Chapter. 1. The words Opened; Six Doctrines raised.
Chapter. 21. Let none think God an hard Master, when he puts them upon service, because he affords them a principle to carry them through.
Chapter. 22. Quest. How to know whether Faith will carry us through difficult works Chapter. 23. The reason why we fail in anything we do
Chapter. 24. Helps to put on Faith in any undertaking.
Chapter. 25. Allegorical interpretation of Moses forsaking Egypt by Faith.
Chapter. 26. How Faith carries the Soul through the Difficult work of forsaking Egypt.
Chapter. 27. Concerning Antichrist. The wickedness of Sodom and Egypt, compared with the wickedness of Antichrist.
Chapter 1 The Words Explained; Six Doctrines Presented Having completed Moses' Choice, namely, what he chose, the exceptional quality of his spirit in making such a choice, and the principle of faith that enabled him to do so, I now proceed to discuss another remarkable outcome of the faith of this Honorable Servant
of the Lord, as it is described in verse 27. In this passage, we are to take note of two things:
1. The action of his faith.
2. The reasoning that fortified his faith to act.
Firstly, regarding the action, we should observe two aspects:
1. The noteworthy act of his departure from Egypt despite the anger of the King.
2. His perseverance, enduring through everything he did.
Secondly, the reasoning that strengthened his faith was the vision he had of the Invisible God.
Now, let's delve into the meaning of the words and the various doctrines present in the text.
"By faith he forsook Egypt": Through Moses' departure from Egypt, his faith was greatly demonstrated. For him to undertake such a task, leading thousands out of Egypt into a wilderness without knowing what would become of them, considering their inability to resist their enemies and the uncertainty of provisions, this was a tremendous feat.
"Not fearing the wrath of the King": Moses couldn't help but think that he was in danger from Pharaoh, and that Pharaoh and his company would pursue them. Although Pharaoh seemed willing, in the end, to grant them permission to leave, Moses was aware of Pharaoh's disposition, which could quickly change, leading him to relentlessly pursue and exterminate them, as he eventually did.
Nevertheless, Moses had no fear of such a scenario. He continued on his path, enduring because he saw the invisible God.
Objection: But it appears that Moses abandoned Egypt out of fear of the King's wrath.
Answer: It is true that at one time, when he left Egypt, Moses did fear the wrath of the King. In Exodus 2:14, it is mentioned that Moses witnessed two Hebrews quarrelling, and he asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you striking your fellow Hebrew?" The man replied,
"Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" At that moment, Moses became afraid and fled.
If we understand the text in reference to Moses' initial departure from Egypt, we can reconcile the Apostle's words with that passage.
Initially, he fled not so much out of fear of the King, but out of concern for displeasing God. If he had exposed himself to the danger without making an escape, it would have been presumptuous and a temptation to God, as Osiander suggests.
Alternatively, it can be understood that he did not flee out of personal fear, but rather to ensure that his calling was not hindered if he stayed, as Simler suggests.
However, these words are better understood in relation to Moses' second departure from Egypt. The first time he left, he did so out of fear. But the second time, he departed out of faith and without fear of the King's wrath. After he had killed the Egyptian, he was afraid, but when he later led all the Israelite people with him, that was when he abandoned Egypt without fearing the King's wrath.
From this, we can draw the following observations:
Doctrine 1: Firstly, wicked individuals, especially when in positions of power, are highly fierce and furious in their anger when something goes against their will.
Undoubtedly, Moses perceived Pharaoh's wrath to be great, as the Holy Spirit highlights it as a significant result of his faith not to fear the King's wrath. It is evident that Pharaoh's wrath was severe, considering the power he would have exerted against the Israelites if not for Moses. Such a circumstance would have instilled fear in most people, but Moses had faith and did not fear.
Doctrine 2: Secondly, faith will prevent a virtuous heart from experiencing excessive fear of any person in the world, no matter how powerful or influential they may be.
Doctrine 3: Thirdly, there is a significant difference in the spirits of God's people at different times.
There was a time when Moses was afraid, but now he continues on without fear.
Doctrine 4: Fourthly, faith will enable a person to persevere through challenging and demanding tasks that God calls them to.
Doctrine 5: Fifthly, it is an honour for the people of God to endure in God's ways, despite all the hardships they may encounter.
Doctrine 6: Sixthly, the vision of an invisible God is a powerful means to propel someone forward in the ways of God, regardless of the opposition and difficulties they face.