Looking Ahead to His Reward

Hebrews 11:23-31

Key verse 26

“He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than

the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

1. Read verses 23-26. How did Moses’ parents display their faith? (23) What does Moses’ refusal to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter mean? (24) What kind of life did he choose to live by faith? (25) What prompted Moses to make such a decision? (26)

2. Read verses 27-29. What enabled Moses to leave Egypt along with his people? (27) What was the significance of keeping the Passover? (28) When passing through the red sea, what happened to the Israelites in contrast to the Egyptians? (29) How can we apply this to our own lives?

3. Read verses 30-31. How did the army destroy the walls of Jericho? (30a; Jos 6:12-20) How can we apply this to our life of faith? (30b) How is Rahab’s faith marked? (31; Jos 2:1, 9-14; 6:22-25; Mt 1:5)

Looking Ahead to His Reward

Hebrews 11:23-31

Key verse 26

“He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than

the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

Introduction

Through today’s passage we will see God’s promises come true through Moses’ parents, Moses, and the Israelites as a community of faith. Those who lost their personal faith died in the desert. But some, like Moses, Caleb, Joshua, and the new generation who humbly learned to follow God, were allowed to experience God’s victory. Even a foreign woman, Rahab tasted God’s great victory and was able to take part in God’s redemptive history by faith. May the name of Jesus be praised!

1. Read verses 23-26. How did Moses’ parents display their faith? (23) What does Moses’ refusal to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter mean? (24) What kind of life did he choose to live by faith? (25) What prompted Moses to make such a decision? (26)

1-1, Read verses 23-26.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

1-2, How did Moses’ parents display their faith? (23)

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

• Moses seemed to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time as the wrong gender. At that time baby girls were favored over boys. He face the threat of death as soon as he was born like our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Exodus 1:8-22 tells us the background of Moses' birth. Moses was born when the Egyptian Empire was in political transition.

• The new king of Egypt, who forgot about what Joseph had done, began to persecute the Israelites. He feared the Israelites were becoming a threat to their national security.

• Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites by forced labor, hoping that this would keep them from becoming too numerous. But his plan failed. The more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.

• Finally, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, issued an edict that every baby boy born to Hebrew parents had to be thrown into the river and drowned.

• If all the Israelite boys were killed, there would be no men to create a nation.

• The girls could be put into forced labor. Moses was born into a Hebrew slave family in Egypt. In short, he was born into a fatalistic situation.

• But God turned this tragic situation into an opportunity to raise up one of the greatest leaders all time in our human history.

• One cannot speak about Moses’ faith without first taking note of the faith of his parents. Moses’ life began with the faith of his parents because he was too young to know what was going on.

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months because they saw he was no ordinary child.”

• The author emphasized the faith of Moses’ parents. They hid the baby Moses by faith, not fearing the king’s edict.

• Other parents saw no other choice and threw their babies into the river, following the king’s edict.

• But Moses parents were different. They hid him. It was because they saw that he was no ordinary child. It means that as soon as Moses’ parent saw the baby Moses, they believed that God has some special plan for him.

• When they saw the child with eyes of faith, they could see that he was no ordinary child; they were convinced that God was with him.

• Moses' parents did not have foreknowledge of how God intended to raise Moses as the deliverer of the Israelites after 430 years of Egyptian slavery.

• But they believed that God was with the baby Moses. They were people of faith. The baby Moses was saved because of his parent’s faith.

• It seems to be a small matter in human eyes. But it was a turning point in God’s history.

• Through this small event God began to raise up a leader of the Exodus. It was the beginning of a new history for the people of God.

• Pharaoh’s edict was a matter of life and death at that time. People were afraid of the king’s edict. But Moses' parents were different.

• They were not afraid of the king's edict. Because Moses' parents feared God, they didn’t fear visible human beings, even the king.

• By faith they hid their beautiful baby for three months, trusting God rather than fearing Pharaoh.

• When baby Moses began to cry after three months, his parents placed him in a basket and the baby Moses drifted out into the Nile River.

• Through this act of faith, they entrusted the baby Moses into God’s hands. They did their part and God continued to work and do His part, working together with Moses’ parents.

• In answering their prayers, God intervened in Moses' life. Moses was in the right place, at the right time, and was the right person by God’s sovereign will.

• Pharaoh's daughter went down to the River Nile to bathe. She saw the basket among the reeds. When she opened it, she saw the baby. Thank God!

• She ended up giving him to a Hebrew nurse, who was Moses' real mother.

• Pharaoh's daughter named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water." When Moses' parents believed in God Almighty, God was with them and with their son Moses.

• Today, we live in the age of no commitment. Many parents do not make a long term commitment for their children and see their children as an economic burden, trouble maker, or even as a threat.

• There is currently a crises in the country of Korea where newborn babies are unwanted. Because of this, Korea’s population keeps decreasing. May the Lord raise up believers like Moses’ parents and raise their children boldly as God’s servants like Moses.

• A parent’s faith is critical in order to impress faith upon a child’s soul.

• A parent’s faith plays an important role in children developing personal faith. We have to see our children with eyes of faith and believe that God is with them. We must believe they will be the powerful and influential spiritual leaders like Moses.

• We need to protect them from the evil influence of the world and nurture them with spiritual milk until they grow up in faith. Then after they grow up, we must entrust them into God’s hands as Moses’ parents did.

• We do our part and God will do his part, to take care of our children with his mighty hands.

1-3, What does Moses’ refusal to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter mean? (24)

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

• What was the basis of his decision? It was “by faith.”

• Moses had a double identity-an Egyptian prince and a Hebrew man. He had to choose one.

• Moses had grown up and it grieved him to see his people being mistreated. (Exo 2:11) On one occasion he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew.

• He came to the Hebrew’s defense and killed the Egyptian with his martial arts skills. But Pharaoh found out and sought Moses’ life. Moses fled and spent the next 40 years in Midian.

• If Moses remained in the palace, he might have been a possible successor of the Egyptian Emperor because he was a favorite of the Pharaoh.

“By faith he refused to be known as the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter.”

• Moses knew that he would lose his position as the Prince of Egypt by his actions. Moses made a choice to separate himself from the ways of the Egyptians.

• He understood that the life in Egypt was not what God wanted for him. Moses lived in Egypt for 40 years and yet, like Joseph, he knew that it was not home.

• The power, prestige, and glory of the Egypt were upon him. But by faith he gave up his glorious prince position. He gave it all up.

1-4, What kind of life did he choose to live by faith? (25)

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

• He knew that the treasures of Egypt were like the fleeting pleasures of sin. In the palace people could enjoy parties, eat gourmet food, wear fine clothes, and enjoy many other forms of pleasure and entertainment.

• The palace life was luxurious, comfortable, and fun. But these comforts and pleasures are fleeting and temporary. When the initial thrill is over, there’s no meaning and feelings of futility and guilt follow.

• The palace life bears the fruit of sin which is ultimately death. Moses knew and understood this well.

Psalm 90:10 and 12 record his words,

“Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away…Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”

1 Peter 1:24-25 reads also,

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever”

• When we suffer as one of the people of God, we find meaning and purpose and bear good fruit which lasts forever. This is what Moses truly valued.

• With this value system, he could go the way of suffering with confidence.

“He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a short time.” (Old NIV version)

• Mistreatment followed Moses after he made the decision to identify as one of God’s people. His decision was very costly because it invited immediate oppression.

• It’s human nature to avoid suffering as much as possible and to enjoy an easy-going life.

• But Moses made a clear choice to obey God by accepting his mission to be mistreated along with the people of God.

• He thought about God’s people who were groaning under the yoke of Egypt rather than seeking his own personal pleasures and the glory of the world.

• When Moses chose to be mistreated along with his people, he gave up pleasure and comfort and chose suffering instead.

• Humanly speaking, it was a hard choice. But Moses chose to suffer with his people instead of being the prince of Egypt because he loved God.

• Like Moses, by faith we must refuse to be associated with the pleasures of this world. This world is not our eternal home.

• When we decide to follow God’s word, we will be mistreated by the world like Moses.

• The pleasures of this world are temporary and it cannot be compared to the eternal relationship we have with our God.

• Therefore, we must refuse to follow the pleasures of sin. Rather, we should remember how God called us out of our bondage to slavery in Egypt and separate ourselves from a sinful way of life and follow the will of God.

• When we read about Moses in the Bible, we learn that he made the right choice. Because of his choice, he did not become a mummy in Egypt.

• Instead, he was used by God and he could be a blessing to all of his spiritual descendants. The Christian life requires a choice before God.

• We made our personal decision of faith before God to serve young college campus students in America to obey Jesus’ command.

• God did not call us to have a better life in this world, but He called us to become Bible teachers and disciple makers for Jesus.

1-5, What prompted Moses to make his decision? (26)

26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

• Moses had another reason for choosing to suffer with his people.

• When Moses suffered, he suffered with Christ. Jesus Christ became our eternal high priest who went into heaven after offering his blood once for all.

• Now he is sitting at the right hand of God in glory. At the mount of transfiguration Moses was one of the servants talking with Jesus in honor.

• The author encouraged us to go through persecution and suffering to identify with Christ’ disgrace as Moses received disgrace for the sake of Christ.

• Likewise we must receive disgrace for the sake of Christ when we face all kinds of mistreatment simply because we love Christ.

Hebrews 11:6c says,

“He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

• Moses sought God's reward. For this, he could forsake the treasures of Egypt. He was sure of God's reward.

• These days there are many people who have no true sense of reward. Some people say, “I don’t need reward. I just live.”

• But in reality all people look forward to receiving their reward. This is the reason people are willing to suffer and work hard when they go to work or sacrifice their time and money to get an education.

• In the spiritual world the same is true. We are not seeking the temporary reward the world gives but seeking God’s eternal reward which is kept in heaven for all who live by faith.

• Apostle Paul valued Jesus more than anything in the world. He suffered for Christ to know the power of resurrection.

He said in Philippians 3:8,

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

• Paul gave up everything for the sake of Christ because he found great value in Jesus.

• What do you value most in your life? What did you give up for the sake of Christ? Let’s seek to have Jesus rather than seeking wealth or fame that this world offers.

• When we live for Jesus, we will be happy and satisfied.

Matthew 16:26 says,

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

1. Read verses 27-29. What enabled Moses to leave Egypt along with his people? (27) What was the significance of keeping the Passover? (28) When passing through the Red Sea, what happened to the Israelites in contrast to the Egyptians? (29) How can we apply this to our own lives?

2-1, Read verses 27-29.

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

2-2, What enabled Moses to leave Egypt along with his people? (27)

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

• We can think about this verse in two stages(Moses’ fugitive life and Moses’ life of leadership, leading the Israelites 40 years later) although it doesn’t specify.

• First, Moses became a political fugitive to the mighty Pharaoh. Suddenly Moses’ position was changed from a mighty prince of Egypt to a criminal.

• The king’s anger was burning against Moses because of his choice. But to Moses, his choice was clear. He made up his mind to live for God.

• Then God gave him spiritual eyes to see that God is Almighty. He decided to follow the king of heaven not the king of this world.

"He persevered because he saw him who is invisible."

• This tells more clearly the reason why Moses was not afraid of the king's anger and persevered through all hardships.

• It was because Moses could see God who is invisible with eyes of faith. It’s unimaginable how much he persevered in the wilderness.

• He spent the next forty years in the wilderness to receive humble training as God’s servant. He was tending dumb sheep day in and day out.

• He repeated the same things over and over. Through wilderness training, God built Moses’ character to become a humble and compassionate shepherd.

• Moses maintained a close relationship with God though he was in the desert. He had quiet time with the Lord away from the noise and distraction of the world.

• This close walk with God sustained Moses through all of his difficult days.

• Second, this verse may indicate that he led Israel during the time in Exodus 3.

• God sent Moses to confront Pharaoh and deliver his people from Egyptian bondage. Moses needed faith in God to do this.

• Humanly speaking, Pharaoh was the mightiest man on earth and Moses was a mere fugitive and criminal.

• Moses seemed to be no match for Pharaoh; it was like throwing an egg at a rock and expecting the rock to break.

• When Pharaoh got angry, he wanted to kill Moses. But by faith Moses persevered; it was because he saw him who is invisible—the King of kings.

2-3, What was the significance of keeping the Passover? (28)

By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

• Exodus was possible when the blood of the Passover lambs was shed. It was not easy for Moses to keep the Passover.

• How could the blood of a lamb on a doorframe save them from the Destroyer? But by faith Moses kept the Passover and the Israelites were saved.

• The Passover lamb foreshadows the coming of Jesus as the Lamb of God. By his blood, Jesus delivers us from the power of sin and Satan

2-4, When passing through the red sea how were the Israelites different from the Egyptians? (29)

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

• The event of crossing the Red Sea is described in Exodus 14. It was orchestrated by God for the purpose of planting faith in the hearts of his people and to display his glory to the Egyptians (14:4, 31).

• When Pharaoh realized that the departure of the Israelite slaves would drastically change Egypt’s economy and lifestyle, he decided to pursue them with his chariots and horsemen.

• Upon seeing the army of Egypt approaching them, the Israelites were terrified. When fear filled their hearts they forgot everything God had done, and complained bitterly to Moses: “Leave us alone! Let us serve the Egyptians! It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”

• Though they were physically free from Egypt, they were still bound by a slave’s mentality. At this moment, Moses planted faith in God, saying, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring today…The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Ex 14:13- 14).

• Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.”

• “Move on!” That was God’s command. Now they were in a dilemma: should they move on, or go back and return to slavery? When they looked at the walls of water on the right and left, it must have been scary.

• Would the water stay separated long enough for over a million people to pass through? They felt that they were risking their lives and families.

• Yet at this critical moment they listened to God’s word and obeyed his direction, and they moved on by faith. They simply trusted God and his servant Moses.

• They had one mind and one spirit and moved together as one body. Then they could pass through the Red Sea as on dry land. Praise God!

• Upon seeing this, the Egyptians thought, “Aha! Anything those Israelites can do, we can do better. We have chariots!”

• So they boldly tried to cross by their own effort. What was the result? God released the water and it swept them all away. They all drowned.

2-5, How can we apply it to our lives?

• Faith may seem like nothing. But having faith is a matter of life and death. God sees our hearts. We cannot deceive God.

• When we really trust God and have faith in our hearts, God knows this and is pleased by it and does something for us.

• When we depend on something else, such as military power, money and our own wisdom and experience, we cannot please God.

• The consequence of not pleasing God is serious. To God what matters is our faith. We can please God only by faith.

1. Read verses 30-31. How did the army destroy the walls of Jericho? (30a; Jos 6:12-20) How can we apply this to our life of faith? (30b) How is Rahab’s faith marked? (31; Jos 2:1, 9-14; 6:22-25; Mt 1:5)

3-1, Read verses 30-31.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

3-2, How did the army destroy the walls of Jericho? (30a; Jos 6:12-20)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell,

• Another key event was the conquest of Jericho, which took place forty years after the people passed through the Red Sea.

• During that forty year period, all the Israelites who were 20 years old or over fell in the desert. It was due to their distrust of God and grumbling against God and his servant Moses.

• God regarded their unbelief as a very serious sin. So he swore with an oath that they would never enter his rest, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, who trusted God (Nu 14:28-30).

• Now, the Exodus generation was gone and a new generation, under the leadership of Joshua, was at the border of the Promised Land.

• Jericho was the first major city that needed to be conquered. But the problem was that Jericho was surrounded by a great earthen rampart with a stone retaining wall which was 15 feet high.

• On top of that wall were two more tiers of mudbrick walls, about six feet wide, that extended over 45 feet high.

• The people of Jericho had shut themselves up behind these walls due to their fear. They were hunkered down to defend themselves.

• At this moment, God instructed the army to march around the city once a day for six days, following the ark of the covenant, carried by priests.

• On the seventh day they were to march around it seven times with the priests blowing their trumpets. After hearing a long blast on the trumpets the army was to give a loud shout. Then the wall of the city would collapse and they could go straight in.

• According to human reason, this was an odd way to fight a battle. They seemed vulnerable to enemy attacks. They could have been fearful and doubted God’s plan.

• But they simply trusted God. They followed the ark of God, which symbolized his presence and his word.

• Every day they marched around with prayerful hearts. Then God was pleased with their faith and he made the walls of Jericho fall. This is the victory of faith.

3-3, How can we apply this to our life of faith? (30b)

after the army had marched around them for seven days.

• From these two events(Passover and Jericho) we learn the importance of the faith of God’s community.

• The author intentionally focused on the people and the army, not just their leaders.

• This tells us that God works not just through one person’s faith, but through the faith of his people as a community.

• God wants us as his church to strive together as one for the faith of the gospel.

Philippians 1:27 reads,

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel

• The enemies of the gospel are strong. When we look at the world, anti-Christian elements are rapidly increasing. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12).

• Satan’s power is behind media and organizations that promote sinful lifestyles while seeking to destroy Christian values. Satan works through those who trust in money to turn people against God.

• We cannot fight against this with our own wisdom and the democratic system. We need God’s help. So we should not fight with human means.

• Rather we need to put on the full armor of God and take up the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

• And we need to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph 6:17-18).

• Sometimes we feel that our Bible study ministry and prayer is insignificant. But these are the spiritual weapons that God uses with his divine power.

• Paul says, “…they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2Co 10:4b).

• Let’s continue to study and teach the God’s word diligently and to pray. God can use us to demolish the spiritual forces of evil in our time. In conquering

3-4, How is Rahab’s faith marked? (31; Jos 2:1, 9-14; 6:22-25; Mt 1:5)

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

• Rahab’s role was crucial. She was one of the Canaanites, who were an idol worshiping people, and a prostitute.

• Humanly speaking, the Israelite spies were her enemies. But she welcomed them and defended them, at the risk of her own life.

• It was because she saw the one true God at work through them and she believed he would keep his promises to them.

• So she stood on God’s side, instead of with her own people who were corrupted and facing God’s judgment.

• God honored her faith and saved her as well as her household. Furthermore, God included her in the genealogy of the Messiah Jesus Christ (Mt 1:5).

• This shows us very clearly that what matters to God is only faith.

Conclusion

Today we have learned how important it is to have faith as parents. God also blessed Moses’ faith of decision. May the Lord help us to see the importance of the faith of the community as the Israelites passed through the red sea and conquered the Jericho. In America Christians are becoming a minority. Being disciples, shepherds, or missionaries appeared to be unpopular from worldly point of view. But we are more than conquerors and history makers to please the Lord Almighty God. May the Lord value the life of faith the most and continue to claim the victory in our lives. Amen.

One word: Moses chose to be mistreated with the people of God!

Disgrace for the sake of Christ

Hebrews 11:23-31

Key Verse 11:24

“He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

There is a big difference between the last Sunday message and today’s message. Mainly the Israelites became slaves in Egypt. The last Sunday message taught us the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. God revealed himself to them and gave them the promise, and they all became heirs of the same promise. The promise was all peoples on earth would be blessed through their descendants. It was the promise of Christ to come. So they lived in the hope of the kingdom of God which Christ would bring.

After Joseph died, the Israelites became slaves of Egypt. It lasted about 400 years, and their suffering was great. Now today’s passage shows how the Lord delivered the Israelites from their land of slavery to the promised land. In doing this, the Lord God used the faith of Moses’ parents and Moses. Faith brings many miracles in our lives. But arguably the greatest miracle faith can bring for us is to save us and save others. So today we want to see how the Lord use the faith of Moses’ parents and Moses in delivering them and his people from the slavery to the land of promise. We also want to see how the Lord can use our faith to save us and others. My message has two parts. Part I. By faith Moses’ parents (v.23) Part II. By faith Moses (v.24-31)

Part I. By faith Moses’ parents (v.23)

Look at verse 23.

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”

The new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph was afraid of the great number of the Israelites because they multiplied so much under God’s blessings. Then he feared that the Israelites might join in his enemies when a war broke out. So he tried to reduce the number of the Israelites. He ordered Hebrew midwives to kill all the boys as soon as they were born. But it did not work because the Hebrew midwives feared God and allowed the boys live. Finally the Pharaoh issued an edict that all the boys should be thrown into the Nile as soon as they were born. Now the Israelites were really miserable because they had to see powerlessly when their sons were thrown into the Nile and be killed.

They were already slaves, and their lives were already miserable. But now to bear the pain of seeing all their sons to be thrown into the Nile was unbearable. What could they do? Nothing. Their lives as slaves at that time reached the rock bottom. Surely it was the darkest moment of their lives. But God started to deliver his people at the darkest moments of their lives.

Moses’ parents were not an exception. They had to either allow the Egyptians to throw away their son to the Nile or resist the king’s edict and be killed. What did they do? By Faith. “By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”

Think about it! How can Moses’ parents hide their son for 3 months when all the Egyptian armies would visit house by house and got all the information about pregnant women, and they were waiting to throw away their sons. It was simply impossible task to hide their son, furthermore for 3 months. How could they do such an impossible task? By faith. When they believed in God, God accepted their faith and performed miracles. Somehow Egyptian soldiers could not hear the cry of baby Moses when they walked by.

Faith and fear are opposite. If you have faith you cannot have fear. If you have fear you cannot have faith in God. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for 3 months and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. Because of their faith they could see their new born son, Moses, was a fine child. In the darkest moment in their lives Moses’ parents believed in God almighty, and they did one thing by faith, and God used their faith to deliver 600,000 people later. God started to work at the darkest moment of their lives.

Such a great deliverance started from one act of faith. Who knows God is preparing now a great spiritual deliverance of many people and our one act of faith can be the seedbed.

To be parents is not easy job. But God has already made us parents, parents for our children at home, parents for our students on campuses and parents for those whom we care in our church. How can become good parents? How can we protect our children from the power of sin and death? How can we hide them from the power of sin and death and save them? We cannot do so. But when we have faith in God God will do it. The Lord God will accept our faith and he will perform miracles. As if he performed miracles so that Egyptian soldiers could not hear the cry of baby Moses he would also perform miracles and save our children from the power of sin and death.

Msn Monica prayed for Seth so many years. By faith she had hidden him from the power of sin and death for many years, and Seth has been protected so far. Surely as the Lord used the faith of Moses’ parents to save Moses, he also can use our faith to save our children.

Part II. By faith Moses (v.24-31)

Look at verses 24-28.

“²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.”

How did Moses became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter? When Moses’ parents could not keep him anymore, they made a papyrus boat and sent him on the Nile. Then a Pharaoh’s daughter found him and had compassion on him. She knew he was a Hebrew baby. But the Lord gave her compassion and Moses was adopted as her son, the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

The verse 28, shows how the Lord used Moses’ faith to deliver his people. Before the Lord used Moses to save his people, Moses had to make one critical decision in his life. He had to choose either to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter or a Hebrew who was slave. It was about his identity. But his choice comes with huge consequences.

Firstly, to refuse to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter comes with mistreatment and the loss of pleasures of sin. Look at verse 25. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Moses’ choice was between ‘mistreatment’ and ‘pleasures of sin.’ Who wants to be mistreated? We all wanted to be treated well and honorably. When we are mistreated we are hurt and we become angry and we do not want to forgive those who mistreat us for the rest of our lives. But Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God.

What does it mean by “the people of God”? It means people belonging to God. It means people who exist for the purpose of God and for the service of God. Most of all, the people of God means they are people who should reveal who God is.

Jesus asks us to good to those who hate us, and bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. How can we do good to those who hate us? How can we bless those who curse us? How can we pray for those who mistreat us? How can we do so? Can we do so? Yes, we can. How and why? We can do so because we are the people of God. We have our sinful nature. But our sinful desire does not change who we are – we are the people of God.

The Hebrews were the people of God although they were mistreated slaves. So he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God. The cost of Moses’ choice was not only inviting mistreatment but also losing pleasures of sin. Egypt has tons of pleasures of sin. If he wanted he could have unlimited girl friends, drugs, video games, adulterous relationships and videos etc. You name it. But Moses lost all their pleasure of sin when he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God.

Secondly, to refuse to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter comes with ‘disgrace’. Verse 26 reads, “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” To be the son of Pharaoh’s daughter would bring him ‘treasures of Egypt’ and ‘honor’ to be prince of Egypt and possibility to become Pharaoh himself. But his choice to be people of God would bring him “disgrace”.

Who wants to be ‘disgraced’? Recently one pastor committed suicide when his name was in the list of those who contacted “Ashly Madison”. The website encourages married husbands and wives to seek secret boyfriends and girlfriends. He was a pastor and seminary professor. His memo for his family members was ‘he was just very, very sorry.’ He chose rather to die than to be disgraced.

“Disgrace” comes with “unbearable shame”. We want ‘honor’ not ‘disgrace’. But Moses’ choice to refuse to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter would bring him ‘disgrace.’

But Moses chose ‘disgrace’. Why? It was because his disgrace was for the sake of Christ. What does it mean “disgrace for the sake of Christ”? Probably it means ‘his disgrace was to reveal Christ’ or at least ‘his disgrace resembles Jesus’ disgrace.’ Moses knew his disgrace came when he identified himself as the people of God rather than the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

The Israelites became the people of God when God promised that he would send Christ to bless all peoples on earth through their descendants. So God called them to be the people of God to reveal Christ.

But why then does God have to reveal Christ through mistreatment and disgrace? Why didn’t he reveal Christ through glory and power? It is because Christ was most vividly revealed through mistreatment and disgrace. Jesus was mistreated along with sinners and was crucified as one of sinners. Christ was revealed the most through his disgrace. When he was insulted, mocked, and humiliated on the cross, he was revealed the most. In fact, Christ chose to be mistreated along with sinners and he was disgraced for the sinners. Because he was mistreated and disgraced for sinners, the sinners did not need to be mistreated and disgraced.

How nice it would be if Christ is revealed in miracles and glory? But that was not God’s way. The devil tempted Jesus to reveal himself as the son of God and Christ by making bread out of stone, and jumping from the highest point of the temple in full view of people but Chris refused. The devil promised all the treasures, glory, and splendor of all the kingdoms, but Jesus refused. Jesus refused to be known as the son of God through miraculous powers, wonders, and glory and easy way but with pains and sufferings, insult, mocking, humiliation, mistreatment, and disgrace.

Moses regarded ‘disgrace for the sake of Christ’ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. Moses would lose treasures in Egypt.

What is our common vocabulary that can describe ‘treasures in Egypt’? “Money”. We regard money highly. But Jesus taught us money is the greatest idol of men. Money can be the object of devil’s greatest temptation. So Jesus taught us how we should store up our treasures in heaven.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21,24 “¹⁹ Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ^{“ “24} No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

1 Timothy 6:10 reads, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

If we love money we are inviting all kinds of evil. Not only greed but also lust, anger, unthankfulness, powerlessness, unforgiveness etc. You name it.

Judas Iscariot sold Jesus, his own shepherd and God for 30 shekels of silver. Did he enjoy the money? No. He threw away the money and he hanged himself. It is not others but Judas himself who pierced himself with many griefs.

When we try to reveal Christ we invariably find that we are mistreated and disgraced too. When we try to invite students to bible study or try to help our children at home and help them to grow to be disciples of Jesus through 1:1 bible studies we can experience mistreatment and disgrace. Then we wonder why we have to reveal Christ in such a way of mistreatment and disgrace? Why are to deny ourselves all the more and keep on doing? Are we crazy? Are we so stupid? Did we not have enough failure that we want to keep on doing? Why do we do that? Why do we expose ourselves to disgrace day after day, year after year despite many failures? Why do we do that instead of looking for some powerful and glorious way to reveal Christ. But we do so because Christ revealed himself in the way of mistreatment and disgrace. Christ chose to be mistreated along with sinners and he regarded disgrace for the sake of sinner as of greater value than his own life. In this way he saved sinners from mistreatment and disgrace.

Moses regarded ‘disgrace for the sake of Christ’ as of greater value than treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward. Verse 26 reads, ““He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” Moses knew ‘disgrace for the sake of Christ” would bring him reward which was beyond his imagination.

Jesus also promised reward for his people. Jesus said in Matthew 19:28-29. “²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

Regarding the reward from God, apostle Paul also said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

So Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. It brought him mistreatment, loss of pleasures of sin, disgrace, loss of treasures in Egypt, but with God’s reward.

Now look at verse 27. “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” To leave Egypt was not easy because it means he would give up all the treasures of Egypt and pleasures of sin on a permanent basis. In addition it comes with fear of losing his life. Out of anger, the king of Egypt could send many assassins, undercover terrorists to kill him. Who would want to choose such a life? If you become the most wanted man in America, how would you feel? But Moses left Egypt by faith.

To leave Egypt came with another cost. It is to persevere. Look at verse 27. “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” In the desert Moses had to persevere 40 years of life as a refuge in a foreign land. In despair he could have committed a lot of sin and give up his moral standard. But he persevered. Moses’ decision of faith did not end in one day. He had to make continued decision to persevere day after day for 40 years. How could he do so? He could do so because he saw God who is invisible. Mother Barry also shared that she did not make one big decision not to marry but she made many small decisions which led her not to marry eventually.

Now all of Moses’ noble choice would not have much meaning if it was not used for the sake of Christ. But the Lord used Moses to reveal Christ. Look at verse 28. “²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.”

The destruction of the firstborn never happened in human history. The Israelites never heard of application of blood on their doorposts. But Moses kept the Passover and the application of blood because he believed. Because he believed he encouraged his people to believe in the power of the blood of the Passover lamb.

Then the destroyer of the firstborn passed over houses which had the blood of the lamb. The blood of the Passover lamb ultimately refers to Jesus’ blood. When Moses regarded ‘disgrace for the sake of Christ’ Christ was most vividly revealed when he kept the Passover and the application of blood by faith.

When we have faith in Jesus’ blood, the destroyer would pass over us and we will be delivered from death. Faith in the blood of the Passover lamb has miraculous power. The Israelites were delivered from death when they believed the power of the Passover lamb on their doorposts.

Now faith in Jesus’ blood, the true Passover Lamb, has miraculous power to save men beyond human understanding. Faith in Jesus will lead us into God’s spiritual world where God is ruling as King and nothing is impossible with him and everything is impossible to the one who believes.

There was something more in order to go to the promised land. Look at verse 29. ^“ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”

Moses learned faith. Now it was the turn of the Israelites to learn faith. They had to cross the Red Sea. They could pass it as on dry land because they did it by faith. But when the Egyptians tried to do so by human strength they were all drowned. The difference between ‘dry land’ and ‘being drowned’ is the difference between ‘faith’ and ‘no faith’.

The crossing the Red Sea was not the end. Look at verse 30 and 31.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Jericho was the first battle in the promised land. It was ‘must win’ battle because losing the battle means they had to retreat from the promised land into the wilderness again, and the news of their defeat would encourage their enemies greatly in the promised land. So to take possession of the promised land would become almost impossible.

But, it was impossible for the Israelites to conquer Jericho because people in Jericho closely shut their city. But God’s way to conquer Jericho was to march around the city for 7 days. When the army had done it the walls of Jericho fell.

And the prostitute Rahab was saved because she hid the spies. She had faith to see the conquering Jericho was the will of God and she was saved.

In conclusion, faith can bring many miracles in our lives. But the greatest miracle could be to save ourselves and save others. The Lord used the faith of Moses’ parents and Moses to deliver his people from slavery to the promised land. The Lord wants to use our faith to save us and many others.

Most of all, the Lord wants us to know we are the people of God, and he chose us and called us to reveal Christ. The way Christ revealed himself is through mistreatment and disgrace rather than glorious ways.

One word: disgrace for the sake of Christ