Hebrews 11:23-26 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
Faith is not always an easy thing. Hebrews chapter 11 is the classic chapter at which Christians often look to help define faith. It gives numerous stories that describe what faith looks like in action. One such story is the story of Moses. Usually we associate Moses with law. We think of the Ten Commandments and the giving of the Torah (the Hebrew word for law) to the Israelites up on Mount Sinai.
However, the author of Hebrews also points out that the story of Moses is actually a story that is based in faith. It begins with Moses’ parents who are willing to risk the wrath of the Pharaoh be hiding their baby boy, because he was a child attached to God’s promise. Although God gave this promise, the parents of Moses probably never saw this promise fulfilled. Nonetheless they acted in faith, hiding their baby because they believed that God would do something great.
Moses himself had to wait for many years. But his faith started when he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Instead he associated himself with the Hebrew slaves. He too would have to wait many years for the fulfillment of God’s promise. He would flee from Egypt, and become a shepherd for decades before God appeared to him in a burning bush.
Faith is often difficult for us too. We know how we should order our lives, and we know what our hope should be based on. This is clearly laid out for us in the Scriptures. However sometimes it feels like we are waiting our whole life long for God to come through for us. However we are in good company. God rewarded both Moses and his parents for their faith, and one day we too will be more than happy that we waited for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
In Christ,
Pastor Greg Enterline