Title: Faith of Moses/Hebrews 11:23-26
Some people follow the holy will of God and leave righteous, good and beautiful footprints, and have a great influence not only on their living world but also on future generations, and teach them to live a beautiful, precious, good, and great life by following him. There is this. On the other hand, some people wander on the evil road and get lost, and there are others who spend their whole life wandering and disappearing into darkness. If you look at the life of Moses in today's text, you can see the footsteps of starting with faith and accomplishing God's will through faith. Then, we would like to share the grace of God while pondering the Word about what kind of faith Moses had.
First, it was a faith that knew how to reject unworthy things.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's princess” (verse 24). As the son of Pharaoh's princess, Moses was guaranteed wealth and honor and status. However, he refused the throne of Egypt. This is because, as a member of the nation of Israel, he also wanted to suffer along with his people Israel, who were slaves in Egypt at the time, rather than enjoying wealth and glory in the position of the royal descendants of Egypt. We have things to accept and things to reject in this world. A true believer is someone who knows how to reject things that are not worthy of God. God chose Moses, who rejected what was unworthy of God, and made him the leader who saved the nation of Israel from Egypt.
Second, it was the faith that knew how to form a community.
“I rather prefer to suffer with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while” (verse 25). He preferred to be with God's people. He wanted to share life and death with his people, the Israelites. The important thing in our life of faith is that just because we have a direct relationship with God, we cannot be said to have passed the faith. We must have a good relationship with 'the Lord and me, and our neighbors and me'. The true meaning of life is in the life we live together (Psalm 133:1~3).
Third, it was the faith that knew how to overcome hardships.
“Rather, he preferred to suffer with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while” (verse 25). Those who can overcome hardships are those who can do great things. The Roman philosopher Seneca said, 'Fire refines iron, and adversity refines man'. Thomas Edison, the inventor of electricity, has a record of failing 200 times to succeed once. The reason suffering comes to God's people is to help them find only God. Revelation 2:10 tells us not to be afraid of suffering.
Fourth, it was a faith that looked to God who would reward him.
“The reproach given for the sake of Christ was regarded as greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, for they looked to the reward” (verse 26). Moses believed in a rewarding God. God always makes you reap what you sow. If you do righteousness, you will receive the reward of righteousness, and if you do evil, you will receive the judgment of evil. God rewards us for what we do. I believe that the crown of gold, the crown of life, the crown of righteousness, and the crown of glory will be given to those who are faithful to death for the Lord, those who preach the gospel, and those who overcome to the end.
Dear saints, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become victorious believers by imitating the faith of Moses, knowing how to reject unworthy things, forming a community, overcoming hardships, and having faith in God who will reward you.