BY FAITH (2)

“BY FAITH Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” – Hebrews 11:24

Every visionary pursuit of purpose and deliberate decision for Righteousness is ‘BY FAITH’: “BY FAITH Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Heb.11:24). The crucial message of Hebrews is that salvation has always been by Faith, all the way back to the Old Testament saints. Abel, Enoch, Noah, and the Patriarchs, had a right relationship with God through Faith, and fulfilled their God-ordained destinies by Faith (Heb.11: 4-22). Today’s portion of Scripture covers the salient features of Faith in the life of God’s servant, Moses. His life was marked by choices related to his Faith.

Moses illustrates how Faith acts in terms of the decisions it takes. Life is a series of Choices that we make – good or bad (Jos.24:15; Deut.30:19; 1Kgs.18:21). Sin, for example, is always a bad choice. Every circumstance or turn in life is an opportunity to make the right choice. Either we grasp that opportunity for God’s Glory, choosing the Way of God, of Truth, and Righteousness, or we choose the way of the flesh, the world, or of Satan. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and the Patriarchs, all chose God’s Way by Faith!

God providentially ordered the circumstances around Moses’ birth; but his parents, by Faith, aligned with God’s purpose (v.23; Exo.2: 5-6). The child assumedly grew up in the Truth of God, prior to being handed over to Pharaoh’s daughter as a son. Later, he learnt “all the wisdom of Egypt” (Acts 7:22). Ultimately, he consciously chose God’s way: to believe God and His Word; and to live a life of faith, shown by his decisions. Decisions of Faith include: Things Faith Accepts and Things Faith Rejects!

True Faith Rejects:

The world’s prestige (v.24). Moses decided against being called the grandson of the greatest ruler on earth at that time; the most sophisticated culture and society. He forsook the comforts, wealth, privileges, power, princely honours, status and royal rigmarole; all for the higher call of God! That’s faith! If he walked by sight, he would not throw away the world’s offers of power, prominence, prestige, money, fame, and royalty, and identify with the slaves.

The world’s pleasures: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (v.25). Sin is fun. Sin is pleasurable, but passing. And there was plenty of it in the Egyptian culture, for the prince to indulge all of his lusts at will. Moses gave it all up, to become, as it were, a slave with his people.

The world’s plenty: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures inf Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (v.26). Trusting God to divinely reward and fulfil His purpose, he rejected what He had in hand, and took the reproach. Moses made a conscience choice: Instead of having all that he could, he virtually put himself in a position to have nothing, defeating the deceitfulness of riches!

The world’s pressure: “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the kin; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (v.27a). He renounced Egypt as having any power over his life and endured because he knew his life was in the hands of the invisible, eternal God. He rejected the fear of man, as with the eyes of Faith, he saw a greater King than Pharaoh. He believed God and made the right decisions.

True Faith Accepts:

The Word of God, even though the fulfilment is yet unseen! Faith trusts God for His Providence, Plans, Promises, and Purposes.

The Lord’s Provision: “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood…” (v.28a). He submitted to God’s provision for Israel’s deliverance. He took God at His Word, rather than try to make it on his own or develop his own strategy.

The Lord’s Power: “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land…” (v.29; Exodus 14).

The story of Moses is not the story of law, but the amazing story of Glory, BY FAITH that made all the right choices!