MOSES AND THE FORK IN THE ROAD

Hebrews 11:24-26

Introduction:

A. One of the most revealing places in a person life is when they come to a fork in the road

1. Here is where every man shows himself for what he is

2. Some will stand still, afraid to go to the right or the left for fear of going wrong

3. Some will start down one path, and then for some reason will turn back and go down the other path

4. Such conduct indicates a fatal flaw in one’s character (indecision)

B. Moses is at the fork in the road

1. When he came to this fork in the road, he refused the one and steadfastly set himself to travel the other

2. Moses was a man of decision and strong character

I. there were two elements in the decision made by Moses (as in all decisions)

A. There was a negative element - "refused"

1. There was something to which Moses said "no"

2. His "no" was a full-fledged, one hundred percent negative

3. To often our "no" really means probable not or even maybe (not an absolute "no")

4. When Moses stood at the fork in the road, he said absolutely, positively not that way

B. Moses did more than say "no", he also said "yes" (choosing rather) (people of God, Christ, the reward)

1. He refused to travel one way, so that he might travel the another way

2. To often we are content with not something

a) We often think of the Christian life in terms of what we cannot do, rather than what we can

b) We see the things we cannot do or be, rather than what we are to become & do

3. No amounts of negatives will make us a Christian

a) No man ever became a Christian by virtue of what he does not do

b) No amount of "don’ts" can add up to a saint

c) The worst possible plea, when responding to Christ, is to list the wicked things we did not do

d) It is necessary to say "no", but to stop there is to end in utter failure

4. Christ wants us to say "no", but not just to practice self-denial

a) He wants us to say "no" to the lower, so that we can say "yes" to the higher

b) "No" to the darkness, and "yes" to the light; "no" to sin, and "yes" to righteousness

c) "No" to uselessness, so that we can say "yes" to usefulness

d) "No" to the devil, so that we can say "yes" to Him

II. this decision made by Moses was costly

A. There was much to be given up

1. He gave up the highest social position in Egypt - 24

a) He gave up a very high position for the lowest position of all, son of a Hebrew slave

b) A high social position is not wrong, but many are willing to do anything to get it

c) Moses was willing to say "no" to something that has a tremendous appeal to most people

2. He said "no" to the pleasures of Egypt - 25

a) Egypt was the playground of the world, every pleasure could be enjoyed there

b) When Moses said "no", he rejected all the worldly pleasures that could appeal to man

3. His decision involved giving up the treasures of Egypt - 26

4. His decision brought a bitter disappointment to one who loved him

a) Moses had a very great debt of obligation to Pharaoh’s daughter

b) He owed his life to her, and his education at the royal universities

c) It was by no means an easy decision for Moses

B. What he chose in the place of all these things was also costly (he chose suffering - 25)

1. Moses was not blind to the consequences of his decision

2. He does not fool himself into believing that his new course would be all sunshine and laughter

3. With his eyes wide open, he chooses to suffer affliction with the people of God

III. how did Moses come to make this choice?

A. He had a good eye for distinguishing right and wrong

1. It is easy to persuade ourselves that the thing we want to do is the right thing to do

2. How easy would it have been for Moses to accept the career that was open to him in Egypt

3. He could have said that he would be another Joseph

4. He refused to let his own interest blind him

5. Anything less than God’s perfect will is sinful (second best is sinful)

B. He knew that the pleasures and gains of sin are only temporary (for a season -25)

1. Sin is only charming in the present, it has no charm in the past

2. Sin may seem delightful the moment before we commit it, and even absolutely necessary for our happiness

3. When sin slips into the past its pearly teeth becomes ugly fangs

4. The Bible does not hide the fact that there is pleasure in sin, but it does not last

C. He had a keen eye for the things of real value - (greater riches 26)

1. It took a man well schooled in everlasting values to reach that conclusion

2. The treasures of Egypt seemed genuine, large and very abiding; while the reproach of Christ seemed uninviting

3. Moses decided that the thing of real value was not the wealth of Egypt, but the reproach of Christ

D. Moses looked away from everything else, and saw only the coming reward - 26

1. He believed that the future belongs not to sin but to righteousness

2. Future reward is not for those who hold the treasures of Egypt, but who share in the reproach of Christ

3. He did not allow temporary gain to blind him of the gain that is eternal

4. His faith gave him the far view and the true view

IV. what was the outcome of his decision?

A. He received the reward of a Christ-like character

1. Who was it that needed a veil to cover his face? (The one who refused the treasures of Egypt)

2. If he had stayed in Egypt, he would have missed many a conflict, but also a face that shone the glory of God

B. His decision made him useful to God, his own nation and the world

C. His decision enabled him to win an inheritance in heaven (Mount of Transfiguration)

CONCLUSION: The fork in the road: which way will you go?

Moses and the Fork in the Road

A. One of the most revealing places in a person life is when they come to a fork in the road

1. Here is where every man shows himself for what he is

2. Some will stand still, afraid to go to the right or the left for fear of going wrong

3. Some will start down one path, and then for some reason will turn back and go down the other path

4. Such conduct indicates a fatal flaw in one’s character (indecision)

B. Moses is at the fork in the road

1. When he came to this fork in the road, he refused the one and steadfastly set himself to travel the other

2. Moses was a man of decision and strong character

I. there were two elements in the decision made by Moses (as in all decisions)

A. There was a negative element - "refused"

1. There was something to which Moses said "no"

2. His "no" was a full-fledged, one hundred percent negative

3. To often our "no" really means probable not or even maybe (not an absolute "no")

4. When Moses stood at the fork in the road, he said absolutely, positively not that way

B. Moses did more than say "no", he also said "yes" (choosing rather) (people of God, Christ, the reward)

1. He refused to travel one way, so that he might travel the another way

2. To often we are content with not something

a) We often think of the Christian life in terms of what we cannot do, rather than what we can

b) We see the things we cannot do or be, rather than what we are to become & do

3. No amounts of negatives will make us a Christian

a) No man ever became a Christian by virtue of what he does not do

b) No amount of "don’ts" can add up to a saint

c) The worst possible plea, when responding to Christ, is to list the wicked things we did not do

d) It is necessary to say "no", but to stop there is to end in utter failure

4. Christ wants us to say "no", but not just to practice self-denial

a) He wants us to say "no" to the lower, so that we can say "yes" to the higher

b) "No" to the darkness, and "yes" to the light; "no" to sin, and "yes" to righteousness

c) "No" to uselessness, so that we can say "yes" to usefulness

d) "No" to the devil, so that we can say "yes" to Him

II. this decision made by Moses was costly

A. There was much to be given up

1. He gave up the highest social position in Egypt - 24

a) He gave up a very high position for the lowest position of all, son of a Hebrew slave

b) A high social position is not wrong, but many are willing to do anything to get it

c) Moses was willing to say "no" to something that has a tremendous appeal to most people

2. He said "no" to the pleasures of Egypt - 25

a) Egypt was the playground of the world, every pleasure could be enjoyed there

b) When Moses said "no", he rejected all the worldly pleasures that could appeal to man

3. His decision involved giving up the treasures of Egypt - 26

4. His decision brought a bitter disappointment to one who loved him

a) Moses had a very great debt of obligation to Pharaoh’s daughter

b) He owed his life to her, and his education at the royal universities

c) It was by no means an easy decision for Moses

B. What he chose in the place of all these things was also costly (he chose suffering - 25)

1. Moses was not blind to the consequences of his decision

2. He does not fool himself into believing that his new course would be all sunshine and laughter

3. With his eyes wide open, he chooses to suffer affliction with the people of God

III. how did Moses come to make this choice?

A. He had a good eye for distinguishing right and wrong

1. It is easy to persuade ourselves that the thing we want to do is the right thing to do

2. How easy would it have been for Moses to accept the career that was open to him in Egypt

3. He could have said that he would be another Joseph

4. He refused to let his own interest blind him

5. Anything less than God’s perfect will is sinful (second best is sinful)

B. He knew that the pleasures and gains of sin are only temporary (for a season -25)

1. Sin is only charming in the present, it has no charm in the past

2. Sin may seem delightful the moment before we commit it, and even absolutely necessary for our happiness

3. When sin slips into the past its pearly teeth becomes ugly fangs

4. The Bible does not hide the fact that there is pleasure in sin, but it does not last

C. He had a keen eye for the things of real value - (greater riches 26)

1. It took a man well schooled in everlasting values to reach that conclusion

2. The treasures of Egypt seemed genuine, large and very abiding; while the reproach of Christ seemed uninviting

3. Moses decided that the thing of real value was not the wealth of Egypt, but the reproach of Christ

D. Moses looked away from everything else, and saw only the coming reward - 26

1. He believed that the future belongs not to sin but to righteousness

2. Future reward is not for those who hold the treasures of Egypt, but who share in the reproach of Christ

3. He did not allow temporary gain to blind him of the gain that is eternal

4. His faith gave him the far view and the true view

IV. what was the outcome of his decision?

A. He received the reward of a Christ-like character

1. Who was it that needed a veil to cover his face? (The one who refused the treasures of Egypt)

2. If he had stayed in Egypt, he would have missed many a conflict, but also a face that shone the glory of God

B. His decision made him useful to God, his own nation and the world

C. His decision enabled him to win an inheritance in heaven (Mount of Transfiguration)

CONCLUSION: The fork in the road: which way will you go?