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“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible,” verse 27.
1. As a result of faith Moses defied Pharaoh and left Egypt. He was not frightened of the wrath of the king. Without doubt, Pharaoh would have been a fearsome man. He was used to being instantly obeyed and would tolerate no defiance. He held the power of life and death of his people in his hands. His predecessor had ordered the slaughter of the male children of Israel. He was a man to be feared. Every step we as Christians seek to take in obedience to God is ‘overshadowed’ by threats from the devil and his agents! The situation in Egypt facing Moses and the Israelites pictured this for us. But God gives grace to face with courage such opposition. Heed the apostles, the very men who had run away and deserted the Lord Jesus in His hour of trial. But now these same fearing men are fearless because they had been filled with the Holy Ghost at the day of Pentecost! “Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men,” Acts 5:25-29.
2. Moses did not look on the angry king but Christ. As we read and study God’s Word, faith brings before us a view of the Lord and what He has said and that removes our fear of the threats of men. Peter when walking on the water, turned his eyes from the Lord and looked on the boisterous waves and began to sink! “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink,” Matt 14:30. How different Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was faced by a howling hate-filled mob stoning him to death. But he was calm, unfearing, tender-hearted and loving toward these wicked men. What made the difference? Stephen was not looking on the ferocious enemies but rather: “he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God,” Acts 7:55-56. Here is the secret of victory amidst life’s trials and troubles, boys and girls.
3. Note what it is the Christian sees and hears that unsaved people cannot! The Christian can see “Him who is invisible.” As we assemble here today, you, as a Christian, can see by faith what very few in this world can see. When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus he saw and heard what others did not. When we consider Acts 9:7 and 22:9 we learn that the great event was hidden from the ears and eyes of his companions. “And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man,” Acts 9:7. Later Paul was to say: “And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me,” Acts 22:9. There was a hearing of a ’noise’ but no understanding of what was happening! Are we not greatly privileged that we can both hear and see by faith the Lord Jesus!
We are permitted to see and hear what the Old Testament saints were not privileged to witness. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them,” Matthew 13:16-17.