God's Dealings with Moses

Let us turn again to God's Word in the New Testament, turning to the epistle to the Hebrews in chapter 11. I want to read the portion from verse 23. Hebrews 11 and reading from verse 23 through 27. 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. 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 and the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured it, as seeing him who is invisible."

As I was saying this morning, I wanted today to make a contrast between these two men, Moses, of whom we just read, and also Joseph.

So this morning we were considering something of of Joseph as we have it recorded there in Genesis 41 verses 37 through 45 and how he was elevated to a great position in the land of Egypt. As I said it was a remarkable series of divine providences that brought that to pass and so we saw how he comes before the pharaoh interprets his dreams and pharaoh promotes him and he is second only to the king in all the lands of Egypt highly exalted and it's all in order of course to the fulfillment of the words that God had spoken 400 years previously to his friend Abraham those words back in Genesis 15 verses 13 and 14 where God says to Abraham know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them four hundred years, and also that nation whom they shall serve will I judge, and afterward shall they come out with great substance." It was from that position that Joseph came to occupy, that exalted place that he was able to bring his father's family into Egypt during those years of the famine, seven years of famine, and yet we know that there was corn in the land of Egypt because of the wisdom that Joseph had manifested in the seven years of great plenty provision had been laid up for the following seven years and so Jacob and his sons and their children they all come into the land and there they are well provided for by Joseph it's God's purpose that was being fulfilled and they must be there some 400 years and of course in process of time we're told how that there comes the Pharaoh that knew not Joseph and how then the troubles begin to increase for those who were the descendants of Jacob and his sons how they had multiplied over the years and it was as they were persecuted that God takes account of them we read those words at the end of Exodus chapter 2 God remembering his covenant with Abraham and with Isaac and with Jacob and so Moses was born at the time when the Lord was now purposing that the deliverance must come and must be brought out of that land and it was Moses now who is brought by God's providence a remarkable providence into a situation where he is treated as the son of Pharaoh's daughter is more exalted really, I suppose, than ever Joseph was. Joseph was next to the pharaoh, but here is one now who is almost being treated as if he was an actual descendant of the king of Egypt. You know the Providence, we read of it there, it was when she saw that that little baskets in the waters containing the child and he's taken up and she wants to treat him as her own child she knows it's one of the children of the Hebrew women and the Pharaoh her father had decreed that all these male children that were born to the Hebrews were to be slaughtered but his mother had sought a way whereby he might be preserved how amazing it was that he should be preserved by being brought into the royal family as it were.

In a sense we might say that looking at Providence alone Moses might have begun to reason when he'd come to age how advantageous it was that he was in this position.

Would it not be a good position from which he would be able to represent these Hebrew slaves? and reason with the pharaoh and obtain their release but that wasn't the way of the lords his circumstances are very different to those of Joseph and so instead of submitting to the pharaoh and becoming parts of the government as it were in that great kingdom, that empire of the Egyptians. Instead of that, it was a time of separation. He must begin now to identify himself with the persecuted Hebrews. Very different the contrast between these two men and their relationship with the land of Egypt.

And I really want this evening to concentrate on what we're told here in Hebrews 11 verses 23 through 26 with regards to God's dealings with this man. 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. By faith Moses, when he was come to Eurus, 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 of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. now we see Moses here as it were aware, doubtless very much aware with those words that had been uttered by the Lord God those many years previously to to Abraham back in Genesis 15 and he will identify with these people God is separating his people and he's got to be identified with them in their separation from the Egyptians So as we come to consider for a little while something of Moses as we were considering Joseph earlier now to turn and look at this other character in relation to what God is doing with the Hebrews with the children of Israel. First of all to observe the age of Moses at this time. What are we told here in verse 24?

When he was come to years. When he was come to years. In the context clearly the reference now is to the fact that here is a man who is fully grown. In fact we would say he must have been about 40 years old. when he had to flee from Egypt and then of course he would spend another 40 years caring for the sheep of Ru'ar or Jethro his father-in-law and so he's 80 really when he comes forward to deliver the children of Israel there in Exodus chapter 3 and then of course We think of the 40 years of wanderings in the wilderness.

In that sense his life can be divided into those three portions. But when we read of him here as come to years, isn't the reference to the fact that now he is fully grown, he's come to manhood. and previously of course there was something rather significant with regards to this child even at the moment of his birth and the language that is used in this 23rd verse this is where we first have reference to Moses and faith by faith Moses when he was born not so much the faith of But Moses himself, it's the faith of his parents, in particular his mother.

When he was born, what did she do? She hid him three months. He was hid three months of his parents because they saw he was a proper child. And they were not afraid of the king's commandments. What are we to understand by this reference to a proper child? a proper child. Well in Acts chapter 7 we are told there at verse 20 that he was exceeding fair.

We have some accounts of Moses of course in that chapter where Stephen the martyr is testifying to his faith, giving his great apology for his Christianity and he recounts something of the histories of the children of Israel and he speaks of Moses being exceeding fair a proper child at his birth and the margin is interesting because There in Acts 7.20 the margin tells us that exceeding fair is more literally fair to God. There was something about this child that his parents must have taken notice of. There was something about him even at his birth. And then it becomes manifest of course as he grows and when he comes to manhood although he's been brought up in the in the royal courts of Pharaoh yet he is conscious of his own people the Hebrews knows who they are and he seems to have some awareness really of what is expected of him he went out onto his brethren and looked on their burdens we are told and when he saw an Egyptian smite one of the Hebrews he immediately jumps to the defense of the Hebrews he's aware of his people at this particular time he's not an ignorant child he's not a rash young man he's of an age and he has an awareness he has an awareness of those things that he was to do again, in the language that we have in that 7th chapter of the Acts is interesting. As always, there's profit in comparing Scripture with Scripture. And what are we told there? He was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

Verse 22. And then we read, When he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel, and seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended him and avenged him that was oppressed and smote the Egyptian he supposed that his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them but they understood not he has an awareness then even at that stage he is fair to God he is a man marked out by the Lord God to do this great work God had revealed his truth it must be so to Moses that promise that he had given to Abraham remember back in in Genesis 15 and verses 13 and 14 after 400 years God said that he would bring the children of Israel out he was aware of that truth He was also aware of the truth that as we have at the end of Genesis that Joseph had given instruction that his bones were to be taken out of Egypt when the deliverance came. And of course the first five books of scripture are written by Moses. What time they were written we don't know. But obviously these things are being intimated to him. He's inspired by the Spirit of God to write all this history. And he is a man then who is very much conscious of what he is to do.

What God is saying to him, what God is revealing to him. is something far more tangible than all that he is surrounded by when he's there in the royal courts. Think of the language of Paul to the Corinthians while we look not at the things which are seen but the things which are not seen. The things which are seen are temporal and the things which are unseen are the eternal things. Can we not see something being indicated then here with regards to this man and why it was that he would turn his back on all that was there presented to him in that favoured position that he he was in as one who was as the very son of the daughter of Pharaoh no, when he was come to Jerusalem he 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's greater riches and the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Calvin remarks here He saw by faith what was removed from sight. Simple comment, but quite a profound statement by the great Protestant reformer. Moses saw by faith what was removed from sight, and we are to walk by faith, aren't we? How does this man venture forth? He ventures forth as one who is seeing him who is invisible, we read at the end of verse 27.

Oh, God is such a blessed reality to him. Well, let God be true. Let every man be a liar, says the apostle. Now, we see it, don't we, in the lives of those who were the true followers of the Lord Jesus, the way in which John speaks there in the opening words of that first general epistle, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen, which we have looked upon, which our hands have handled of the word of life. that that was manifested to them. And yet, his visage so mild more than any man's. These men, you see, they are given to see who Jesus is. Now there are three years. The Lord Jesus was such a reality to them. And here we see with Moses how the God is such a reality to him.

This expression, when he was come to yours, again we can turn to the margin as we have it here in verse 24 and it says that the Greek is literally having become great having become great not only is there a reference to his age but there is clearly here a reference to the position he was now in and the wealth the wealth that was his for the choosing, for the taking, as we've just seen in verses 24 and 25.

All the riches of Egypt were quite considerable. We were observing this morning, weren't we, that Joseph was a very wise man in the way in which he managed affairs, for Pharaoh. He made Pharaoh very rich. Very rich indeed. Look at the language that we have back there. Remember that 47th chapter? I think we did refer to how first of all the people have to spend their money.

And so all their money really becomes Pharaoh's, doesn't it? There at verse 14 in chapter 47 of Genesis Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the corn which they bought and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house and then in verse 17 it's the cattle also When the money's spent, what are they going to do to obtain the corn?

They have their cattle. They brought their cattle onto Joseph. Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses. And he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. And then, when the cattle is all spent, as it were, and all the flocks have gone, How can they pay for more slaves?

Verse 20, Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. For the Egyptians sold every money spilled because the famine prevailed over them. So the land became Pharaoh's. Oh, what wealth was there then in the royal palace in Egypt. and as the pharaoh begins to persecute these Hebrews so they are set to work in building there in Exodus chapter 1 remember all those remarkable buildings that are still there in Egypt to this day.

But we're told, we're told in Exodus 1.11 that they built for Pharaoh treasure cities. Not just treasure houses, the Hebrews built for Pharaoh treasure cities. And so we can begin to understand, to comprehend something of what it must have meant for Moses to despise these things.

And what is he doing? He is despising the very best of the world for the very worst of Christ's cross. That's what Dr. Owen says in his commentary on this portion concerning the faith of Moses and what it cost. He despised the very best of the world for the worst of Christ's cross.

The Lord says, if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me and remember the rich young ruler in the gospel who comes to Christ and makes that inquiry what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life and the Lord speaks to him, he speaks to him in terms of law because he's only looking to the law it's a sad account really what we read of that young man What must I do?

What good thing must I do? Thou knowest the commandments, says the Lord. And he boasts, all these have I kept from my youth. And thou lackest one good thing. Go sell that that thou hast. Take up thy cross and follow me. And he went away. Sorrowful, because he had great riches.

He had nothing at all really compared with Moses and what Moses was prepared to sacrifice in order to take up his cross and be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can think of the Lord's own ministry and those things that we find him saying in the course of his sermons. We have some detail, don't we, concerning the sermon that he preached on the mans there in Matthew 6 and the following chapters. what do we read Matthew 6 verse 19 lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust hath corrupt and where thieves break through and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust hath corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal for where your treasure is there will your heart be also where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and man. All the words of the Lord Jesus.

There is a cost. And we see it here. It's a costly fight that this man Moses has. He might have reasoned, as I said, he might have reasoned, well, if I'm going to be of any use to the Hebrews, I'd best stay in this royal palace and try to have some good influence. But no, he's got faith. He wants to identify with the people of God. Because the time of separation has come. It was different for Joseph. Joseph's there at the beginning as I brought him to the land of Egypt. But now that has come to an end and the Lord is about to deliver his people. Oh there is a very real casting with regards to what we are told concerning this man. He identifies himself with the suffering Hebrews. He identifies with them as those who are under great burdens.

They were strangers. They were strangers in the land of Egypt. And when he forsakes the courts of Pharaoh, what does he become? He becomes a stranger. He has to flee for his life. And he goes to the land of Midian. And he's a stranger in Midian. He's a stranger in Midian.

And he was well aware of that. that man, Ruel or Jethro as we call him gives him to wife, his daughter Zipporah and a child is born and he calls him Gershon what does Gershon mean? it literally means a stranger here that's what he felt himself to be, he was a stranger a stranger in the land of Midian but he's learning something of what it means for his fellow Hebrews he was made most welcome in the royal court but they were ever strangers and persecuted and is it not a fact that all the Lord's people all those who are true followers of the Lamb real believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are strangers and they are pilgrims in this world and we are taught that aren't we in this great chapter Hebrews 11 Verse 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to a return, but now they desire a better country. that is unheavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city." Well this is Moses you see. He really is one with his own people, one with the children of Israel, one with the persecuted Hebrews.

Here we have no continuing city. but we seek one to come." says the apostle later in chapter 13. Well what does the believer have in this world? In the world you shall have tribulation says the Lord Jesus. It is a place of trouble. It's a place of trial. It's a place where there is a fight, a good fight of faith.

In the world you shall have tribulation, be of good cheer, says Christ, I have overcome the world.

Nor has he not overcome all the enemies of God, the worlds, that lies in wickedness, all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. It's not of the father, it's of the world, Christ has overcome all of that. And we can only overcome this world by faith in Christ. the world has a tremendous pull upon us but there is a better place, a better country and that's what the Lord is preparing for his people and Moses at respect it says in verse 26 unto the recompense of the reward or some better thing, he realized that he endures as seeing him who is invisible and so ultimately what we see here that in many ways his faith is centering in the Lord Jesus Christ we read of Christ don't we, the reproach of Christ in verse 26, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt what are we to understand by that reference there to the reproach of Christ well John Brown of Edinburgh, one of the great Scots commentators says that the natural meaning here is the reproach which Christ himself suffered the reproach which Christ himself suffered Christ comes, God manifests in the flesh, he is the creator of all things he is the word of God by him were all things made without him was not anything made that was made and yet how in this world he must suffer reproach and Moses he identifies with such a one as that he identifies with the Lord Jesus he had some understanding, he must have had some understanding of what the Lord's sufferings were that was a great reproach of Christ that he was rejected of men he comes to his own, his own receive him not he is crucified he is ridiculed, he is scoffed at terrible reproaches upon him.

Moses had some understanding of these things. He knew something of these things. And it wasn't just a matter of the intellect. I mean, how do we explain these things? He's a prophet, isn't he? He's the author of the first five books of the Bible. He's one of those holy men of God. who spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God. But it's not just a question of his mind being informed. It's much more than that. It's real experience. It's real experience. Christ is such a reality to this man.

Remember how Peter in 1 Peter chapter 4 speaks of sufferings and what he goes on to say I've often referred to those words there in verse 12 of 1 Peter 4 Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you but that's just the beginning isn't it he goes on but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy if he be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part on the part of the world he is evil spoken of he is reproached but on your part he is glorified that's the choice that's the choice that Moses made he identifies all together with the Lord Jesus Christ He had some understanding of what it would cost the eternal Son of God to save sinners.

Was he not there at the Mount of Transfiguration? When the Lord takes those favoured three disciples, Peter and James and John, and they go into the Mount and He's transfigured, they see through all the veil of His humanity, all the veil of the humiliation and they behold his deity, they see something of his glory. And there are two others there in the mounds.

There's Moses and Elijah, and they're speaking together. And Luke tells us what that subject matter was. What did they speak of? Those two, Moses and Elijah, when they were speaking with the Lord, they speak of his decease. They speak of his decease which he would accomplish at Jerusalem. Moses had some understanding of these things.

He is the author of the book of Leviticus. Which is really a gospel book there in the very middle of the Torah. The Lord of God. It's all gospel. It's Christ in type and figure, isn't it? He saw the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as Abram. Just as Abram, the words of the Lord there in In John 8.56, your father Abram rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. And in many ways, of course, Abram saw the day of the Lord Jesus Christ there in Genesis 22, on the Mount Moriah, where he was commanded to slay his son, his only son Isaac. But the Lord taught him substitution. Isaac was not slain, of course he was not. but there was a ram caught by its horns in the thicket and that was sacrifice, substitution. But in it he sees Christ. Moses saw the Lord Jesus Christ.

And that's the secret really, that's the secret of faith, isn't it? That's the secret of faith. It's seeing him to know to us in our natural state is invisible. The one who came into this world and lived and preached and taught and was rejected and died and rose again and is now ascended to heaven and is to come again a second time without sin unto salvation. We don't see him with the eye of faith but we see him by faith. It's looking on to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despite the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Or this man, Moses. His experience is very different really to that of Joseph that we were considering earlier. There's a contrast between these two men. must go into Egypt as it were and have that position and from that position exercise a remarkable ministry but here is the man who is raised up to be the deliverer of the children of Israel to bring them out they are to be a separated people and he himself must be with them in that separation he must reject all the wealth all that goes with that wealth, the great position that he had there in the royal court. This is a man marked out, marked out by the grace of God.

When he was born, by faith Moses when he was born was hid three months of his parents because they saw he was a proper child. They were not afraid of the king's command. by faith Moses when he was come to yours 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 of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompense of the world recompense of the reward What do we esteem?

What is our choice? Joshua says, doesn't he? Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Oh, the Lord grant that we might have that grace to make such a choice and to esteem Christ's riches above all that this world could ever offer any man. that we might make that willing separation from all the ways of the world and be those who are the true followers of the Lamb. The Lord then be pleased to bless his word to us. Amen.

God's Dealings with Moses

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God's Dealings with Moses

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