The Hall of Faith | Moses and Faith Over Death – Hebrews 11:27-29
By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. (Hebrews 11:27-29, ESV)
Egypt stood condemned by their rebellion against God by subjecting the people of God to torture and slavery. They had abandoned the rule of God, with Pharaoh claiming to be God, as they ignored the voice of God spoken through Moses and Aaron. After Moses spent time apart from Egypt, having murdered men and fled persecution, he worked a simple life, marrying his wife in the wilderness until one day, God drew Moses into an encounter with Him through the burning bush. God would use Moses to rescue the people from bondage and slavery and deliver them into the promises land. Yet, this would not be an easy encounter for Moses but be filled with strife as he stood against the rulers of Egypt.
While the story of Moses is an extended story of the faith in God by Moses, during this section, the author of Hebrews specifically mentions the passover and the crossing of the Red Sea. In each case, the people of God would need faith in God that He would sustain them through the judgment of death and shield them form the approaching armies. Death loomed ever present for the people of God. Yet Moses, in faith knew that God would not call him back to Egypt to simple abandon the people of God. In faith, Moses sprinkled the blood over the door posts as a payment of the sins of the people and in faith, Moses crossed the Red Sea, knowing that life could only be found in the promise of God’s provision.
The Passover
One of the most iconic events of the Old Testament that became a foundational celebration for the people of God came in the Passover. After the first nine plagues, Pharaoh had not relented against keeping the people of God in slavery. Even after slight chances to leave, Pharaoh changed his mind, refusing to let the people go. God spoke to Moses telling him that God would pass over the land and pronounce judgment upon the people. “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord ’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.” (Exodus 12:7,11-12, ESV) Moses held to the faith in God that, by the blood of sacrifice, the sins of the people would be paid for and the payment would be satisfied in God by God. The sacrifice of an innocent animal built on the foundation of faith, knowing that the blood sacrificed on their behalf would satisfy the righteous requirements of God.
The Passover loudly proclaims the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Old Testament sacrifices would need to be repeated year after year in that they could not fully satisfy the righteous requirements but was a temporary provision given by God. It demonstrated to the people of God that their sins required blood to be shed to pay for their sins. In Jesus Christ, though, that sacrifice is truly complete as the perfect sacrifice has been given. We hold the same faith held by Moses that the manner God provided for our salvation is complete and only sufficient in the grace of God. The Gospel proclaims that the work of Jesus Christ served as a propitiation of our sins, knowing that the blood of the perfect sacrificial lamb would meet the righteous requirements of holiness having been covered by the blood of the perfect sacrifice. We believe in faith that the blood of Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins and those that believe in Him as Lord and Savior will not see death.
The Red Sea
God’s presence had passed over Egypt, killing the first born of all who did not spread the blood of sacrifice on their door post and there was much wailing and sadness throughout Egypt. Pharaoh relented, having lost his first born son, as he allowed the Israelites to depart. Yet, filled with anger, watching his work force leave and blaming them for the death of his son, Pharaoh called his army to pursue them. They chased them to the edge of the Red Sea and the people called out to God thinking they were doomed to die with an army on one side and an expanse on the other. Moses, though, held fast to faith in God that He could provide for the needs of His people. “The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord , when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” (Exodus 14:15-18, ESV) Moses’ faith in God allowed him to stand firm in the power and magnificence of God, knowing that God would provide for them beyond the Egyptians ability to destroy them.
The Christian, to walk in faith must understand the foundation of the security of our life. When we walk in faith that Jesus Christ has secured our victory over death on our behalf by dying in our place, the dangers of the world offers no real threat. No matter the thing we face, however scary it may be, we cannot give up faith. Our faith does not rest in our circumstances but in God who is sovereign over all our circumstances. Even if the worst should happen and our lives would be threatened or taken, it still would not overpower the sovereignty of God to provide for His people. Death is not a deterrent to a God who has defeated death. Our faith looks to Jesus Christ on the cross to purify us from all unrighteousness and reign supreme over all creation, even our enemies. In faith, we know that we will not see death as we stand with Jesus Christ.
About The Author
Daniel Burton is the founder of The Gospel Outpost. He is passionate about discipleship and seeing people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. To find out more about him, check out his Author Page.
