Fear Conquering Faith - Hebrews 11 part 9

"By faith Moses, when he was born,

was hidden for three months by his parents,

because they saw he was a beautiful child;

and they were not afraid of the king's edict."

(vs 23)

Moses life began with persecution. The king of Egypt had given a command, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, it is a son, then you shall put him to death!" (Ex 1:16).

No sooner is Moses born than the enemy of God's elect seeks to have him destroyed. Here Moses serves as a type of Christ, who was also pursued from the womb - so much so that Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to escape the politically ordered baby boy slaughter of Herod.

Moses mother and father hid him for three months, until it would impossible to hide him any longer. What great risk did they take to themselves in this concealing act?

Why? What reason lay behind their bold, fear facing, edict ignoring stand? Certainly they loved their son - but did not all the other Hebrew parents as well? Most assuredly, parental fondness played a part but it was not strong enough to move the other moms and dads to revolt. So what was it with Moses?

Matthew Henry answers the question in this manner:

"No doubt, natural affection could not but move them; but there was something further. They saw that he was a beautiful child. There appeared in him something uncommon; the beauty of the LORD sat upon him. Sometimes, though not always, the countenance is the index of the mind.

"There was a prevalency of faith over their fear. They were not afraid of the king's commandment. They believed that God would preserve his people, and that the time was coming when it would be worth while for an Israelite to live. Some must hazard their own lives to preserve their children, and they were resolved to do it. Faith is a great preservative against the sinful slavish fear of men."

So, Moses folks walked in faith against the hurricane force winds of fear - and it was an understandable fear! For three months they concealed his very existance and then they built a small basket boat out of reeds and by faith set their son sailing on the river Nile. Just as the ark of Noah was carried by the hand of God safely over the flood waters of destruction, so the ark of reeds was carried on the river of providence - straight to the protective embrace of the king's very own daughter. The rest is hall of faith history.

What "edict" are you fearful of today? Walk in faith knowing that "perfect love casts out all fear." By faith, "love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength" and as you faithfully pursue first His kingdom and His righteousness may He enable you to walk leaving your fears on Egypt's bank!

By faith,

Lori