Hebrews 11:23-31

23: 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. 
29: By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

30: By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 
31: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

*** 

Paul used Moses next as an example of faith, pointing out certain incidents throughout his life. When he was born, there was an order in place by Pharaoh for all Hebrew male babies to be killed (Exodus 1:15-16), but Moses’ parents hid him for three months, then put him in the river where he was found by Pharoah’s daughter and spared. He was nursed by his own mother and then given to be raised by Pharoah’s daughter (Exodus 2:1-10).

When Moses was grown, it was by faith that he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to endure the reproach of his own people rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin. He defended a Hebrew being beaten by an Egyptian which Pharaoh tried to kill him for. By faith he fled Egypt, looking to God rather than Pharaoh’s wrath.

Many years later when God called Moses back to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from their slavery, he kept the Passover by faith so the Israelites would be protected from the final plague of death to the firstborn (Exodus 12:21-23). By faith they went through the Red Sea after the sea parted when Moses held out his staff as God said to do to escape the Egyptians (Exodus 14:16).

These actions by Moses, and his parents, revealed their faith in God—their belief that He was real and would respond to, and reward, the corresponding actions of their belief. If we believe God is real, and that He involves Himself with our lives, rewarding our faith in Him, then our lives will display our faith—our assurance of things hoped for, and our conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, 6). Paul also mentioned the faith of the Israelites when they marched around Jericho as God instructed them to do to conquer the city (Joshua 6), and the faith of Rahab the harlot who had hidden Israel’s spies in exchange for protection when they conquered Jericho (Joshua 2). Their marching and her hiding were evidence of their faith.


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