Moses—A
Man Who Believed God
"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." (Hebrews 11:24-26)
What is the principle that
compelled Moses to act as he did? The Holy Spirit tells us – “By faith
Moses.” Moses believed God. Faith motivated him. Faith directed him. Faith
controlled him. Moses did what he did because he believed God.
Moses believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He believed
God’s promise that he would send a deliverer, a Redeemer, a Savior, a King of
the seed of Abraham in whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
He believed God would keep his promise. He would fulfill
his covenant. He would deliver his people. He would never forsake his own.
Believing God, Moses knew that with God nothing is impossible.
The deliverance of Israel and the overthrow of Pharaoh seemed impossible.
But Moses believed God!
Believing God, Moses trusted the wisdom and goodness of
God’s providence. Like Joseph before him, he was in the place of God;
and he knew it. Moses trusted God’s unfailing faithfulness (Lam. 3:21-26). He
trusted God to be faithful to his purpose, to his promise, and to his people.
Faith in Christ caused Moses to see things
that had not yet come to pass. Faith caused him to see temporal things as
temporal and eternal things as eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). Being a man of faith, he
interpreted divine providence by faith. The Lord God revealed to Moses what he
would have him to do; and faith gave him strength to do it.
Marvelous
as Moses’ sacrifices and choices seem to be, they are really not very marvelous
at all. He believed God and acted accordingly. —"By faith
he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing
him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of
blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they
passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do
were drowned" (Heb. 11:27-29).
His God given faith in Christ made Moses
such a meek man that he feared neither Pharaoh’s wrath, nor Egypt’s armies, nor
the depths of the Read Sea. Faith made him so utterly humble before God that he
dared not cower before anything or anyone else!
Lessons
From Moses’ Faith
"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." (Hebrews 11:24-26)
What lessons are we to learn from
this man who believed God? We have seen what Moses did. He denied himself, took
up his cross, and followed Christ. And we have seen why he did it. He believed
God. But what does all of this have to do with us?What does the Spirit of God
intend for us to learn from Moses’ example?
First, if I would be an
heir of eternal life, I must deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Christ. This is clearly the doctrine of Christ (Lk.
14:25-33). There is no such thing as salvation separated from discipleship.
There is no such thing as faith without consecration. Where there is no cross,
there is no crown. Where there is no sowing, there is no reaping. Where there
is no battle, there is no victory. Where there is no struggle, there is no
triumph. Faith in Christ requires a denial of self. Faith in Christ willingly,
deliberately takes up the cross, the way of offense and difficulty for the
glory of Christ. Faith in Christ follows Christ. Nothing will cause a man in
his heart to truly deny himself and forsake this world, except faith in Christ.
If I believe Christ, I can and will follow him, regardless of cost or
consequence.
Second,
if I live for myself and refuse to forsake
this world, I cannot have faith, I cannot have Christ, I cannot have eternal
life (Mk. 8:34-38). The issue between God
and man, since the fall of our father Adam, has always been God’s right to be
God, God’s right to exercise dominion everywhere and rule all things as he
will. Faith voluntarily surrenders to Christ’s dominion as Lord and King. Faith
bows to God’s throne. This is the very first act of faith. Wherever Christ
comes in saving grace he comes with a royal crown upon his head. If I prefer my
will to God’s will, if I seek my way rather than my Lord’s way, if I prefer the
world to Christ, if I place the things of time before the things of eternity,
if I live for the comfort of my body, rather than for the welfare of my soul,
if in my heart I prefer myself to Christ, I do not know Christ and I have no
faith. No man can serve two masters. You will either serve self, or serve
Christ. You will either deny self, or deny Christ. You will either live for the
world, or live for Christ. Choose you this day whom you will serve.
Third,
if I believe Christ, follow Christ, and
seek the will of and glory of Christ, my God will take care of all my earthly
and eternal interests (Matt. 6:33;
10:28-33). The righteous shall never be forsaken. His seed will never go
begging for bread. The God of glory provides for his own. His children ought
never give the slightest concern to such matters. Our only concern ought to be
the will and glory of our God, the good of his people, and the interests of his
kingdom.