The message was preached by Rev. Eddie Foster on May 26, 2024. Exodus 2 is the background scripture.
There are but a few verses on the infancy of Moses. The Pharaoh of Egypt wanted to stop the growth of the people of Israel, but his devised plans didn’t work. The midwives were then told to kill baby boys at birth, but they didn’t because they feared the God of Israel. The Bible instructs us to obey the laws of the land. However, if a law compels us to violate God’s law, then we obey God and reject the law of the land. We see instances of this in scripture. Daniel continued to pray even though a law forbade it. The disciples continued to preach in Jesus’ name even though told to stop. When we defy the laws there is to be no spirit of carnal defiance; rather we do so in the fear of God.
Exodus 1:22 tells us the conditions when Moses was born. From what happened later we see several things. (1) The importance of a mother’s instruction. Moses’ mother hid him for three months. She then made an ark of bulrushes and put him in it and put him on the water. His sister Miriam watched over him. The daughter of Pharaoh came to bathe and upon seeing him knew he was a Hebrew baby but wanted him for her own. Miriam jumped in offering to get a nurse from the Hebrew women. God worked it out so his own mother raised him and she was paid to do it! She taught him the ways of God. It equipped him for what was ahead. (2) We see the folly of trying to hide sin. In verse 12, thinking no one was looking, Moses killed an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew. The next day he tried to break up a fight between two Hebrews and was asked if he would kill them as he had the Egyptian. He knew he’d been found out and fled. We think no human sees our sin so we’re okay. An all-seeing eye in heaven sees everything we do. God knew Cain killed Abel. God knew Achan hid forbidden items in the floor of his tent. The preacher may not see it; your neighbor may not see it. God does! (3) In verse 17 we find our duty to help others. Seven sisters came to water their fathers flocks and some shepherds tried to stop them. Moses intervened and drove the shepherds away. We must help our brothers and sisters. Don’t consider what others do to you first. Returning good for good gives us no reward in heaven. We are to do good even to those who do evil against us. As a child of God we are to do good to others. It’s not always easy. It’s not natural to behave this way. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to help us love others, we can do it. We are to be like Jesus. (4) Verse 22 reminds us we’re strangers in a strange land. We’re not home! We’re just passing through on our way to heaven. Keep pressing on. I’m glad to be an American, but I realize this is not my home. I’m on my way to heaven. (5) God sees our cries for help. We see this in verses 23-25. God hears our prayers. Too often it is our needs that bring us to the Lord. It’s the only time some people pray. But remember to pray first. God hears us.
Hebrews 11 shows us the results of Moses’ faith. He would have been the next Pharaoh of Egypt, but he chose to suffer affliction with the people of God. Everything will be worth it all!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 