Heb 11:23 Fear of Man

Hebrews 11:20–28 ESV

20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

On August 10, 1948, a pioneering television producer named Allen Funt debuted a hidden-camera reality TV show called Candid Camera. The genius of the show is that it caught people in the act of being themselves. It produced lots of laughs, but it also offered a fascinating look into the human psyche. In one episode titled "Face the Rear," an unsuspecting person boarded an elevator and naturally turned around to face the front of the elevator. That's when three actors entered the elevator and faced the rear. A hidden camera in the elevator captured the angst of the prankee. To turn or not to turn? Finally, a fourth actor entered the elevator and faced the rear. Without exception, the person facing the front would turn around and face the rear. The social influence exerted by those facing the rear was too overwhelming for that person to remain the only one facing the front. It is because of the fear of man that often it is easier for anyone to follow the crowd instead of standing out for their beliefs. Today we will study a section of Scripture where a couple stands out because they did not fear man. But before we dive into v23, let’s have a brief overview of the context of this passage. Previously the author of Hebrews had spent significant time studying the life of Abraham, the previous three verses we studied last week expanded to include the 3 patriarchs, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and their last words. We saw last week that our last words matter, not because they will be recorded or remembered but because they will affect how we live each day. In the end, it is crucial if we come to the end of our lives and our last words are “Oh my soul, where are you going” or “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. The first indicates a life lived for ourselves, and our own little kingdoms. While the latter likely reflects the heart of one who lived each day for their King Jesus. Moving from here the author transitions from the era of the patriarchs to the era of Moses and the Law. We might think that between Joseph and Moses, there are many years, while in fact there are about 400 years, after the record of Joseph’s life. Scripture records only a brief summary of these 400 years of the Israelites in Egypt and how their life became full of suffering and difficulty as the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. In this faith chapter, the author of Hebrews seems to be following Scripture starting with Genesis and Abel and ending with Joseph. After Genesis comes Exodus and the first person of faith mentioned is Moses. The focus in the previous men of faith was mainly on their last words and actions, now the author turns to Moses and his entire life is summarized in these 6 verses as acts of faith. Starting at his birth in v23.

Hebrews 11:23 ESV

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

You might be surprised that the author of Hebrews starts with Moses' parent's faith. Why does the author not start with Moses but with his parents? We need to consider that if it wasn’t for the faith of Moses’ parents he would not have lived. Ultimately it was by faith that Moses survived as a baby boy when all the baby boys were not supposed to live.

What we see in Moses’s parents is their recognition that God can do the impossible. They chose to not fear man and instead recognized that God can do the impossible, God can provide a way when it seems impossible. They elected to act in faith and saw God work the impossible in this situation. Will this always happen, yes, but not always in the way that we as a human want. God will work what He wills, but ultimately it will be what He wills for our life and growth in our relationship with Him .Ultimately, when we choose to fear God over man like Moses’ parents God will provide a way.

When we choose to fear God over man: 1 God will provide a way

By faith—and willing to face the consequences— Moses’ parents chose to obey God rather than a man who thought he was a god. By hiding the baby from Pharaoh’s forces and floating him down the Nile River, they trusted God alone to take care of their child. This one act of faith set off a series of events that eventually led to the rescue of the Israelites from Egypt and the ordering of the nation under the Law. It all began with faith.[1]

We can see that one act of faith that was intended to save one life, caused the salvation or liberation of a whole nation. Never underestimate what God can do when we act in obedience to Him rather than living under the fear of man.

Just as an interesting note we actually know the names of both of Moses’ parents. It is no surprise that we know his father’s name because of all the genealogies in the OT.

The genealogies were important to the Jews because they traced them back to one of the 12 tribes of Israel, and that indicated that they were part of the promise. What promise we might ask. The promise that God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would be their God and they would be His people.

Thus the genealogies were a big deal to them, and it was a big deal to know if you were or were not a descendent from one of the 12 sons of Jacob, or we could say one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Moses was from the tribe of Levi. 1 Chronicles 6:1-3 says “The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.”

From this genealogy, we know the name of Moses’ father, Amram. As you know and notice from the genealogy that I just read, it is typically only the men that are mentioned in them, that is how the genealogies were kept and recorded. There are very few women that are mentioned in the genealogies. You will notice that Moses’ sister, Miriam, is mentioned in this genealogy as well. Why? She played a significant role in the act of faith of Moses’ parents as well as in later leadership during the exodus. Therefore, it is even more astonishing that we actually know Moses’s mother’s name too. It was Jochebed.

How do we know? It says in Exodus 6:20 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed; then in Numbers 26:59 it says “59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.”

The marriage of Amram and Jochebed came at a dark time for Israel—when the oppression of the Egyptians had become utterly diabolical. First, Pharaoh had commanded the Hebrew midwives to murder all males immediately upon birth. When that plan failed, his command became more crude and effective—all newborn baby boys were to be tossed into the Nile as food for the crocodiles.

Pharaoh wanted to kill all the baby boys to control the Hebrew population because he was afraid, they would multiply and fight with his enemies and escape from Egypt.

When we allow a fear of man to control us, we might act just like Pharaoh and do everything we can, so that what we fear doesn’t come to fruition. Therefore, we have to be like Moses’ parents who did not allow the fear of man to control their actions.

Ironically, the Hebrew midwives themselves demonstrated another example of fearing God over men as Pharoah tried to use these scare tactics to control the Hebrews. It says in Exodus 1 that because the midwives feared God, they did not obey the commandments of Pharaoh. They should have been put to death for their disobedience, but “God dealt well with the midwives” so they did not suffer capital punishment for their disobedience.

When we choose to fear God over man: 2 God protects us

We might have to face the fiery furnace. Then in boldness and confidence, we will say like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

“our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)

God will protect us, but even if we face death because of our obedience to God. God will protect our souls and He will reward us greatly for our obedience to Him.

The midwives were spared from capital punishment. As a result, Pharoah was forced to give a different commandment to all his people. Now Pharaoh had to call on those who feared him more. He commanded all who were living in Egypt to kill any Hebrew baby boy, if you didn’t your life would be taken away. Considering this background, we can see that it took great courage and faith for Amram and Jochebed to hide their baby for three months.

Most of us have experienced newborn babies. You know the first few months are really hard, you barely sleep. It is hard to just do normal life, let alone life beyond what is normal. But, can you imagine living those months with a newborn and trying to not get yourself killed or your baby killed? Trying to do life and hiding your baby from everyone? It is no wonder that they were able to do that for only three months. It is amazing that they were able to survive for those three months.

We need to be more like Amram and Jochebed. Who did not fear man and hid Moses for three months. When it became impossible to conceal his presence, they came up with a creative plan that floated him right into Pharaoh’s palace!

Jochebed took a papyrus basket, coated it with pitch, put her beautiful baby in it, placed it in the reeds where Pharaoh’s daughter bathed, and set big sister Miriam there to watch.

Baby Moses, of course, melted the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter. And as she cooed over him, up popped big sister with the brilliant suggestion of a surrogate nurse. Result: Jochebed got paid to nurse her own baby and to raise him during his early years!

So Moses was preserved by his parents’ heroic faith. But there is more, for he was also nurtured by their faith. There in the slave hut of his parents, Moses was surrounded by the pure atmosphere of faith. There he became aware of his own origins. There he was taught to fear God. And there he was made conscious of his call to deliver his people.

Scripture does not tell us why Moses’ mother and sister are mentioned by name in the genealogies. I believe that they are mentioned because these women were crucial for the saving of baby Moses. Since Moses was the author of the first five books of the Bible, it should not surprise us that the women who were influential for his faith are mentioned.

What encouragement there is here for any who are attempting to try to raise a godly family or to be a godly influence to your grandkids in today’s secular desert. Moses was preserved by his parents’ faith. Their faith, their prayers, their bravery, and their creativity saved him. And more, he became a great man of faith through their faith.

Moses preached and practiced the faith he saw at home as a child. Those of us who are parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and teachers not only have great power, but also immense responsibility to the children in our lives. Israel’s deliverance began with an obscure couple believing in God in the midst of darkness. Think what a faith like that could accomplish today![2]

But, in order to do that for three months it must have taken much determination, motivation, and perseverannce. You must have a deep commitment and motive to do so, otherwise no one will do such a thing.

When we choose to fear God over man: 3 God supplies perseverance

The verse here in Hebrew tells us exactly why they hid Moses for three months. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

The author of Hebrews gives us two reasons. 1 they saw that the child was beautiful. 2 They were not afraid of the king’s edict.

First, Amram and Jochebed saw that he was not an ordinary child, it says that they saw that the child was beautiful, in Exodus 2 it says that they saw that he was a fine child. However, there is more here than he was a cute baby.

Every parent when they see their child being born believes and thinks that they are the most adorable and cute baby. When everyone is born all the doctors, nurses, and parents laugh with joy with the cry of the newborn baby. We all stare in awe of our creator when we see a newborn baby. However, what Moses’ parents seem to say here is more than this normal average observation.

Lane, a commentator says that in the original language the wording here for beauty was a clear indication that the infant possessed a visible sign of God’s elective favor. According to v 23, Moses’ parents found in the extraordinary appearance of their son a basis for faith in the as yet unseen purposes of God; his unusual attractiveness was to them a visible sign that he enjoyed God’s favor and protection. Their readiness to risk their own lives to preserve the life of their son was the response of faith to a sense of vocation[3]”

So, Amram and Jochebed's first reason to risk their lives was because they saw in Moses that God had a unique call for his life. We need to note here that it took faith for them to see this. They had to put aside the fear of man, in order to see the signs. They had to look and consider beyond just themselves.

When we choose to fear God over man: 4 God gives us perception

Secondly, they were not afraid of the king’s edict. “They chose to fear God rather than the might of the pharaoh. Moses’ parents chose to respect the commandment of God rather than the decree of the king. Their confidence in God’s power to accomplish his sovereign purposes more than outweighed their fear of punishments because they had defied the royal decree.[4]”

The fact that Moses’ parents feared God more than the king is an important theme for the first readers of this letter. The Roman Empire, as that of Egypt many centuries before, was a cruel one, and royal decrees against believers were likely to come with increasing frequency and cruelness. Therefore, the inspiring example of the parents of Moses would be encouraging and timely for the first readers as they were in danger of facing more and more opposition to following Jesus.

I also believe that this is timely for us as well. Things are getting worse each day, and we might live in a time when there will be increasing pressure to fear governments, authorities, and rulers over God. That’s when we will need to look back at the examples set before us, like Moses’ parents who risk their lives in order to obey God.

Even though many of Christ's followers today are suffering greatly for righteousness' sake, that is not the case for us today. However, we still are not free from fearing man more than God.

There is a great book titled When People Are Big and God Is Small by Edward T. Welch. In this book, Welch argues that fearing man is a universal problem. He says “Don’t think that this is simply a problem for the shy, mousy types. Isn’t the angry person or the person who tries to intimidate also controlled by others? Any form of one-upmanship qualifies. What about the business executive who is working to be more productive than an associate in order to get ahead? The endless jockeying of egos in the corporate board room is an aggressive version of fear of man. And do you think that the super-confident, superstar athlete is somehow above seeking the good opinions of fans and sports writers? Aggressively asserting that you don’t need anyone is just as much an evidence of the fear of man as the more timid examples we have seen. Fear of man comes in these packages and many others.

Does it include you yet? If not, consider just one word: evangelism. Have you ever been too timid to share your faith in Christ because others might think you are an irrational fool? Gotcha. Fear of man is such a part of our human fabric that we should check for a pulse if someone denies it.” [5]

When we fear man, we are allowing our circumstances to overshadow Who God is. Ultimately we have a distorted view of God, we are making people big and God small. It is only when we have a greater reverent fear of God like Moses’ parents, then God will give us boldness in our obedience to Christ.

When we choose to fear God over man: 5 God is Big and people small

When we act based on what God has revealed of Himself in Scripture and truly see Him as much greater than any mere man that’s when we will be bold and courageous to truly not be so afraid of sharing the gospel with others and not care so much about what others think or say about us.

I encourage you to think of at least five people that you know, that you interact with, who don’t know the Lord. write down their names, and start praying for their salvation. The most important part of sharing the gospel with someone is to be praying for their salvation. So let’s pause for a second, write down the name of a few people that you know that need to know Jesus.

PAUSE

Now let’s take a minute to pray for them. I’ll pray, but when I pause I want you to insert their names in your mind before I move on.

Be encouraged. I was talking with another pastor about this element of evangelism and the diligence of praying for others' salvation. He was sharing about a little church in Dayton. They had a list of about 100 people for whom they were praying for their salvation. They nicknamed their list “lost cause” because in their human eyes it seemed impossible for these individuals to come to faith. Yet within about a year they saw 12 of them came to faith.

Look at your handout … when we choose to fear God over man. God will provide a way; God protects us; God supplies perseverance. God will give us perception. God is Big and People small.

Now are you willing to fear God over man for these individuals? Not only is their eternity at stake, but their future can be radically changed and likely will have a ripple effect on others. Do you want to see a change in Galion? Do you want to see a change in Ohio and in our country? Then we need to fear God over man and start praying and sharing the gospel.

I don’t know about you, but I get very encouraged to be reminded that God is in the business of saving people. but we must do our part, beginning by praying for people. As you pray expect the impossible, the changing of hearts and minds and lives that turn to love Jesus, and to see Him for who He truly is as the Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King.

When we go back in life this week and get back in the elevator are we going to face the back like everyone else or be the oddball who lives for the King Jesus and is praying and sharing Jesus with others.

[1]Swindoll, Charles R. Hebrews. Tyndale House Publishers, 2017. Print. Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary. [2]Hughes, R. Kent. Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993. Print. Preaching the Word. [3]Lane, William L. Hebrews 9–13. Vol. 47B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991. Print. Word Biblical Commentary. [4]Lane, William L. Hebrews 9–13. Vol. 47B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991. Print. Word Biblical Commentary. [5]Edward T. Welch. When People Are Big and God Is Small. N.p. Print.