Hebrews 11:23-28 - 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

The passage from Hebrews 11:23-28 highlights the incredible faith of Moses at various stages of his life. As a baby, Moses' parents hid him for three months, trusting God to protect him from Pharaoh's edict to kill all Hebrew male infants. They were not afraid, but acted in faith to preserve Moses' life. As Moses grew up in Pharaoh's household, he faced a critical decision point. Would he embrace his privileged status as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter and enjoy all the fleeting pleasures of sin that came with it? Or would he identify with his oppressed Hebrew people and suffer mistreatment with them? By faith, Moses chose to turn his back on the treasures and prestige of Egypt, considering the reproach he would face for following God to be of greater eternal value. He looked ahead to his future reward in heaven. Moses then took the step of leaving Egypt behind, not fearing Pharaoh's anger, but seeing by faith the invisible God who called him. Later, Moses again demonstrated great faith by instituting the Passover and sprinkling the blood of lambs on the doorposts of the Hebrews, trusting that act of obedience and the blood itself would cause the destroying angel to pass over their firstborn. At every stage, Moses chose to obey God and live by faith rather than fear, no matter the earthly consequences. His eternal perspective, valuing God's approval over man's, enabled him to lead his people to freedom.

The remarkable faith of Moses challenges and convicts us as followers of Jesus today. From birth, Moses' life was marked by the faith of his parents who trusted God in the face of an earthly ruler's murderous decree. They did not shrink back in fear, but took action to save their son, believing God had a plan for his life. We too must not let fear immobilize us, but step out in faith to obey God. As he grew up, Moses faced a decisive moment where he had to choose between worldly comfort and prosperity or identifying with God's people and embracing temporary suffering for eternal reward. He chose to see the fleeting pleasures of sin as not worth comparing to the lasting joy of knowing and obeying God, even if it meant facing the anger of Pharaoh. We are often tempted to compromise in big or small ways in order to fit in, avoid suffering, or get ahead in this life. But Moses' example calls us to an eternal, kingdom perspective. Any earthly treasure we gain by sinful compromise will eventually rust and fade away. But the rewards we store up in heaven by living wholeheartedly for Jesus will last forever. Moses' faith also enabled him to obey God's instructions for the Passover, even when it may have seemed irrational in the natural. The blood of lambs didn't appear to have any power in itself to ward off death. But Moses trusted the word of the Lord and it resulted in the protection and liberation of God's people. We walk by faith and not by sight, obeying God even when we can't see or understand the full picture. As we do, we can trust that the blood of our Passover Lamb Jesus covers and protects us from the penalty and power of sin and death. Ultimately, Moses endured and overcame great opposition by fixing his eyes not on the visible circumstances, but on the invisible God who called and empowered him. In our journey of faith, we will face many trials, obstacles and even enemies. But when we set our gaze on our mighty, faithful God and the future hope we have in Christ, we will not lose heart. We can live with bold, persevering faith, trusting our sovereign Lord is always with us and will surely bring to completion the good work He's begun. May Moses' example spur us on to love and good deeds, investing in eternity.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the inspiring example of faith You have given us in Moses. I confess that too often, I let fear of others or challenging circumstances keep me from fully obeying You. Forgive me for the times I've chosen temporary pleasure and worldly approval over enduring faithfulness to You. Lord, strengthen my faith to see beyond what is visible to this world, and to fix my eyes on You, the author and perfecter of my faith. Give me an eternal perspective to value the rewards of knowing and pleasing You above all else. Help me to trust in the covering and cleansing of Jesus' blood shed for me. Empower me to obey Your word, even when it's costly or doesn't make sense to the world around me. May I be willing to endure suffering and reproach for Your name's sake, knowing that You see and will reward even the smallest acts of faithfulness. Use my life as a testimony that points others to put their hope in You alone. Thank You that as I walk by faith, I never walk alone. Your presence goes with me and Your grace is sufficient for me. In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen.