Walking by faith. Walking in hope. Walking with trust. Easier said than done a lot of times. There are many examples in the Bible that show us the great challenges that faced men and women of faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. What happens when we are attacked by what we can see? It’s right in front of us. We feel it’s heat. We hear it’s noise. We are hit with fear. How hard it is to overcome what we do see with faith in things we don’t see. Impossible? Of course not. With God all things are possible. That doesn’t mean it will come easy. It doesn’t mean we won’t face physical, mental, and emotional challenges. But walk by faith we must. That’s why we go to the examples Scripture gives us so that we can be encouraged, emboldened, and diligent.
We know who Moses is. We talk a lot about Moses from him being a baby to all the things he did as a leader for God’s people. We talk about his faith and obedience to God. But how often do we talk about his parents? What about their faith? In Egypt, Pharaoh thought the people of Israel were growing too numerous. So he decreed that all male babies be killed. What a horrific decree. What a horrible thought. But “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23). Was that easy for Moses’ parents to do? How frightening that would be. Think of the consequences that could come of that. They could potentially be killed for keeping him alive. But they did it. For 3 months! Don’t ask me how. But they did it. They were brave. They were focused more on God than they were the king. What faith.
The Hebrew writer does not mention them but I think due commendation also needs to be given to the midwives who refused to kill the male babies as the king had commanded. Exodus 1:15-21, “Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ‘When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.’ But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this, and let the male children live?’ The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.’ So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.” What faith! What courage. What determination.
In the face of fear. In the face of adversity. In the face of humiliation, rejection, or hate. When doubts arise and sorrows increase. What will we do? Where will our faith be? Will we courageously endure and walk on in faith? Or will we lose our footing and fall? Moses’ parents had great faith when they faced danger and fear. The midwives did too. God is bigger than anything this world can throw at us. God is bigger than Satan. Through Christ we can overcome the world. We walk by faith and not by sight. Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Put your faith, hope and trust in Him. Walk on. Never give up. Never give in. Be brave. Have faith.
A Cord of Blue 