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The Epistle to the Hebrews.
#57.
Moses. The triumph of faith (11: 24-28).
pp. 4 - 9
The faith that marked the infant days of Moses was prominent in his after life. One or
two notable manifestations of that faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and
the evidence of things not seen, are given in the record of Heb. 11::--
Substance.--"Refusing . . . . . choosing . . . . . esteeming, for he had respect unto the
recompense of the reward" (Heb. 11: 24-26).
Not seen.--"Forsook . . . . . not fearing . . . . . for he endured as seeing Him Who is
invisible" (Heb. 11: 27, 28).
No act of faith is recorded of Moses until "he was come to years". The original has it:
"having become great", which is a quotation from the LXX of Exod. 2: 11, and refers to
his growth in years as much as, if not more than, to his greatness in wealth and position,
although this, too belongs to the expression (see Gen. 24: 35).
The example of Moses very aptly illustrates the exhortation of Heb. 5: 14; 6: 1:
"Them that are of full age . . . . . leaving . . . . . let us go on." When faith is tested there is
no make-believe about it. Moses was great, learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
and mighty in words and deeds (Acts 7: 22). He apparently had a definite offer made by
Pharaoh's daughter of formal adoption into the royal house. It was a very real test.
Abraham's trial of faith, too, was intensely real. Nothing on earth could have been so
dear in his eyes as his beloved son Isaac. Paul's test of faith was real. The renunciation
of the position and privilege of being a Hebrew and a Pharisee cannot be easily estimated
by such as ourselves to-day.
The activities of faith.
Moses refused, chose, esteemed, had respect, forsook, endured, and kept by faith.
He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season.
He esteemed the reproach for Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.
He had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
He forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.
He endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible.
He kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood.
To the Hebrews had been written:--
"Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in
heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompense of reward" (Heb. 10: 34, 35).