Friday 30 March, 2018

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

What a fascinating passage. Moses chose to forgo immense privileges, share oppression with Israel, saw suffering as better than immense treasures, and trusted God for his protection. All this, Hebrews tells us, by faith. I have not often thought of forgoing privilege, and sharing oppression, and choosing suffering, as acts of faith. Such choices in our culture today would seem ludicrous I feel. Yet in God’s Kingdom plan, however, this is not only a possible choice, but can be the faith choice!

Instead of seeing faith as the way to get the privileges of heaven, and push breezily past oppression and suffering, I’ve come to see faith differently as a result of this passage. Faith is just as much about being given power by God to go through oppression, go through suffering, and forgo easier paths. I’m thankful there are seasons like this, as well as seasons of breakthrough. But when the call is to go through oppression, I can, by faith!

Lord, I need faith from you. The faith you supply enables me to go through seasons of oppression and suffering with strength just as much as the faith you supply will enable me to triumph when the time is right! Thank you for your provision, amen!

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh