Moses' Priorities of Faith

Moses' Priorities of Faith I. Moses' faith led him to prioritize things properly. HEB 11:24-27. II. Moses chose Christ, His people and suffering over luxury, power and pleasure. HEB 11:24-26. A. “By faith...” (v. 24). Moses acted upon the word of God. ROM 10:17. 1. It is by faith that we have a good report. vs. 2, 39 c/w 3JO 1:12. 2. Faith is obedience to divine instruction that does not depend on human reason or experience. 2CO 4:18; 5:7; HEB 11:1-3, 7-8, 27. 3. Faith is at least as much about doing as it is about hearing. HEB 11:11 c/w GEN 18:12; HEB 11:29 c/w EXO 14:11-12; JAM 2:26. 4. Moses acted upon a promise of God made to Abraham. GEN 15:13-16 c/w ACT 7:17. 5. Moses' generation was the generation during which the promise would be fulfilled. EXO 6:16-20. B. The circumstances surrounding Moses' decision to suffer affliction with God's people are set forth in EXO 2:11-15. C. Consider some common carnal objections to Moses' choice: 1. Should he leave his position in Egypt to be identified with a despised group? PSA 84:10. 2. Would not his actions appear ungrateful to the Egyptians who had treated him well? 1KI 15:13 c/w LUK 14:26. 3. Could he not stay in Pharaoh's court and work for reform? a. This was precluded by GEN 15:14 and GEN 50:24-25. b. Lot would not have profited by that idea either. GEN 19:12-13. c. God's people must sometimes simply separate from their peers, even close ones. JER 15:17; MAT 10:37-39. 4. Couldn't he assist the people of God as Joseph had done? No, circumstances had changed. EXO 1:8. D. Consider what Moses forsook: 1. Honour (JOH 5:44; 12:42-43). But note that earthly honour forsaken for Christ is assurance of heavenly honour. JOH 12:26; ROM 2:7. 2. Pleasure. a. Is sin more grievous to you than affliction? JOB 36:21. (1) “We may take it more generally, and observe that those who choose iniquity rather than affliction make a very foolish choice. Those that ease their cares by sinful pleasures, increase their wealth by sinful pursuits, escape their troubles by sinful projects, and evade sufferings for righteousness' sake by sinful compliances against their consciences, make a choice they will repent of; for there is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction.” (Matthew Henry) (2) If our hearts are with God, the worst thing that could happen to us is if we should sin and deny Him. b. The pleasures of sin are only for a season. GEN 15:14 c/w PSA 78:43-52; 73:19. c. A believer's lasting pleasure is in God. PSA 16:11; COL 3:1-2. 3. Wealth. a. Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ to be riches! How do you look upon Moses' Priorities of Faith 11-28-10 Page 1 of 2 that? LUK 6:22-23; HEB 10:32-34; 1PE 4:12-14. Compare the “reproach of Christ” with 1CO 10:4, 9. One identifies with Christ when he identifies with His people. ACT 9:4-5; HEB 10:33. d. We show our love to Christ by showing our love to His people. JOH 13:35; 1JO 3:16. Consider the rejection and estrangement Moses suffered when he made this break with Pharaoh's house. ACT 7:23-29. Compare what Moses did with LUK 9:23-26. Remember that genuine Christianity is unpopular. MAT 7:13-14; 1CO 1:18-29; 1PE 4:3-4. b. c. E. F. G. II. Moses forsook Egypt “not fearing the wrath of the king...” (HEB 11:27). A. This expression refers to the time when Moses went in before Pharaoh to order him to let the people go. EXO 2:14-15 c/w 3:10-12; 5:1. B. Moses forsook Egypt by faith. This is the opposite of fear. PRO 29:25; 1JO 5:4 c/w REV 21:7-8. C. “....he endured....” 1. Twelve refusals from Pharaoh. 2. Israel's murmurings. EXO 5:20-21; 6:9; 14:11-12. 3. Pharaoh's compromises. EXO 8:25, 28; 10:10-11, 24-26. D. “....as seeing him who is invisible....” c/w PSA 16:8; HEB 12:1-4. E. Moses' experience, faith and priorities can be applied to us today. GAL 6:9; HEB 6:12; 10:23; 2CO 4:8-10, 17-5:1. III. Consider Moses' end. A. He is a partaker of Jesus' glory. LUK 9:28-31 c/w 2PE 1:16-18. B. Moses suffered rejection, estrangement, and persecution in his stand for the truth. Elijah and Paul likewise suffered. They are all now with Jesus! C. In the end, who suffered the most: Moses or Pharaoh? 1. 2CO 4:17 and ROM 8:17-18 describe Moses and his crowd. 2. ROM 9:17-18 describe Pharaoh and his crowd.