Connect Hebrews 11:27 with Exodus 2:15. How does faith influence Moses' actions? Setting the Scene • Moses grows up in Pharaoh’s palace yet is “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22) and simultaneously aware of his Hebrew identity. • At age forty he steps in to defend an Israelite slave, kills an Egyptian oppressor, and buries the body (Exodus 2:11–12). • Word spreads; Pharaoh issues a death warrant (Exodus 2:15). Exodus 2:15—Flight to Midian “When Pharaoh heard about this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.” Key observations: • Immediate danger: Pharaoh’s anger is lethal. • Moses’ initial emotional response (v.14) includes fear: “Then Moses was afraid…” • His action—fleeing—removes him from Egypt’s power structure and from Israelite bondage alike. Hebrews 11:27—Faith’s Perspective “By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.” Key observations: • Motivation: “by faith,” not self-preservation. • Emotional posture: “not fearing the king’s anger.” • Endurance: “he persevered” (lit. “endured as seeing”—he keeps on in a settled course). • Vision: “Him who is invisible”—Moses acts as though God’s unseen presence is the ultimate reality. Reconciling the Two Verses 1. Two departures • First departure: Exodus 2:15 (age 40, alone). • Second departure: Exodus 12–14 (age 80, leading Israel out). • Hebrews 11:27 most naturally aligns with the second departure, when Moses repeatedly confronts Pharaoh, instituting Passover and leading Israel to the Red Sea “not fearing the king’s anger.” 2. Faith’s growth journey • Exodus 2 captures Moses mid-process: an awakened sense of calling but still dominated by human impulse and fear. • Forty years in Midian refine him; the burning bush encounter (Exodus 3–4) shifts his outlook from self-reliance to God-reliance. 3. Scripture’s harmony • Hebrews celebrates the mature, tested faith that eventually characterized Moses. • Exodus faithfully records the raw starting point that required divine shaping. Faith’s Influence on Moses’ Actions • Redefines identity: Hebrews 11:24–26 shows Moses “refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” and choosing God’s people over palace privilege. • Redirects courage: Facing Pharaoh with ten plagues (Exodus 7–12) displays a boldness born of trust, not bravado. • Sustains perseverance: “He persevered” through plagues, desert complaints, and forty years of wilderness leadership (Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 34:5). • Fixes vision on the unseen: Exodus 33:11; 34:29-35—Moses communes with God “face to face,” anchoring him beyond visible circumstances. Parallel Passages that Illuminate Faith over Fear • Psalm 27:1—“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” • Isaiah 41:10—“Do not fear, for I am with you…” • 2 Timothy 1:7—“God has not given us a spirit of fear…” • 1 John 4:18—“Perfect love drives out fear.” Snapshots of Faith in Action • Burning bush commission (Exodus 3:10–12): Initial hesitation, but ultimate obedience. • Passover night (Exodus 12:28): He instructs Israel to apply blood, trusting unseen deliverance. • Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:13): “Do not be afraid. Stand firm…”—faith speaks before waters part. • Intercession at Rephidim (Exodus 17:9-13): Staff lifted, faith expressed through prayer and action. Takeaways for Contemporary Disciples • Faith grows: God meets us at our Exodus 2 fears and matures us toward Hebrews 11 confidence. • Faith looks beyond threats: Seeing “Him who is invisible” reframes opposition and risk. • Faith acts: True belief moves feet—whether fleeing to Midian for preparation or standing before Pharaoh in confrontation. • Faith perseveres: Endurance is not grit alone but sustained vision of God’s character and promises. |
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