Choosing Freedom Over Pleasure by Faith
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash
Faith Forged in Fire
The life of Moses is generally venerated throughout history, especially within Judaism and Christianity. Some may malign him, but when Moses is portrayed in movies, he's seen as a powerful leader.
His life is extraordinary, and there are many lessons to be drawn from it. But an overly mystical view of Moses' life might be out of sync with reality. In the book of Exodus, we see a fuller view.
Moses didn't start out as a man of faith; he grew into it. He led a life of ease and privilege until he identified with his Hebrew heritage.
His family, especially his mother, who served as his nursemaid through God’s sovereign hand, passed the Hebrew faith on to Moses. His faith became his own when Moses fled for his life into the desert wilderness (Exodus 2:11-15).
Genuine faith is more than a spiritual concept. It’s neither a theoretical nor a theological construct. It is spiritually tangible. Faith, genuine faith, is most often forged in the fire of life's challenges and difficulties.
Scripture Text
Faith led Moses’ parents to hide him for three months after he was born. They did this because they saw that Moses was a beautiful baby and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.
When Moses grew up, faith led him to refuse to be known as a son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to suffer with God’s people rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little while. He thought that being insulted for Christ would be better than having the treasures of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward. [vss 23-26]
Faith led Moses to leave Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. Moses didn’t give up but continued as if he could actually see the invisible God.
Faith led Moses to establish the Passover and spread the blood ⌊on the doorposts⌋ so that the destroying angel would not kill the firstborn sons.
Faith caused the people to go through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. The Egyptians also tried this, but they drowned. [vss 27-29] (Hebrews 11:23-29 GW) [Context– Hebrews 11]
Key Phrase
He thought that being insulted for Christ would be better than having the treasures of Egypt.
Dig Deeper Into the Text
What did faith lead Moses to do, and when did this happen?
What did Moses consider better than the treasures of Egypt? How is this seen?
What was the attitude Moses had when he left Egypt? Why was he not afraid?
How does the celebration of Passover relate to Israel’s escape through the Red Sea?
Things to Consider
Moses made life choices based on his encounter and relationship with the true and living God. He saw beyond what the natural eye sees. The choices Moses made were not based on what his human nature desired.
Moses' life became extraordinary as God worked faith into him through the challenges and tests in his life. Those difficult times were decision points for him and required him to make certain choices.
Each step Moses took in trusting God led him to a deeper level of faith. This brought Moses to see beyond the ordinary life of pleasure he had in Pharaoh's court to an extraordinary life as God's deliverer for Israel.
When it says, “He thought that being insulted for Christ would be better than having the treasures of Egypt.” This refers back to how Jesus Christ is greater than Moses, who represents the Law and the Old Covenant (Hebrews 3:3).
This reference is an encouragement to the Christian believers under the grace of the New Covenant to continue in faith, trusting in the Lord as Moses did.
Moses forsook the pleasures he had in Egypt and endured the insults and scorn as a man who trusted in the God of Israel. Because Moses chose insult and suffering over pleasure, God set him free, and he led Israel into freedom and out of Egypt.
Answer These Questions to Apply God’s Word in Your Life
How is it possible that Christ is referred to in relation to Moses' time in Egypt? [see the story of Passover in Exodus chapters 12 and 13, and refer to Hebrews 3:3]
Do you see how the writer of Hebrews connects Christ and the freedom the Passover brought to believers then and for us now?
What are your life choices based on? Do you choose the ordinary or the extraordinary?
In what way do you make extraordinary faith-based decisions rather than ordinary ones?
Here’s a link to a free study guide for the book of Hebrews— Study Guide and Study Questions for Hebrews
