By Faith: Moses // Hebrews 11:23-28

This week I have the honor of preaching on Moses from Hebrews 11:23-28. Once again, Hebrews is hitting a few of the highlights of Moses’ life and so on Sunday we won’t be able to dive into all the incredible stories associated with Moses. I would highly encourage you to read some of those stories this week as you do your daily Bible reading. The birth of Moses is found in Exodus 2, and his life unfold from there all the way through the end of Deuteronomy. 

This Sunday we will be looking at Hebrews 11:23-28 and how Moses, and his parents, possessed a faith that wouldn’t compromise. From the faith of his parents found in verse 23, to Moses’ relentless convictions throughout his adult life (v.24-28) we see that real faith doesn’t compromise.

If you don’t know Moses’ story here are the basics: he was from a Hebrew family (who were slaves to Pharaoh), his parents defied Pharaoh’s edict that every first born son must be thrown into the Nile River to be killed. He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and grew up in Pharaoh’s household and would have been well educated, influential and wealthy. As an adult, Moses chose to leave every possible comfort behind to follow God and be in community with God’s people, and his Hebrew people. He spent 40 years in Midian before God appeared to him in the burning bush experience (Ex. 3 – 4:17). After that, Moses spent another 40 years leading God’s people out of Egypt and into the wilderness before he died, just before God’s people entered the promised land. 

God used Moses in many miraculous ways and I believe it is partly due to Moses’ deep character and radical obedience throughout every test he encountered. 

Especially in the wilderness years, Moses was leading God’s people to the promised land and had to lead a massive group of people who did nothing but complain, whine, argue, lie, and disobey pretty much everything God told them not to do. As a leader, could you imagine doing this for close to 40 years and not giving up?

At one point, God Himself is fed up and tells Moses he is going to completely destroy all of them and give Moses a new, better group of people to enter the promised land with (Ex. 32:10). Now – right here, Moses had an opportunity many leaders or even some pastors may honestly have considered…“a new congregation…a new group of leaders…sure God, go ahead!” Yet here is one place where Moses’ character shines bright as he reminds God of His previous covenant promises AND petitions God NOT destroy the people, and God changes His mind, listens to Moses, and let’s the people live! (Ex. 32:11-14)

Moses wasn’t willing to compromise on the promises he knew to be true – even when it was with God Himself!

I’d like to encourage you to read the stories of Moses and ask yourself the following questions:

1) Do you possess a faith that isn’t willing to compromise? Why or why not?

2) In what areas of your faith are you compromising right now? Why?

3) What would have happened if Moses would have compromised on his convictions and stayed in Egypt? 

4) In what area do you need to stop compromising this week in order to grow in your faith?

5) Are you even willing to apply this truth to your life this week?

See you Sunday!
Pastor Brett