Ridiculous Faith: Faith Is Courageous
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance or the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:23-29
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
- Now there are five critical moments in Moses’ life:
The first crisis has to do with the Faith of Moses’ parents when he was born.
Exodus 1:22
22 So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born (Jewish son) you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
- Faith is Courageous:
That act of Courage against the king, and that act of love toward their son, both came from Faith. - Faith is Courageous:
Courageous Faith also works hand in hand with Wisdom - I want to skip over the second act of faith in Hebrews 11: 24-26 and go to the third act in verse 27. Then we will come back to the second act……
Exodus 2:11
11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
Exodus 2:14 says,
Then Moses was afraid, and said, ‘Surely the matter has become known.'”
Exodus 2:15
15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
Hebrews 11:27
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
#1 Is that Faith is Courageous
#2 Is that Faith Endures
- It wasn’t fear at the core that caused Moses to leave Egypt, it was Endurance.
- Now we can go back and pick up the second act of faith that we passed over.
Hebrews 11:24-26
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
- Paul tells us the path Moses had chosen in two ways:
- First (in verse 25) it is the choosing of ill-treatment with the people of God over the passing pleasures of sin.
- Second (in verse 26) it is the choosing of reproach for Christ (the Messiah) over the treasures of Egypt.
- This choice was made BEFORE the threat of Pharaoh.
- For he Endured by looking to God’s Promise, not Pharaoh’s threat.
Hebrews 11:28-29
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
- The fourth act of faith, verse 28, was that at Passover they put the lamb’s blood over their doorpost, trusting that the Blood of the Lamb would save them and bring them Life and it did!!!
- The fifth act of faith is found in verse 29, Moses Faith shows us in the middle of crisis where there seems to be no way out……when there is a sea in front of you and an army of enemies behind you. Verse 29 says: By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
- Faith is a hunger for God that triumphs over our hunger for the pleasures of this world.
- Faith unleashes Ridiculously God-Centered, Courageous, People-Loving Behavior.
- Let’s be like Moses:
- Look to the reward of God’s promises, as it says in verse 26.
- Look to the God who is unseen, as it says in verse 27.
- Let’s be so hungry for the worth of our God, that the bridges are burned to a hundred sins and its pleasures and a hundred fears and its worries