Hebrews 11:23-29
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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How did Moses become the spiritual standard for all of Israel? What decisions were required in his life? Our text gives 4 decisions.
1 - Moses rejected the world’s promises
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.
There are three specific things that Moses decides to give up, so his faith can witness God’s faithfulness.
1a - He chose to give up status. If you want the highlight reel of Moses, you can read Acts 7:17-53. He was raised in the Egyptian palace. He ate the finest foods, wore the finest clothing and had the best education available. Acts 7 tells us “Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. It is likely that Moses was being groomed to become the next Pharaoh. His faith would not allow him to choose that lifestyle.
1b - He chose to give up enjoyment. He didn’t give up having fun and he didn’t live a boring life. You don’t get the status that Moses had and not have certain abilities to do whatever you want to do, with whomever you want to do them with. Moses had the option to enjoy all the pleasures of sin. Except, there is a problem with the pleasure of sin isn’t there? They’re temporary. They run their course and then they disappear. Eventually, they leave shame and guilt. They create a barrier between you and your Savior. The pleasure of sin ruins relationships and destroys marriages. The pleasure of sin causes catastrophe on a family’s finances. The pleasure of sin is unrighteous, unethical and out of character for God’s children. If the pleasure of sin has given you a lie that you have bought, please know that it will eventually destroy your soul.
1c - He chose to give up affluence. Note the status and the enjoyment. Those verses tell us that Moses considered identifying with God’s people and having a connection with Christ was greater wealth than ALL the treasures of Egypt. Exodus 11 gives us a small glimpse of Egypt’s wealth. You can read it on your own, but God funded the Israelites exit through Egypt’s wealth.
Why would God use disobedient, rebellious people to accomplish his purposes? Two answers. First, God has the right to ask anybody to hand over a check that will be used for his glory. He is creator and owner of all things. Second, why would God use you and me to accomplish his purposes? Christians sit the bench all the time because they’re chasing the world’s promises and if God put them in the game, they might make our team look silly. There are times when unbelievers are more generous than believers. Shame on us. We should live like our connection with Christ is the greater treasure available to mankind.
2 - Moses rejected the world's pressures
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
How many times did Moses leave Egypt? Twice, once when he was 40 and another when he was 80. The first time, he left because he killed a man to protect the Israelites. He thought he was helping and he made the situation worse. Pharaoh wanted to kill Moses and he ran to safe his life. The second time, he left with 600,000 men. When you include women and children, you probably have something like Wayne and Oakland counties leaving Michigan at the exact same time.
The author of Hebrews is talking about the second exit, when all those people went with him after the plagues. If you want to read about the plagues, that is Exodus 7-12. Pharaoh was visibly angry at Moses and Aaron the whole. Moses endured through the invisible God that revealed extraordinary faithfulness to his people.
3 - Moses leaned into God's provision
28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
The Israelites had specific instructions that you can read about in Exodus 12. Basically, they took the blood of the passover lamb and placed it on the doorposts, which would protect them from the tenth plague. Look at verse 28. Sprinkling the blood might not be accurate translation. When I think of sprinkling, I think of sauce in a pan that is too hot. It bubbles over and leaves spots on the stove or counter. A more accurate picture would be putting an egg in the microwave. An egg will paint the inside of your microwave. The blood was painted on their doors with hyssop. They were preparing for something they had never experienced, but they were faithful to God’s instructions. Noah also prepared for something he never experienced and was faithful to God’s instruction. Faith leans into God’s provision.
4 - Moses accepted God's promise
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
I want to read Exodus 14:10–14 - When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘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.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Exodus 14:21–22 - Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
Not only did Moses accept God’s promises, but his faith took other people with him. Moses told the Israelite complainers, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.” Friends, if our faith isn’t bringing anybody along to see the promises they are hesitant to believe, our faith needs work. I think we know unbelievers who are waiting for our spiritual hand to grab their spiritual hand, so they can see the salvation of Lord at work.
Thanksgiving is in 53 days and Christmas is in 81 days. This time of year is filled with gatherings of family and friends. The decorations are thought out. The food is strategically purchased. The guest list is made for each event. We run through those lists to make sure nobody is left out because we want to celebrate with as many of our friends and family as possible. We even endure people we aren’t crazy about because it’s an important gathering.
Contrast that with our important doctrine that Jesus can return at any moment. We’ve accepted the promised gift of salvation and we can’t wait to get to heaven, but we live like we’re going by ourselves. We don’t have a guest list. We aren’t concerned with who might be left out. We don’t endure people we aren’t crazy about because we live like it’s not an important gathering.
Moses looked at a bunch of complainers and said, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.”
Oh, may we have the bold, courageous faith of Moses.
