Heb. 11:23-27.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, AS SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE.”
We are in a spiritual battle, fighting for our faith, fighting for the morality of our country, fighting against everything that opposes God and His Word. We are fighting demonic philosophies in church and in schools and universities and the work place. We are fighting against thoughts and ideas, opinions, reasoning’s, philosophies, theories, ideologies, religions We are fighting against interfaith, syncretism, false teaching about healing and get rich. We are fighting against the flesh. The battle is more intense than ever before. The Devil is out to destroy or neutralise you, to infiltrate the church, to hinder the work of God. He is still the roaring lion seeking to devour the saints of God. But our God is still the same, he can deliver you out of the lions’ mouths, He will go through the waters with you, He will help you walk through the flames of fire.
Informed Spiritual /Mental Choices
Vs 23. This portion is about choices. “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 kings edict.” These people lived in poverty and disgrace, injustice and discrimination, slavery and infanticide. Moses was born at the lowest point (Ex. 1:13-14, 22). They lived in terrible days. Their world was a difficult one to live in. I tis the same today, the world is not at peace with itself. Every day we hear of wars and rumours of wars. We read of injustice and tyranny. There is destruction and devastation all around us. We live in a world conditioned with sin, chaos, waste and cruelty. God did not wait for everything to be in a nice condition, He did not wait until the empire got itself together, wait until the economy was fixed, Moses parents were not depending upon the economy or the government hand outs they were depending upon God. God would make the opportunities and open up a door of hope. God had begun a new hope, a new work, a new era, a new future. They simply believed. Their right choice changed history. Moses was rescued from genocide. They may have faced difficulties from the Hebrews who had lost their children, they may have had to face anger because their son had been rescued. Pharaoh’s daughter could have gone to numerous rivers and streams or anywhere along the banks of the Nile. But God directed her footsteps to that spot. The cry of a baby was going to change the destiny of the world. This gods providence. But God Moses was hidden in the reeds in the Nile. He cried at the right moment, Pharaohs daughter was the right daughter of pharaoh was there at the right moment.
Faith and a mental choice.
Moses parents had faith in God, they believed in the future, they believed God would deliver them. They believed that God was greater than the great Pharaoh, than the mighty nations and civilization of Egypt. They believed God was so powerful that he could destroy the works of Satan and stop Satan at any time. They believed God was had power to destroy the enemies of his people. They made a choice to believe God, they made a choice to put their mind and faith into gear. They were determined not to sit back and let things just roll along. Faith has substance, it has a history. (Heb. 11:1) God had blessed and Abraham and given him promises that were now fulfilled, a great nation was emerging. They had the Divine record concerning Gods dealings with their for fathers Isaac, Jacob and Joseph who had grasped God’s plan by faith and moved out and moved on. The mind is an amazing thing. God gave us a mind to use. Many believers think faith and the mind do not mix. Wrong! The spirit of the mind needs renewed. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:1-2). You don’t get a new mind when you get saved, you don’t get a new liver, you don’t get new lungs. But Paul tells us we are to be renewed by the SPIRIT of the mind. Our mind has to be guided by the spirit. The World is that floating mass of thoughts, ideas, philosophies, and opinions and maxims and speculations and hopes and impulses and aims and aspirations that are current in any given time in the unregenerate system, the whole value system of a Christless world. Don’t allow yourself to be shaped around that. (Archbishop trench). This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind. Resist conformity to the thoughts and actions of this world (do not be conformed). We still have and use our mental faculties but we use them intelligently and spiritually and biblically. We are not stupid we are wise. Their faith in God had a foundation, it could be trusted on the basis of historical facts . It was not a blind faith, it had and intelligent insight into the Creator and his ways with believers who lived before them. It is here that faith shows its powers and strength. Faith can see thought he dark because of the reality of the past facts. Faith can rest alone in God’s word and go fourth with confidence and assurance and power. Faith knows God can be trusted. Faith knows that God will fulfil His plans and purposes for the believer, for the church, for Israel and for he nations. Faith believes our God is invincible and incomparable.
Satan would have us doubt because things are not happening now. He points at the pain, the suffering, the evil, the chaos, the injustice the waste and says “Where is your God now?” He says God is irrelevant. But God is not in a hurry, he will not be bullied or bossed about by men or Satan. He works in his own ways and time, “My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways.” God was aware of the Egyptian/ Israeli situation then. He is aware of the Palestinian/Israeli situation today, he is aware of the chaos in the Middle Eastern world and the Arab world today. He is moving in his own time and at his own pace. He tells us that in the last days when will not only shake the earth but the heavens also. Heb. God knew what he was doing at Calvary, He knew what he was doing when he brought the Roman Empire into being, He knew the work Jesus done on the cross would divided men forever.
Its Time for You to Make a Choice Today
Vs 24 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” “By faith,” would indicate that Moses had some indication of the fact that God had a special purpose for him. The child was turned over by the King’s daughter to his mother, for parental upbringing. We don’t know how long this was for. But it gave the mother a time to tell the son just exactly how he was born and how the children of Israel had been called of God and how God had given them great promises and how important it was for them. And so Moses had the privilege of being brought up by a godly mother (just like Timothy) and was evidently taught in the things of the word of God that they knew at that time because we read, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” Remember, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And so when anyone has faith, it’s because the word of God in some form has been brought to them. Moses had been exposed to the word of God and had responded to him. “When Moses became of age,” the Greek text says, “When Moses became great.” That’s what Stephen says when he refers to this incident, as well. When he became a great man. He had had opportunities and had accomplished some unusual things.
Many of us need to grow up and make definite decisions today. We need to choose who we really are, who we really belong to. We need to be determined to be children of God or children of this world. You cannot live with your feet in both worlds.
He was highly educated as a prince “Educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). He was mighty in words and deeds. He had great privileges and opportunities because he was brought up in the royal household. He knew its culture its commerce, its philosophies and religions. He knew about their magical arts and cults and later he would contend with them. He knew about its literary attainments, administrative skills, politics and international diplomacy, its military and it religion, its architecture and its industry. He was a highly educated individual. He would have known Hebrew, Egyptian and Aramaic. God was providing for his future. He grew up for 40 years in a place of royal favour. He moved among the elite of the empire. All would bow to him except the pharaoh. He was being shaped up to rule a kingdom. But God had something greater for him. He took his eyes of the material things of this world. Remember he was extremely rich and had everything a person could desire. God destined him to go to the dessert for 40 years, and train him in His university. At the appointed time he brought him back, a shepherd, without an army, to confront the mighty monarch of the world, the greatest civilization of the day. A shepherd with God’s mighty word and Gods direction. He was not foolish. He had proved God, had known about Gods working in history, He was no fool. He knew the Creator of Pharaoh, the Creator God of all things was more important and more powerful that all the might of the earth, the politicians, the religions, the false gods, the philosophies of men.
He was a great statesman. Moses was destined to be the next pharaoh. In Egyptian kingdoms, the title to the throne came through the women and through the first born woman. The son of the woman of Pharaohs daughter would be the next pharaoh. This child who is brought up in the royal household, probably would have been heir to the throne of Egypt, one of the great kingdoms of that day.
He was “mighty and words and deeds”, he was a military hero as well. He was responsible for an unusual victory over the Ethiopians. That gives us some indication of how God prepared this man to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and then into the wilderness where they had to contend with a lot of the nations about them and contend in battle.
Moses’ Choice – A Mummy or Eternal Life with God
Vs 25-26 He made a choice. There was a time when Moses had to make the greatest decision of his life. Whether to decide for the Egyptian establishment or the Hebrew slaves? It was something that he, himself, made. The Spirit of God moved in his heart but, it was his choice.
“He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” He chose not to enjoy temporal privileges for a short time for eternal privileges for ever. He overcame the lust of the flesh, the lust for power and position, the lust of pride. Moses, by the grace of God, won the victory over the lusts of the flesh. Moses saw the many pleasures of sin in Egypt. But they were only “For a season.” The pleasures of sin are passing; they are temporary. Pleasures of sin lure us away from God. There is pleasure in sin. We need to denounce sin. He chose the temporal sufferings for a “more eternal weight o glory” Rom. 8). He was no fool. This was a far greater privilege than Pharaoh could offer. “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as off great value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead for his reward”. He had been in the treasury, he had seen the gold, the silver, the precious stones, the amazing artefacts. He looked at them then he looked at eternity. He chose the best bargain. If he had not have made this choice we would have been looking a mummy of a dead body in some museum believed to be a man called Moses. What a terrible destiny, a dead mummy or a king with Jesus for ever. Die with those of this world who reject Christ or live with him forever? You have to make a choice today. Will you give your life totally over into the hand of Jesus Christ or live your own way.
What went on in Moses’ mind. “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” He chose, “esteeming,” counting, “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” This marked victory over the lust of the eyes. He chose the messiah as his hope. For the true and real Christian to be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ, carries the reproach and bears the stigma of association with the Lord Jesus Paul calls it the “offense of the Cross.” It is a privilege to carry the stigma because he belongs to Christ. Christians are super rich. “…blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). Richer than the treasures of Egypt or the treasures of the world. Nothing could be greater than to be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs 27. “By faith he forsook Egypt.” He understood what he was doing. He understood that he was leaving, that his life was going to be different. He had gone out and when the Egyptian was fighting with the Hebrew man, he had made his decision. He had identified himself with the Hebrew man, had identified himself as their leader. In fact, Stephen tells us that he thought that they would surely understand that he was destined by the Lord God, to lead them out of Egypt. This faith came to him through the divine message to him.
“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” To leave as pharaoh’s son and heir would have produced tremendous wrath on the part of the Pharaoh. He fled into Midian, where he was for forty years.
Moses’ secret – He sacrificed all because He Saw Him Who is Invisible
Moses had 20/20 spiritual vision. He saw the invisible. He saw that he was on the winning side. He had God’s Word and faith and You need staying power to go on. His spiritual eyes were opened. .
Vs 27 “He endured, (persevered) because he saw him who is invisible.” It was not a one of decision. Yes, salvation is a one of decision, but Gods work does not finish there for you. He endured for another 40 years watching sheep, then another 40 years in the wilderness.(Acts 7:23). His faith was on going, he continued to walk by faith. Each day, each experience, each encounter was a challenge of faith. He went on believing in spite of the circumstances. Paul says “We walk by faith not by sight.” God has his own time clock, his own timetable. We are in a hurry God is not. “He endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Scientist’s know the world is made up of invisible things the eye cannot see. He kept on seeing the invisible One. This was the source of all of Moses’ motivation to do the will of God. He kept on, he persevered, seeing the One who is invisible. That was his lifestyle day by day. Moses had the faith that he had, because he knew God in the way that he did. And he knew that God’s was for him.
Seeing him who is invisible. When you and I are in the will of God and walk by faith we have fellowship with Him. We set out on the adventure of faith every day. We see him who is invisible. Moses was swimming against the flow, the prize being wonderful fellowship with God and he heard the voice of him who was invisible.
Do You See Him Who is Invisible With the Eyes of Faith?
You need 20/20 spiritual vision. You need to see the invisible. You need to see you are on the winning side. You need staying power to go on. You need the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes.
You need to be engaged in the Masters service. He wants people of action, people who really mean it when they say, “All for Jesus”. He wants people who want to serve him in this generation. He wants people who believe He has all power over the enemy and know that every time He met demons he had authority over them he cast them out, every time he confronted the world. He was victorious, that when He went into death He defeated. That every he met a modernist who denied the supernatural (Sadducee) and every time He confronted the proud Pharisee, who added commandments to the Law and put a heavy burden upon people He rebuked them and exposed them. Oh where are the men and women of God who can do exploits. Where are the men and women of God who are willing to suffer and die for their faith? Where are they? Are they sitting playing church, sitting on their Blessed Assurance, hiding behind four walls on a Sunday? Where are the men and women who like Paul bore in his body the wounds of the Lord Jesus. Where are the men and women like Jeremiah who said “His word was like a fire burning in my bones and I could not stop.” Are they so busy singing and praising have they forgotten to build and battle like Nehemiah? Thank God for worship, thank God for the gift of music, but we must go into all the world and preach the gospel. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in order to witness. We need a touch from heaven, we need to taste and experience what Moses did. We walk by faith. We need to look beyond the material, look beyond your circumstances, see Him working out all things for your good (Rom. 8:28). He can use all the negatives to build something wonderful, His thoughts ate no tour thoughts and His ways are o tour ways.
We need an enthusiasm from God that will carry us into battle with an attitude of victory. We need the breath of heaven. We need to see God in our daily lives, in our circumstances, in our meetings. We need to go home aware that He is going home with us to deal with our situations, our problems. We need faith that sees the invisible. We need to pray for our pastors that they hear from heaven and deliver to us sermons hot of the griddle. We need to pray that they will have great insight into Gods word, great faith to believe it and great power to deliver it in humility. We need to be encouraged when we fall to get back up again and get into the battle. We need to mend that brothers that sisters broken wing, heart. We need a new baptism of love
Jacob saw him wrestling at midnight. We need to see Him who is invisible. Moses saw Him in the burning bush. Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, and went out to preach to people who would not listen, who died by being put in a log and sawn in two. Why? He saw him who is invisible. “And I said, ‘Woe is me,’ but the angel, the seraphim came and with the tongs of the altar he took a live coal and put it on my mouth and I could not help but preach.” I couldn’t be a doctor, I couldn’t be a lawyer, I couldn’t be a businessman, because you see the fire of God is upon my lips and I: have seen Him who is invisible.”
The Hebrew children saw Him in the fiery furnace. Daniel saw Him in the lions’ den. Daniel saw him as the ancient of days in heaven, Ezekiel saw him in wonderful vision 1-10, . The shepherds saw the angels of the Lord in the heavens. Stephen saw Him in his glory as he was being stoned to death. Saul saw Him on the Damascus Road. Stephen saw Him when he was being stoned to death. Paul saw Him when he was outside the city of Lystra. John saw him. And others saw Him. And if you want to see Him, you will have to have these three basic things these men had.
Those Whom the Enemy Pursues Endure as Seeing Him Who Is Invisible
Moses was pursued by the enemy. Every person in the Bible who pursued God was pursued by the enemy. They continued on and many are name in Faiths Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. They went through trials, heartache, being misunderstood, torture and even death because they saw Him who is invisible. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, one could go on counting them. Things did not always seem to go for them but God worked it all out for their good. They had family situations, domestic problems, physical problems, people problems, demon problems, political problems, financial problems, religious problems, problems of depression like Jonah, Job, David but they endured as seeing who is invisible. They lived in difficult days. The apostles were beaten, hounded and were martyred because they and were victorious because they saw him who is invisible. Stephen when being stoned looked up and saw him who is invisible. James was executed by the sword by Agrippa I orders in Acts 1. 2. Philip crucified in 54 AD. Matthew killed with an axe topped with a spike in 60 AD. James the just, beaten to death with a club after being crucified and stoned. Matthias was stoned and beheaded. Andrew, St. Peter’s brother, was crucified. Mark the Evangelist, was dragged in the streets of Alexandria then beheaded. Peter, crucified upside down. Paul, beheaded in Rome. Jude was crucified. Bartholomew flayed alive and crucified. Thomas was killed by a spear in Mylapore, Madras, India in AD 72. Luke was hanged. Simon the Zealot was crucified in 74 AD. The martyrs in the Roman Coliseum were tortured, beaten and killed but they endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Hundreds of believers were burned at the stake in Smithfield Market in London because they saw Him who is invisible. Bishops Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer, the archbishop of Canterbury endured because they saw him who is invisible. Unlike the church today that is loved by the world and causes no offence to it.
Today many Christians are willing to be persecuted or die for their faith because they see Him who is invisible. Countless numbers over the last 21 centuries gave their lives willingly because they saw Him who is invisible. Christians today are being misled to seek prosperity and have the physical kingdom now. But in the past they looked for a city whose make and foundation was God. Christ suffered, Paul suffered, Peter suffered, John suffered. The Church was no looking for wealth but authentic reality of god’s presence. The church was not wealthy. Many lost everything because they followed Christ. They saw him who is invisible.
When we look at the heroes hall of faith in Hebrews 11 we find they were people who had hard times, opposition, torture, rejection, hate, suffering, martyrdom, illness. They were people just like you and I but they saw Him who is invisible. They knew Christ and the power of his resurrection and suffering with him in his death. They lived with great hope and assurance. They lived expecting their Lord to come back at any time. They enjoyed living for him, serving him, fighting earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints. Moses, Paul, peter, Jeremiah, John gave up everything to follow him. Moses gave up a kingdom; Paul gave up his position and his future; James lost his head, and Abraham–he lost his home; and the Lord Jesus–He lost everything on earth.
Part of Moses’ reward was when Jesus stood on the mount of transfiguration, and whom does he hear, speaking there? Moses and Elijah. Speaking of his exodus, which he would accomplish, the cross at Calvary.
So Moses’ choice had made the right choice, a great choice. It’s one that he, throughout the ages of eternity, will thank God for moving him to make. What do you chose to do today? You can decide to live a life in the flesh away from God, live as an unbeliever and loose out or choose God and win the prize and infinitely blessings.