Moses’ Faith, Part 3 – Hebrews 11:27

Since COVID-19 this world has become strange and confused. The times are unpredictable, there’s social and political unrest, as well as worldwide fear of COVID-19, which has caused the church to come under attack. Similarly, in the days of Moses, the Israelites were going through hardship under the Egyptians. They were under attack, there was fear everywhere (like now) and fickle beliefs. Moses chose to deal with all these by faith. People can try to come up with all sorts of solutions by their own strength or inventiveness, but those solutions will never work. The Bible tells of only one solution: faith (Hebrews 11:2). Faith is the means God gives as the answer to our circumstances.

Take Peter and the disciples in Luke 8. They were veteran fishermen, their family were fishermen. One night, they encounter a storm, they’re full of fear and become hopeless. They plead with Jesus who was sleeping. His response to their hysteria is: “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). The answer to their crisis wasn’t sailing skills or fishing experience but faith. 

This is how Moses also faced his challenges. “By faith” We might excuse ourselves saying we are not Moses or Jesus. However this faith is possible for all believers. George Muller says his faith is the same as all Christians, the only difference is that he tries to exercise it. As he faces situations he applies his faith continually and through the applying of faith, God answers his prayers and his faith grows. We also ought to exercise our faith in our circumstances. Even Jesus went through the same process and overcame the world for us. (John 16:33)
What is faith? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1 Faith is realizing we have already obtained what God has promised even though it has not happened yet. “Obeying the revealed will of God and trusting Him for the results” – Jerry Bridges.

Faith knows the object it believes and rests on. Moses was a Prince of Egypt, which was the most prosperous and powerful country at that time. He enjoyed the world to its fullest. He definitely experienced the temptations this world has to offer. Yet it says “by faith he left Egypt”. He did not love or cling to this world (1 John 2:15,17) There is nothing good in this world because it loves the darkness and as a result is under judgment (John 3:19). Departure from the wicked world is a fundamental part of being a Christian. The Christian must be like Abraham and Ruth and the disciples leaving their old life to follow Christ (Matthew 4:19-20, Matthew 19:27). Leaving the world is Christianity 101. Sadly, one of the main reasons many Christians struggle in their faith is because they have failed to leave the world. Christians are called to be pilgrims. We are enemies of the world but friends of Jesus Christ.
Faith comes from hearing the word of God. In Exodus 3:5-6 God tells Moses he is on holy ground so he must take off his sandals. Moses understands his sin before the Holy God and takes off his sandals as a sign of repentance and faith. He obeyed God’s command. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” John 5:24 Faith is a holy gift from God which comes from His word. We are saved by faith and have received the Holy Spirit. This means faith and holiness (obedience) are always together. If faith binds us to God who is holy, then it is clear that faith cannot be mixed with the sinful world.

By faith Moses had no fear. Moses should have been fearful of Pharaoh because he was a criminal who murdered an Egyptian. He was a traitor who ran away and hid in the wilderness. Forty years later he came back and faced Pharaoh. After the ninth plague, Pharaoh threatened to kill Moses (Exodus 10:28). Moses was a traitor. Hebrews 11:27 “not fearing the wreath of the king, for he endured”. The threat was there but by faith Moses overcame his fear. Everyone fears. Fear is a natural reaction. People have so many fears, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of disease, fear of persecution, fear of heights and many other phobias. How can you overcome these numerous fears? By faith. “Fear is not part of the Christian life. We may be marked, we may be rejected, we may be hated, we may be imprisoned, we maybe killed, but we are loved by God” – Dale Partridge

How to overcome fear with faith? First we must know what causes fear. One thing is a guilty conscience. Like a criminal meeting the police, like Adam and Eve in the garden, our sin causes guilt and fear. For a believer, the faithful response to guilt is to believe Jesus is our advocate (1 John 2:1). Another cause of fear is uncertainty. We don’t know what’s going to happen. However, there is no need to fear, God will certainly do what he says (Numbers 23:19). God has fulfilled and is still fulfilling his promises. Also God is with us. Like a child with their parents, we can have confidence in our God who is with us (Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 10:28). God is bigger than anything we may fear. This is why the martyrs were able to joyfully face death. They knew God is more powerful than even death and Satan (Job 2:6). The Christian has no need to fear man but trust in God since He is the mightiest and above all. 
Pray to overcome fear. By praying you will receive the peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is the most tangible expression of trusting God. The prideful have many fears and complain but the humble cast their anxiety on the Lord and trust in His care (1 Peter 5:6-7). King David, when his son Absolom betrayed him and chased him out, turned to God in prayer in his embarrassing and shameful situation. Prayer is not complicated or confusing but simply just turning to the Lord with a genuine appealing heart (Psalms 3:4-6).

The last challenge Moses faced was fickleness. The Bible says, “he endured”. He was consistent and unshaken. This is the greatest sign of Biblical faith. Many Christians move the goal post, get bored or grow impatient, but Moses endured. Endurance is important, especially when you face challenges and receive harm and damages. They will persecute the Christian but the one who endures to the end will be delivered (Matthew 24:9-13). There are many famous pastors and Christians who did great things and wrote great books, but didn’t endure to the end. It is sad and terrible. Remember to endure.

Faith can be sight. We must continually set God in front of us in our circumstances (Psalm 16:8) By practicing faith, God who is spirit and invisible, becomes visible as He works in our lives. His presence and His promises become clearer and more vivid (1 Peter 1:8) Believing becomes seeing. Therefore, meditate on the Bible day and night to strengthen your faith (Psalm 1, Joshua 1:8). As your faith is strengthened and practiced, you will realize God’s presence more and more, which is truly a wonderful blessing.