faith and choices

“Faith and Choices”

Hebrews 11:23-29

Moses…•M. El-Erian was one of the highest paid financiers in the world in 2013•He suddenly quit his $100M/year job with no explanation– but revealed the reason recently•His 10 year old daughter had given him a list of 22 things he’d missed in her life that year

Moses…•He since has taken several part time jobs, and bought the NY Jets•Moses is the most revered ancient Hebrew to the Jews today•He made a similar choice to El-Erian•He left all-power, to follow God•There are three stages that everyone who decides to follow God must go through…

“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.”

Hebrews 11:23-29, NASB

A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•Vs 23-26,

“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.”


A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•Vs 23-26, I’m sure all parents think this way, but God blessed•We must give some cultural background to understand Moses’ circumstances…•Rich delta land gave Egypt a huge advantage over neighboring countries, especially in times of famine

A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•Moses benefited greatly– he was raised as Pharaoh’s grandson•Best education, training, food•According to Egyptian oracles, Moses was a statesman and a soldier– when Ethiopia attacked Egypt, Moses was given command of the Royal troops

A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•Moses’ army defeated the Ethiopians and brought back slaves and spoils to Egypt•Josephus wrote that Moses was a crown prince– in line to be Pharaoh himself one day•Now you can understand the choice he made– weighing the material against the spiritual

A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•Vs 25-26 draw the mental picture of a fork in the road, forcing choice

“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.”


A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•Vs 25-26 draw the mental picture of a fork in the road, forcing choice•One way was broad, well-traveled, and well-paved with golden opportunities and many enticements to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin•The other, pot-holed with uncertain footing, shaky bridges, and rough rocky territory ahead

A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life•The Greek word ‘heg-eo-mai’, tells us that he thought through the choices before he made them•‘Considered’ has the literal definition “to lead, to go before, to think ahead”•Moses looked far down the road to where his decisions would take him, thinking through eternity•The reward for enduring the reproach of Christ outweighed the experience of enjoying anything Egypt had to offer

B. Stage 2: Determination to Leave•V 27, Moses’ decision was not a casual one—

“27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.”

Hebrews 11:27, NASB

B. Stage 2: Determination to Leave•V 27, Moses’ decision was not a casual one—•He left everything except the clothes he had on at the moment•The choice took amazing determination: choosing the invisible, imperishable, impossible•He believed God could cover the wrath of Pharaoh

C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will•Vs 28-29, to understand what is happening, we must read Exodus 12 too…

“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.”


“7 Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.”

Exodus 12:7, NASB

“12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the

houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:13-13, NASB

C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will•Vs 28-29, you can imagine Moses putting up the blood•A highly educated man, Moses did this “strange” thing•Not only that, he will cross the Red Sea soon…•God may ask many “strange” things from you in your walk…

C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will•Many people will be derisive about your faith and say things like•“Well, I don’t believe in a God of love judging…” •“A loving God would never...”• Or, I am just not into organized religion…”•As believers, we need to think and act biblically, not emotionally

C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will•Far too many folks think about God in relation to what they have done and/or what they want, to justify ungodly thoughts or actions•All of us have our own person theology or ‘belief about God’•C. S. Lewis warned, “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ideas.”

Take Home Tips1. We need the discernment from the

Word to refuse sinful choices; faith must overshadow feelings and logic

2. We need godly determination to leave the patterns of our sinful past; your faith is your security

3. We must be willing to do what God tells us, no matter the consequence; your faith will silence other’s opinions!

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