Moses’ faith was demonstrated throughout his long life. Today, we confine ourselves to the three instances cited in Hebrews 11.
Faith and the passing pleasures of sin, Heb. 11. 24-26. At 40 years of age, Moses made a critical decision. Having been brought up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he renounced his association with her, and threw in his lot with the afflicted and downtrodden slave population of Goshen.
He valued his links with his brethren above his links with Pharaoh’s daughter, preferring to be known as a son of Abraham rather than as her son. He valued hardship above comfort, reproach above honour, penury above treasure, shame above fame, the slave camp of Goshen above the palace of Pharaoh, the endurance of afflictions above the enjoyment of pleasures. He had the world at his feet and he trampled on it.
Viewed naturally, this was an act of supreme folly. But Moses was no fool. His faith had laid hold on the realities and recompense of another world. In the strength of that faith, he simply weighed the issues of time in the balances of eternity, and made his decision accordingly.
Faith and the passing over of the firstborn, Heb. 11. 27-28. At 80 years of age, he left Egypt for the second time – and forever. As far as the safety of Israel’s firstborn was concerned, his faith rested on the promise of God and in the blood of the lamb. As far as Israel’s departure from Egypt was concerned, his eye, paradoxically, focused on the One who is invisible. Emulating the earlier faith of his parents, who knew, by that deep and unique conviction which faith imparts, that God was to be trusted for their child, he feared no Pharaoh.
Faith and the passing through of the Red Sea, Heb. 11. 29. The sea was in front, the Egyptians were in pursuit, and Israel was in despair. But, with no indication yet what God would do, Moses’ faith laid a firm hand on His mighty power. ‘Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord’, he confidently proclaimed. His faith was vindicated in a dry walkway for the people of Israel and a watery grave for the Egyptian cavalry.
Lord, give me the faith to overcome temptation and fear.
