Moses' Parents
        
MOSES’ PARENTS
          Speaking of the deliverance of the people from Egypt into the Promised Land, our next example of faith is Moses. But before we go directly to the person of Moses, his parents are mentioned. You don’t usually hear much about them, do you? Their names were Amram and Jochebed. Hebrews 11:23 mentions their faith due to the fact that they hid their newborn son, Moses, for three months.
          I mentioned how the descendants of Abraham dwelled in Egypt for hundreds of years (and became the nation of Israel). Because they were so blessed by God and their population exploded, the rulers of Egypt became apprehensive about their presence within their land. So they forced all of the Israelites into slavery. Furthermore, they determined to curb the population growth by killing all of the Israelite newborn male children.
          Moses’ parents decided not to relinquish their baby to the authorities at the risk of their own lives. Implied by the text is the fact that they knew this child would be special to God. The NIV translates the verse (Hebrew 11:23), “they saw he was no ordinary child.” So even though the parents were slaves and feared for their very lives, they determined to hide their child every day from the authorities which was extremely risky.
Remember, slaves had no rights. They were watched constantly. There were spies hidden within their own people. They had no choice but to surrender their son…or did they? Because of their faith in God and His hand upon this baby, they hid their son as long as possible. Even then, they floated him down the river and watched him until he was discovered and raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter. Their decision was based on nothing else except a trust that God had a plan for their child. This is faith!
We need to be aware of God’s plan for our own children and act accordingly. We need to protect our children, fully knowing that God has a special purpose for their lives.
 
IF WE DO NOT
          So among such clear and wonderful examples of faith, let us no longer so flippantly and boldly declare our so-called “faith” in God if we do not act upon that faith or live it out! Faith, by the definition in this chapter of Hebrews (and elsewhere in the Scriptures), assumes a rock-solid belief in God and His promises that directly shapes our daily decisions, our daily lifestyles, and our future plans. Faith requires a deliberate response, an intentional action, and complete obedience to God’s personal leading.
          Do not call anything else “genuine faith.” Let us no longer claim to have faith in God if we do not obey Him and His Word and diligently seek Him. If we are not living daily as if God is real and present in our midst, then we do not have faith. If we are not seeking God and His will daily, then real faith is missing. If we do not recognize the “unseen” spiritual realm as clearly as the “seen” physical, material world, then we cannot claim to possess true faith. If we do not live our lives on earth with a constant expectation of heavenly and eternal rewards, then we do not have the faith of the Scriptures.
 
CONCLUSION
           Isaac and Jacob delivered God’s blessings upon their children and grandchildren according to their unshakeable belief that God would bring it to pass. Joseph was so certain that God would fulfill His promise to Abraham and his descendants that his last request was for his body to be buried in Canaan when (not if) they did return. Finally, Moses’ parents risked their own lives to save their son from certain death, knowing God had a plan for him.
          Knowing God’s promises are as good as “done” even if the fulfillment takes place at sometime in the future (like Isaac and Jacob and their blessings)…acting upon God’s promises for the future with concrete actions and decisions now (like Joseph’s present request for a future burial)…and making important, even life and death decisions, based upon faith in God’s plan (like Moses’ parents)…folks, this is faith!