HEBREWS 11:23-31

WHAT FAITH LOOKS LIKE: MOSES

September 25, 2016

Todd Chapman

Hebrews 11:23-31 ESV: [23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. [24] By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, [25] choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. [26] He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. [27] By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. [28] By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. [29] By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. [30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. [31] By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 

  • Moses, like Abraham, vividly illustrates what the faith looks like in which God delights.  
  • Moses had faith.
  • Moses’ faith was grounded in the assurance of God’s promise:  THE BEST IS YET TO COME. 
  • Moses displayed most vividly what faith looks like.
  • Moses’ faith impacted others who were delivered by God. 

Life Group Questions:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

  1.  How would you summarize 11:8-22?
  2. The author tells us Moses’ parents were not afraid of the king’s edict?  Weren’t they afraid the king would kill Moses?  Why does the author tell us they were not afraid?  What were they not afraid of?
  3. When do you think Moses determined he no longer wanted to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of Egypt, but rather chose to be mistreated with the people of God?
  4. What reward was Moses looking forward to?  How was his looking forward to the reward related to his considering the reproach of Christ as more valuable than the treasures of Egypt?
  5. Moses left Egypt not afraid of the king.  In what sense was he not afraid?  Didn’t he leave because he was afraid of the king after he killed the Egyptian in the defense of his fellow Jew?
  6. How did Moses see God who is invisible?
  7. How was his participating in Passover an expression of faith?
  8. How was the Jews crossing the Red Sea an expression of faith?
  9. How was the Jews walking around Jericho an expression of faith?
  10. How did Rahab display her faith?  Why do you think the author of Hebrews mentions Rahab?
  11. How would you paraphrase the big idea of 11:23-31?

HOW DOES IT APPLY?

  1. Are there circumstances that are causing you to be worried, afraid?  What are they?
  2. How do you think our fears and our faith ought to be related?  How should our fears impact our faith?  How ought our faith influence our fears?
  3. Moses not being afraid of the king empowered him to make some bold, God honoring choices.  How is your growing assurance that the “best is yet to come”, influencing your worries and fears?
  4. Who do you know who has forfeited comfort because they could see the invisible God and were looking forward to the greater reward?  What did that look like? 
  5. What do you do that helps you see the invisible God more clearly? 
  6. What has helped increase your convictions that the BEST IS YET TO COME?