January 22, 2016 (Friday)
The Israelites were in Egypt for 400 years, during which time they grew greatly in numbers, and were enslaved. They cried to God for deliverance from their bondage, and God heard their cry, responding by sending Moses.
When Moses demanded freedom for his people, the Pharaoh refused. After a series of ten plagues, he finally relented and let the people go to their promised land. When they reached the land, however, the people were afraid to enter. God then said the next generation would enter, but the present tribes would wander in the wilderness, which they did for the next 40 years, as Moses faithfully led them.
The writer of Hebrews describes Moses’ life of faith: “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 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. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 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” (Hebrews 11:24-28 NIV).
The writer then mentions several great people of faith by name, and then summarizes their lives of devotion to God, concluding by saying, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV).
Thus the “roll call of faith” is concluded. How does your faith measure up to theirs?