Hebrews 11 (4)

Introduction
The writer of Hebrews wants to encourage his readers to persist in faith and not to draw back from their firm belief in Jesus. The saints of the Old Covenant believed God and looked forward to the realization of His promises. The first readers of Hebrews were looking away from those promises and back at the Old Covenant from which Christ had delivered them. As Stephen had done before the Sanhedrin, the writer shows his readers that even as they look back, they are instructed to look to Jesus and rest in Him.

Read Acts 7.16-50

Read Hebrews 11.23-39.

Think it through.
1.  By his faith, Moses was able to overcome great challenges. Which challenges does our writer mention, and why would each of these have been relevant for his first readers? Why are they relevant for us? Moses’ faith led him to choose suffering, rather than draw back from it. What should the first readers, who were considering returning to the religion of Moses, have learned from Moses?

2.  In verse 26 the writer mentions that Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” What reward? How did he “look” to that reward? How is that instructive for us? The mention of Passover in verse 28 was important to the writer’s argument. This was the great sacrifice of the Jews. But what has the writer already told us about all such sacrifices? Review Exodus 12.1-28. How did the Passover point forward to the sacrifice of Jesus?

Meditate.
“If then we too always see God with our mind, if we always think in remembrance of God, all things will appear endurable to us, all things tolerable. We shall bear them all easily. We shall be above them all.” John Chrysostom (344-407AD)

“This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel,‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’” Acts 7.37

Thank You, Lord, for the example of Moses. As he trusted You, so help me today to…

Pray Psalm 91.14-16.
As you pray, put your own name in place of the relevant personal pronouns (“he” and “his” in v. 14, and so forth). Give thanks and praise to God accordingly 

Psalm 91.14-16 (Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven)
Save us, Lord! We love You only; set us up secure on high!
You we know, on You we call in trouble: Hear us when we cry!
Show us Your salvation, let long life forever satisfy!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.