The Faith Of Moses
THE FAITH OF MOSES
HEBREWS 11:23-31
Faith is depending on God’s power in the face of what the world offers.
Abraham and Moses were regarded as the two great men in the early history of the people. So when the author refers to them as his outstanding examples of faith he is making a strong appeal to all who revered Jewish institutions and people. In the case of Moses, faith was seen even in his babyhood, for his parents needed faith to defy the edict of Pharaoh (11:23).
The point that is emphasized is Moses’ readiness to put up with ill-treatment which he could have avoided by deserting the divine call. He could have lived as a royal prince, “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (11:24). Instead he chose to be one of the despised nation of slaves. Faith gave him clarity of perspective so that he could discern rightly the true significance of both. It is not being realistic, but suffering from a distorted sense of values, when someone prefers the “security” of worldly safety to the “uncertainties” of faith in God. In the long view it is faith that matters, faith that emerges triumphant.
This is brought out by saying that Moses “looked to the reward” (11:26). He understood what the reward was if he allied himself closely with Pharaoh and his court. And he understood what the reward was if he joined himself to “the people of God.” In both cases the lasting spiritual result and the immediate material result were in sharp contrast. So Moses endured steadfastly the present trial, his faith assuring him that the difficulties were relatively unimportant alongside the greater evil of abandoning the life to which God had called him.
So it was the vision of “seeing him who is invisible” (11:27) that sustained him when he left Egypt, having chosen the wrath of the ruler instead of his favor. It was faith again that guided his actions in instituting the Passover. He had nothing but faith to guide him in keeping that feast himself and in persuading his fellow Israelites to do the same. But that faith was vindicated, as was that of the people when they crossed the Red Sea and captured Jericho. It is interesting to see Rahab among those who showed faith, a faith which led her to welcome the spies (11:31). In each case, faith was triumphantly vindicated.