Moses: Faith’s Testimony

Temple Baptist Church - 4-12-2020

Hebrews 11:24-26; Exodus 2:1-11

Introduction:

A.  The life of Moses is broken down into 3 periods of 40 years.  Moses died at the age of 120.

1.  His 40 formative years spent as supposedly the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

2.  His 40 separated years spent in Midian on the backside of the desert.

3.  His 40 delivering years spent bringing Israel from bondage to the Promised Land of Canaan.

B.  I want to take some time with this great man of God’s life as he is one of the most, if not the most important man in biblical history.

C.  Two of these periods, from birth to age 40 and age 40 to age 80, are what we would call the “silent years.”  Other than just a few verses, little light is shed upon his life, but I believe that what light is shed tells one of the greatest stories in the Bible!

D.  Moses’ name is mentioned 848 times in 784 verses in the Bible.  I want to look at the first period of 40 years in this man’s life.

Exodus 2:10-11  And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son ... And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.  (11)  And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.  (Between verses 10 and 11, there is a space of 40 years!)

1.  His Parents.  Hebrews 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

a.  Moses’ Heritage.  God gave Moses a godly Dad and Mom.  They loved the LORD and they loved the child that God gave to them. 

b.  Moses’ Hiding.  They defied the commandment of the King to destroy this “proper” child by drowning in the Nile River.

2.  His Position.  Exodus 2:10-11  And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son ... And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.  

a.  God gave Moses a Stepmother who was daughter to the most powerful man in the world, Pharaoh!  No man on earth could harm this child. 

b.  God gave Moses a Step Grandfather who was the most powerful man in the world.  Moses lived the better part of 40 years in the house of Pharaoh and was accepted as Pharaoh’s grandson and in line for the throne of Egypt.

3.  His Protection.  Acts 7:21  And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.  

a.  Protected by God.  Though in Pharaoh’s house, safety was still an act of God.

b.  Protected by Pharaoh.  No power on earth could harm Moses as he grew from a babe to a child to a man.

c.  Protected by his Nurse.  Nurses in the Bible remained with the children even after they were grown.

Genesis 24:59  And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

Genesis 35:8  But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.  (We do not know when Rebekah died but we do know that her nurse, Deborah, remained with the family all of her life.)

4.  His Preparation.  Acts 7:22  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

a.  Moses got a Secular Education.   No doubt Moses sat at the feet of the greatest teachers Egypt had. 

b.  Moses got a Spiritual Education.  He was taught the language, religion, and customs of his people, Israel, by his godly mother.

Exodus 2:7-9  Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?  (8)  And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.  (9)  And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

c.  Moses got a Sensible Education.  Moses had a right balance of secular and Christian education.  He was mighty in words and deeds.  Thus, Moses through his wisdom and work ethic, rose to power and admiration among the Egyptian people.

5.  His Purpose.  Acts 7:24-25  And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:  (25)  For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

a.  Moses had a Personal Relationship with God.  “For he supposed his brethren would have understood.”

b.  Moses had a Practical Revelation from God.  “God by his hand would deliver them.”

6.  His Person.  Hebrews 11:24-26  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;  (25)  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  (Moses had godliness, character, and integrity.) 

a.  Moses chose slavery over sovereignty.

b.  Moses chose persecution over pleasure.

c.  Moses chose God over Gold.

7.  His Prize.  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

a.  Moses Understood that a life here was to be lived for Christ.

b.  Moses Understood that after death there was a life to be lived with Christ.