moses’ heart.

Determined to help his brethren - While 40 years old

Unknown when Moses learned he was Hebrew, but it is clear that he knew it by the time he was 40 years old. – he sought to check on his people

first attempt to help failed….. was in anger as he struck down an Egyptian task master.

Acts 7:25 adds: “He supposed that his brethren understood that God was giving them deliverance by his hand.”

Moses had come to know God amongst the pagan Egyptians, how? Perhaps he remembers the Hebrew lady (MOTHER) who weaned him. She was faithful (Vs.23 tells us so) perhaps he had learned of his heritage from her and learned about God from her. Perhaps they kept in contact and she urged Moses to use his position to help the greatly oppressed Hebrew people.

Illustration: It could happen…. Esther, Mordecai perhaps this is why God placed you here.

Hebrews teaches us that even while that could be true…. That had to enter his mind, that is not what he chose to do.

He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

His decision was to identify with the Hebrews rather than the Egyptians. The laborers rather than the task masters. The slaves rather than royalty.

He was determined to help his brethren – even to the point of taking the life of one of their oppressors.

???Perhaps his attempt was to start a slave revolt???

He was determined by God and prepared for 40 years

God equips the called – doesn’t call the equipped

I am convinced that all this is by the Providence of God.

Midian – 1st thing was draw water for his soon to be father in laws stock

He is Shepherd!!!! What better experience to Shepard God’s flock than to shepherd a flock of stupid sheep.

Mt Horeb Experience (known also as Sinai) The man God had chosen and now equipped is called by God.

Exodus 3:1- 4:17 THE BURING BUSH - God called Moses – Moses answered “Here I am”

Seen my children’s affliction (Ex. 3:7a)

I give heed to their cry (3:7b)

I have come down to deliver them (3:8)

I will send you to Pharaoh that you will deliver my people (3:10)

I will be with you (3:12a)

Your sign… when you return to this mountain and worship (3:12b)

This will happen… I will stretch out my hand (3:20)

Shows determination by his encounters with Pharaoh

At least 11 times, Moses persevered and went to Pharaoh and told him to let God’s people go.

Image the determination that took

Telling the king what to do

Telling him over and over what to do.

My God wants His people… Pharaoh thought he was the incarnate sun God…. My God is over you and all your multitude of gods and it will be proven time.

God would reach out His hand and crush the god’s of Egypt by sending 10 plagues to show His supremacy and the falsehood of the Egyptian gods.

Transition: Why was Moses so determined?

The reasons for his determination Vs. 25-27

choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. Heb. 11:25-27

Faith was his reason.

Moses wanted to be faithful not sinful!

A case can be made Moses wanted nothing to do with the sin of the Egyptians

Worship of idol gods

Wicked oppression they put upon their slaves and those they conquered.

Gluttony

Drunkenness

Sexual immortality, Orgies (100’s people nude, drunk and having sex in the open with each other.

Pornography - earliest forms of pornography (paintings on the walls)

Transition: PASSING PLEASURE of sins are just that – PASSING…. Moses was look for eternal pleasure

Reproach of Christ

Moses weighed the issues in his mind, and decided that the temporal wealth of Egypt was of no value. He would rather suffer the life of enslavement, poverty, suffer as a squatter in a unknown land than to be displeasing to God.

Like Paul after him, whatever gain he had, he counted as loss for Christ’s sake, Moses, like Abraham at an earlier date, looked forward to the day of Christ.

Saved like us – by grace through faith – the author of Hebrews like us can look back and see the object of our salvation, the Christ. Moses looked forward to the day of Christ and he considered that to be his reward!

Moses Fled

A case can be made for Moses running away out of fear (When he learned it was known – Pharaoh sought to kill him)

If we let the Author of Hebrews interpret this for us, we find that he fled because of faith not because he feared the king’s wrath. (Vs. 27)

Moses endured what happened and what would happen because He trusted in the unseen God of his fathers.

Illustration: Remember the girls daddy promising 5 cent, she counted it as though she had it already.

FAITH WAS HIS REASON. The I AM SENT him - The self-existing God charged Moses.

The results of his determination Vs. 28

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. Heb. 11:28

By faith Moses went to Pharaoh as many times as God instructed… He trusted God to keep His word. They would be delivered.

God gave them preparations for the final plague…. The final judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt.

The Egyptians were done, they wanted the Hebrews to leave, they had enough but Pharaoh heart was hardened and God was going to exercise supremacy over the incarnate sun god, there main god.

Passover

All the first born would die (God was keeping His promise to stretch out His hand and deliver)

From the slave girls first born to the Pharaoh’s first born (heir) – who would be the sun god incarnate

Not a single Hebrew child died that had followed Moses instructions and placed blood on the frontals of their door.

Finally, the Hebrews were set free to leave.

Application: By faith the Hebrews in the diaspora were to stay focused and determined, trusting in God’s promise. Just like Moses’ example.

By faith we are to be faithfully focused and set out eyes on the reward Moses had set his eyes own. The Reward of Christ Jesus.