Faith That Inspires: Moses
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.—Hebrews 11:23–28
Our Faith That Inspires series brings us to Moses, the leading figure in Jewish history. As you will remember, the original readers of Hebrews were Jewish believers who were under tremendous pressure to abandon their faith. In these six verses, the author brings the most influential man in their history to the spotlight. Moses rescued them from slavery, gave them the very words of God as their law, and was a hero of faith to believers. Most importantly, he took a stand for God and God’s people.
Our Faith That Inspires series brings us to Moses, the leading figure in Jewish history. As you will remember, the original readers of Hebrews were Jewish believers who were under tremendous pressure to abandon their faith. In these six verses, the author brings the most influential man in their history to the spotlight. Moses rescued them from slavery, gave them the very words of God as their law, and was a hero of faith to believers. Most importantly, he took a stand for God and God’s people.
Discussion Questions
- Moses is one of the most famous people in the Bible. If you could meet him and ask him one question, what would it be?
- Read Exodus 1:15-22, Exodus 2:1-10 and Exodus 6:20. Moses’ faith began with his parents. What choices might they have made that would have changed history? How is their experience relevant to modern times?
- Moses was raised as a prince in Pharaoh’s court but rejected that life to embrace God’s people. Were his years as a prince wasted time? Why or why not?
- Read Luke 9:28-36 and Hebrews 11:26. These verses speak to Moses’ relationship with Jesus. The word translated as “departure” in Luke 9:31 is “exodus.” What are the similarities between Moses’ exodus and Jesus’? What does Hebrews 11:26 indicate about Moses’ understanding of Jesus?
- Moses was an eyewitness to Pharaoh’s power and the consequences of his wrath for much of his life. What does Hebrews 11:27 tell us about Moses’ courage? What was its source? How does that help us in our own life?
- Read Exodus 12:12-48. The first Passover symbolized God’s protection from His judgment of sin at the cost of the life of an innocent lamb. Christians understand this to foreshadow Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, but when did that sacrifice occur?
- Read Revelation 13:8 and 1 Peter 1:19-20. What do these verses teach us about the sacrifice of Jesus? In what ways was it both a moment in history and an eternal decision in the heart of God?
Digging Deeper: Walking with God
Read Exodus 33:18–23, Deuteronomy 4:12, Psalm 97:2, Romans 1:20, and 1 Timothy 1:17.
What do these passages tell us about God? God is unknowable unless He reveals Himself. The Bible says He has done that in two ways. Romans 1:20 says He has revealed Himself to everyone through Creation. Theologians call that “general revelation.” It means everyone knows that God exists by looking at the things He has made.
Read John 1:18, Colossians 1:15.
The second kind of revelation is called “special revelation,” which is the Word of God. Beyond His works, we have His Word (Greek “Logos”). When the Word of the Lord came to prophets, apostles, and others He divinely inspired, the words they spoke and wrote were God’s words and are now our Holy Scripture.
The ultimate Word of God is Jesus, who is Himself the Word (see John 1:1-5). Today we follow God’s Word and are guided by His Holy Spirit, who lives within us as our Helper in communicating with God and empowering us to obey Him. He reveals Himself to us daily as we follow Jesus, looking ahead to the day we will know Him “face to face” (see 1 Corinthians 13:12)
2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Our passage today tells us that Moses “looked to the reward” “as seeing Him who is “unseen.”
What do these passages tell us about God? God is unknowable unless He reveals Himself. The Bible says He has done that in two ways. Romans 1:20 says He has revealed Himself to everyone through Creation. Theologians call that “general revelation.” It means everyone knows that God exists by looking at the things He has made.
Read John 1:18, Colossians 1:15.
The second kind of revelation is called “special revelation,” which is the Word of God. Beyond His works, we have His Word (Greek “Logos”). When the Word of the Lord came to prophets, apostles, and others He divinely inspired, the words they spoke and wrote were God’s words and are now our Holy Scripture.
The ultimate Word of God is Jesus, who is Himself the Word (see John 1:1-5). Today we follow God’s Word and are guided by His Holy Spirit, who lives within us as our Helper in communicating with God and empowering us to obey Him. He reveals Himself to us daily as we follow Jesus, looking ahead to the day we will know Him “face to face” (see 1 Corinthians 13:12)
2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Our passage today tells us that Moses “looked to the reward” “as seeing Him who is “unseen.”
Posted in Sermon Notes