What A Great Story 🧸

Our next hero of the faith is Moses 

Hebrews 11:23 (KJV) By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 

Here we read briefly about the faith of Moses mother. Remember  ‘’faith is the substance of things hoped for,” In Exodus Chapter 1 we begin to read about Moses. The story begins when he was just a baby. A new king began his  reign in Egypt.  

Exodus 1:8 (KJV) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. Now this King noticed something that must be addressed.  

Exodus 1:9 (KJV) And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: The King was afraid of what these Israelites might do if war were to break out. His solution is to work them harder, make life more difficult for them. So he did but they became more populated, in other words that didn’t work it only made matters worse; or so he thought. The King comes up with a new plan to kill all the male babies. Oh that’s awful you might say and I would agree with you totally. But this King, as awful of a thing as he began to do, is nothing to what our leaders allow. It’s not just the male children, it's both male and female. If you are reading this you can thank your mother for loving you enough to bring you into this world because she had the right to kill you without life in prison. Now the mothers of Moses day didn’t have a choice when their baby was born if it were a boy then they killed him. There are always those who will do what’s right when wrong is being done. Just read history and you will read of the Benjamin Franklin’s, the Patrick Henry’s, the Paul Revere’s, the Betsy Ross’s, the John Hancock's. Our history books are full of great men and women that stood when others just stood by and went along with all the wrong that was going on. Don’t forget that each one of these and more that I just wrote of all had one thing in common, a mother. A mother saw to it and raised her children that would become upstanding citizens in the community. Here we read of a mother who stepped out on faith, she hid her son for 3 months until she couldn’t hide him any longer. She then places her son in the river and watches to see what will happen to him. This mother just happened to be Moses' mom and she by faith not seeing the outcome trusted God. If you take the time to read you’ll find this great story of faith in Exodus chapters 1&2. Quickly here’s the outcome. The King's daughter finds baby Moses and he is crying as she takes him home. Then she realizes she can’t take care of his greatest need, milk. There are many women who have lost their baby because of her dad the King, get one of those women and bring her here. Guess who they get?  

Exodus 2:8 (KJV) And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. What looked to be heartbreak and loss turned into a mom raising her son Moses to be one of the greatest leaders in the world right under the King's nose. Oh what a great story of faith.

🌦️Better Day Coming 🌅

Hebrews 11:22 (KJV) By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

God had placed Joseph in a prominent position in the land of Egypt. As we read this verse we notice that Joseph tells of a future event (the departing of the children of Israel) This should remind all of us that we shouldn’t get too comfortable in this world we live in. I don’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy where we live but we must always remember this is not home. The Bible says we are strangers and pilgrims just passing through…

Hebrews 11:13 (KJV) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Just remember there’s much more..1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Joseph made the request that when you leave Egypt take my bones with you. What was Joseph saying? Joseph said there’s coming a day when you, my people, will leave Egypt. But listen to me closely, it won’t be real soon, all that will be left will be  my bones. Joseph dies, and another generation comes and they die, and another generation comes and they all die. It may have been close to 200 years after Joseph’s death before Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Here’s what is interesting, the words of Joseph were handed down from generation to generation. Well what happened? 

Exodus 13:19 (KJV) And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. That must have been a busy night the night the Israelites left Egypt in Exodus chapter 12. Not only did Moses led them out he also remembered the commandment made by Joseph generations ago.  There’s coming a day for the child of God when our bones will be taken out of this world and those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior will be given a new body.  

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

When we as God’s children die we go to be with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

One day there’s going to be “the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” First or last it’s not about us but all about Him. Exciting days are ahead, so don’t get discouraged because there’s a better day coming. 

When The End Comes🚶‍➡️🫷🔚

Hebrews 11:21 (KJV) By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

I'm sure you have noticed as we move through Hebrews chapter 11 those two words “By faith” I’m sure you have. Those two words are mentioned 16 times in this one chapter. If you read the whole book of Hebrews you would only read those two words “By faith” only 17 times. The first time is in  

Chapter 10 and it reads Hebrews 10:38 (KJV) Now the just shall live by faith: Then in chapter 11 we began reading about those who did live by faith.  We are told about Jacob whom Isaac, his dad, had blessed with his brother Esau about things to come. Here we read about Jacob’s time to depart this world as we all will one day. Jacob when he had come to the end of his life blessed both the sons of Joseph, that would be his grandsons. Then we read of something else Jacob did. Jacob “worshipped” Jacob is dying, he is weak and he worships for all to see. This is not weakness but paints us a word picture of a man dying who by faith has trusted in the God of his salvation. Oh what a picture 

Psalms 56:13 (KJV) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? We read of no fear of death as Jacob began his departure from this life. Oh what faith and It’s a faith we all should have when the end comes. 

Good Habits Help 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Hebrews 11:20 (KJV) By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 

There is a principle in our recovery program that reads “Our sinful habits do hurt those who follow us.” Oh how true that is. But on the other hand if our bad habits hurt others then our good habits help others. So here is my thinking, I want to have more good habits than bad habits. Don’t you? The carnage of bad habits have left so many with major problems in their lives. The young girl or young boy that were abused by their father will have a much harder time believing that God their Heavenly Father loves them. Much more than the young boy or girl that has been loved by their biological father. Why? Because what we do does affect others. Abraham, Isaac’s dad had an effect on him because we read these words “By faith Isaac” did we not read the same word written about Abraham? I think we did, more than once. My wife was raised in a good Christian home by good Christian parents and good Christian grandparents; which just happen to live next door. O how convenient for grandchildren and grandparents. Before we got married I would call where they lived “Boothsville” because there were 4 houses on that piece of property and they were all; you guessed it “Booth’s.” Oh what a good dad my wife had, so kind and so loving. Now my wife and I didn’t get together at Church. Oh no far from it. We got married in a fever as Johnny Cash sang. I was home on leave with the last words I heard before I came home were” they are sending me to Vietnam” as Forrest would say “that’s a whole nother country.”  So I met my wife on 31 January 1969 and we got married on 7 January 1970. In July 1970 I was gone. Chances of our marriage working out were slim to none; but it did and today she is still the love of my life. I said all that to say this, that because of the way my wife was raised, by what she saw in her mom and dad; she placed her faith in the Lord. By faith Isaac did what? “blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” How did Isaac know of things to come? By his dad Abraham and his faith in God that he could not see. By faith Abraham went out not knowing. That’s what faith is, not seeing the end results, yet knowing!   

Another Level 🎚️

 Hebrews 11:17 (KJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Haven't forgotten what “faith” is, have you? Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We have read about Abraham’s faith earlier in Hebrews 11. Remember by faith he went out not knowing. But now we are going to see his faith go to another level. To read about Abraham’s faith we will have to go to Genesis chapter 22. If you take the time to read that Chapter you’ll read of amazing faith. God tested Abraham’s faith. God asked Abraham to do the unthinkable,  the unbelievable; offer his only son Isaac. Just as Abraham was about to slay Issac, his son, God steps in and stops him. Why? It’s a word picture looking into the future when God would allow His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for a world full of sinners. By doing so Jesus would pay the sin debt for all mankind. The more faith we have the greater things we will behold. God is not going to ask you to sacrifice your son or daughter. But God may ask you to go to help others. My friend Phillip Allen was called by God to go to Brazil. Phillip had to learn a new language and a new culture. When he and his family arrived there no one in Brazil waiting or expecting them. They knew no one. Off they went and spent their lives doing what God Called them to do and when his life drew to an end he returned home, His heart was broken when he buried his wife. Then not long after his children said goodbye to their dad. Well what is the end of the story? No one knows yet for Phillip and Charlotte  Allen touched the lives of 1000’s in South America and the United States. Now the fruits of 1000’s have turned into only God knows. Phillip Allen was the first missionary I ever saw. He spoke in Chapel my first year in college. Then not long after that he came to our Church and showed slides of his work in Brazil. Over a period of time I got to know him and his wife. In 1986 I went to Brazil and spent 10 days with him and his family. I stayed in their home. I walked the street with him as he talked to the people. Oh what a wonderful 10 days that still burns in my heart some 38 years later. Well as I wrote earlier God stopped Abraham from killing his only son Issac but God didn’t stop those who killed His only Son Jesus. Why? Because Jesus paid the sin debt of mankind. Without His death we would have no hope. Jesus didn’t stay in the grave but arose, oh what a Savior. 

Never Go Back 🤚🚶‍➡️

Hebrews 11:15 (KJV) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

As I looked at this verse again I noticed or the Lord let me see something else. “if they had been mindful” mindful??? Webster says that mindful is “Attentive; regarding with care; bearing in mind; heedful; observant.” And truly, if all those that came out of Egypt had kept their mind and thoughts about Egypt to the point that they wish they were back in Egypt. Well they might have had the opportunity to go back. Well what about you and I? We didn’t come across nor see the Red Sea when it opened. We didn’t see an army that was chasing us drown as the waters covered them. And we did read where many wanted or had desires to go back to Egypt but before we read that we read this. 

Exodus 13:3 (KJV) And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

Why were they told to “Remember?” That is a usage of the mind and if we get to remembering then our thoughts are consumed with wrong thinking or good thinking. So while they were in Egypt they did what they were told. When they complained they were told to do more with less. Long days, short nights, no respect and no reward for all their labor. Sounds like back in the day when they sent our young men to Southeast Asia. They send you down to war and when you ask them “how much should we give? The only answer was “more, more, more.” The mind must change. I’m sure you have heard “I have changed my mind.” The first time we see the word “mind” in the New Testament is in the book of Matthew chapter 22  

Matthew 22:37 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. How does one do that? Change the way one thinks by renewing our mind. Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. All this world will ever want from you is more, more and more. Too many times we let others do our thinking for us. You buy a house for 400,000 you put 80,000 down at 6% the monthly payment would be 1,919.00 for 30 years. You will pay 690,840 total for the 320,000 loan. Who’s thinking was that? Not Yours! Those that had come out of Egypt should not have been thinking about going back to Egypt. For 50 years I have served the Lord and I have no thoughts of going back to my old way of thinking. Why? I have got my mind set like those who had come out of Egypt.  Hebrews 11:16 (KJV) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.          

Looking for a city, Yonder where we'll never die, 

There the sainted millions, 

Never say goodbye; 

There we'll meet our Savior, 

And our loved ones too, 

Pray, Come, O Holy Spirit, 

All our hopes renew.

😮‍💨NO THANK YOU! No gracias 🚶🏻‍♂️‍➡️

 Hebrews 11:14 (KJV) For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

“For they that say such things” What things?  Promises they were so persuaded by, that they went to their grave holding on to them. Promises so real to them that they embraced them. Promises so strong that they confessed them. When their time to die came they held on with great faith never seeing with their earthly eyes the promise. That’s Faith. Then we read “they that say such things” or confess or acknowledge “declare plainly”  Oh these people of long ago who paved the pathway of Faith had troubles and problems.  They We're a band of pilgrims on the move, they had burdens, they had sorrows but they kept looking. They had disappointments. They lost some friends along the way but they kept looking for that city. A place where they would never die nor have to say goodbye. Why? For the promise they couldn’t see, feel or touch but they “declare plainly” they were going there and they did. One day if you have placed your faith in the promise of the Lord Jesus you will get to meet Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham as well as Sara and a host of others. But that’s not all we will get to see our loved ones who had the same faith. But that’s not all. We will get to thank Jesus Christ personally for His great sacrifice for us.   Hebrews 11:15 (KJV) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Their mind was so set that if they would have had an opportunity to go back from where they had come. They would have said NO THANK YOU!  

I Can’t See 😵

Hebrews 11:13 (KJV) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

These all died; who are “These” I would say Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sara. Their dying should be no surprise to us. But we are told more “These all died in faith” Ok, so what is so important about that? Great question. It’s what we read next that seals the deal “not having received the promises” So these that died in faith.  What was their faith all about? Remember Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:25 (KJV) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. There is a lot in my Christian life I can’t see. I have never seen Jesus Christ, I have never heard an audible voice of God speaking to me. How do I know He lives? I see His hand of mercy, I see His loving care, I hear Him speak to me from the pages of my Bible as I read His Word. When troublesome times come I know He’s near for I know He lives within my heart.

1 John 5:13 (KJV) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 

I’m like Job! Job 19:25 (KJV) For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Ask many if they are going to heaven when they die and you might hear “I hope so.” Others might say yes, but when you ask them how they know, they can’t say how they know they just know. That’s not what the Bible says “that ye may know that ye have eternal life” My granddaughter is in the third grade, one day I said to her that I was great in math. I said let me show you 2+2=5 and she said no Paw Paw it =4 I said no baby 2+2 is 5 and 4+4 is 9  5+5 is 11 don’t you know? She said no and gave me the right answers because she knew. I know that was a simple illustration but when you know there is no guess. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off” So have I. What did not seeing do for them in their lives “and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” They were “persuaded” not only that they “embraced them” and because of those two things they “confessed” You see that’s what faith in Jesus Christ will do. What are you looking forward to? These all died and so will you and I, then what? Do you really know? Can you really know? Yes you can. “that ye may know that ye have eternal life” do you KNOW?