Courageous Faith

By Therman Hodge 

Faith is not just knowing the will of God but having the courage to act on it. May this degree of faith be seen in you and me. One prominent Bible character had the courage to defy a king. "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" (Hebrews 11:23). Moses' parents were courageous. They hid Moses for three months! Then his mother made a boat and set him in the river! What could cause a woman to do this with her baby? Could she not support the child any longer? Was it that the child was a burden to the family? Was he maybe an embarrassment to the family? No! The king demanded that all the Israelite newborn males be killed. What would you do for your child when you were that desperate? Moses' mother trusted the Lord! There is more to the biblical account (Exodus 1:22-2:10).

Moses had the courage to identify with his people. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward" (Hebrews 11:24-26). He courageously suffered with his people (Hebrews 11:24). Nursed by his own mother and learning of his nation's dilemma, Moses refused to live a lie to keep material benefits. Who we are is more important than riches and pleasure! 

Moses suffered hardships for Christ (Hebrews 11:25-26; Exodus 2:11-14). Christ suffered immensely for us. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 1:21-23). We should be willing to suffer for Christ. Serving Christ will bring some hardships and afflictions. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). We must stand with God's people in times of difficulty. Suffering for Christ is superior to the seasonal pleasure of sin. The results of suffering with Christ are better than worldly riches. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).

Moses forsook the land of Egypt. "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). He might have been second in command of the greatest nation in the world at that time. After all, he was the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He gave it all up, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible!

God's children need the confidence to face incredible odds. "Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Hebrews 11:28-29). The last plague was an attack on the house of Pharaoh through the death of the firstborn! Blood placed over the door to indicate who to pass over spared Israelite families. "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you" (Exodus 12:21-23). There was no blood sprinkled on the houses of the Egyptians. To be saved today, we must be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:5-7).

Crossing the Red Sea required faith and obedience by the fleeing Israelite nation, especially by Moses who led them (Exodus 14:21-28). Deliverance was through the Red Sea that God had divided. Israel had to trust God to hold the waters back. Every Israelite who entered the sea was saved, and every Egyptian who followed was lost!

Do we possess courageous faith like Moses? We need that degree of faith today as we follow and imitate Jesus Christ.

From Gospel Gazette Online, Vol. 20, #8 / Aug. 2018