Toronto UBF Bible Study : THE FAITH OF MOSES

Bible Study Materials

THE FAITH OF MOSES

by 01/02/2015

Question

1. Read verse 23. What was the situation of Israel in Egypt? What was the decree under which Moses was born? (See Ex 1:8-22) What did Mosesâ€™ parents do and why? How could they overcome fear? How did God work to save and educate their son? (Ex 2:1-10; Ac 7:21-25) 2. Read verses 24-26. What did Moses decide when he had grown up and how? What reward was Moses looking for? Think about his faith regarding his true identity and value system. 3. Read verse 27. How could Moses persevere in the desert and overcome all hardships of a new life? What does it mean to see him who is invisible? 4. Read verse 28. What was God's final and decisive act of judgment on Egypt? (Ex 12:11-13) What does it mean that Moses kept the Passover? How did this act of faith save the people?

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Message

One of the most dramatic events in the bible is the exodus. According to Hebrews 11:22, Joseph spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt that would happen 400 years later. He spoke it by faith in Godâ€™s promise to Abraham. However, this prophecy did not happen smoothly. During the 400 years, Israelites became a slave to Egypt. Exodus looked seemingly impossible because of the strong oppression of Pharaoh. However, Godâ€™s promise was indeed fulfilled. Todayâ€™s passage highlights the faith of people who were preciously used in such a great historical event. Part I. The faith of Mosesâ€™ parents. Before learning about Mosesâ€™ life, Mosesâ€™ parents were mentioned first for their faith. Letâ€™s think about their faith. Look at verse 23 â€œBy 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.â€ The situation of Israelites when Moses was born is well described in Exodus 1. In BC 1876, 70 people of Jacobâ€™s family moved to Egypt by the invitation of Joseph, who was a prime minister of Egypt and a great influential leader. During the next 400 years, the number of Israelite grew to 2 million. A new king, presumably Thutmose III who did not know Joseph feared for the growing number of Israelites in the land. The king devised a plan to decrease the number; so, he persecuted and enslaved them to build two cities. However, despite the hard labor, their number grew more. Each family easily could make one basket ball team or even soccer team. Then, he made more cruel order and commanded midwives to kill all baby boys when they were born. However, the midwives feared God more than the king so that the plan did not work either. Then, he issued an edict to throw every new born Hebrew boy into the Nile. Under this command, all Israelite boys were destined to die right after birth. What a tragedy! Birth of baby must be joyful but many parents and family members wailed much for the tragedy. That was the time when Mosesâ€™ parents (Amram and Jochebed) had him. However, they overcame such fatalistic situation with faith. They saw that the bay was no ordinary child. Other translation says that the boy was beautiful and good. What does it mean? It is quite common that all babies look special and extra ordinary to their parents. So, why does this parentsâ€™ view sound special? Did Moses have special birth mark? One day, Grace came to me and said â€œI am beautiful because I have a birth mark hereâ€ She was told that her birth mark in that position is considered as a beauty mark in some countries. So, did Moses have such mark? Probably not. If Mosesâ€™ parents said their view when Moses could show some special talents, their view could make more sense. But, what this new born baby did was just smiling, crying, sleeping, and pooing like other ordinary babies. Nevertheless, the Bible emphasized their view in these three books: Exodus, Acts, and Hebrews. Why? It was because they saw the baby with eyes of faith, which means that their view was not ordinary. From the ordinary worldly viewpoint, Moses was a just son of slaves who would be one of victim under the kingâ€™s edict. However, the parents saw him differently in the hope of God who created him in his purpose and will. They believed that he was sent to reveal Godâ€™s glory. Such view is well connected with Godâ€™s view on each individual. After manâ€™s creation, God exclaimed â€œit is very goodâ€. However, in this fallen world, such view is not an ordinary one. Mosesâ€™ parents kept this faith when evil power was so ruling and God looked silent. In addition, their faith was also rooted in Godâ€™s promise given to Abraham. Gen 15:13 says â€œyour descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.â€ In their heart, Godâ€™s promise was alive. They were eagerly waiting for Godâ€™s salvation. So, they made a decision of faith to raise him as Godâ€™s instrument in his time. They hid him not being afraid of the kingâ€™s edict. By faith, they overcame the fear. At that time, due to the kingâ€™s dreadful edict, fear penetrated peopleâ€™s heart. So Israelites were outwardly slave to the king and also inwardly slave to fear of death. Sometimes, such fear (fear to people and something) binds us not to live as Godâ€™s child. But Mosesâ€™ parents overcame the fear through faith in God who is greater than the king. They hid him for three months and took care of him during the critical time. Exodus 2 described how God blessed their faith. After three months, the parents could not hide him anymore. They put him in a basket and placed it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. At that time, Pharaohâ€™s daughter found and adopted him. More amazingly, she told his mother to nurse him until he grew older. In this way, his life was preserved and he could grow under his parentsâ€™ godly teaching. Through their faith, we see how important it is to have eyes of faith. When we have eyes of faith, we can overcome any fatalistic situation. In 1982, a baby was born without four limbs because of tetra-amelia syndrome. But his parents believed that he can do something in his life. Due to his disability, he was bullied at school and decided to kill himself when he was just 10. But he could overcome his fatalistic thinking and body conditions when he had faith in God. He spoke about his belief that God can use any willing heart to do his work and that God is big enough to overcome any disability. His name is Nick Vujicic. His life has now inspired many people around the world. In the Bible, when Jesus saw a fatalistic man with born-blind, he said to his disciples that this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. Likewise, we are created in Godâ€™s plan and purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says â€œFor we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.â€ With faith, Mosesâ€™ parents took care of him and made good environment for him to grow as a man of God. God blessed their faith and the seed of faith was planted in Moses. Finally Godâ€™s promise was fulfilled through Exodus. We could learn that helping a little one with eyes of faith is the way of serving Godâ€™s work. I pray that I may learn of such faith and dedicate to taking care of helpless souls with faith. Part II. The faith of Moses Look at verse 24 â€œBy faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaohâ€™s daughter.â€ Moses had grown up â€“ this means that Mosesâ€™ value system has been formed. He became 40 years old. He had a fascinating title, a prince of Egypt. He was a promising future leader. He was admired by many young people. Many Miss Egyptians followed up with his social network to become a future queen. However, one day he made a decision that he would not live as the son of Pharaohâ€™s daughter. Wow! This could be the most shocking headline news to the people around him. Usually, people have a strong desire to be known as somebody; somebody in school, work, and any community they belong to. It feels good if we are famous and respected by others. Moses was already in such a position. So, many have wondered why Moses made such decision. That was because of his true identity and godly value systems. Oneâ€™s identity is the answer to a fundamental question; â€œWho am I?â€. When we think about Mosesâ€™ background, we can see that he received all kinds of advanced educations from his palace tutors; philosophy, science, engineering, literature, and arts. He was excellent in speech and action. He also lived in secular environment in which various gods were worshiped; the god of the sun, the god of the moon, the god of the earth, the god of the desert, the god of the river, the god of crocodile, the god of hippos, etc. However, his great knowledge and many different gods could not help him to know his true identity. His position, wealth, and privilege could not give him true satisfaction. However, through the promise of Godâ€™s word, he believed the true God who created him. He knew how he was miraculously saved. He could think why God preserved his life. Then, he deeply thought about where he should belong to and how to love God with all his heart and strength. By faith, he refused to be called as a prince and chose to live as Godâ€™s child. This is not easy decision at all since we live in the society in which wealth and fame is considered the measurement of success and happiness. But his rejection shows his strong desire to keep his identity as Godâ€™s child in the environment that all kinds of ungodly and sinful life were prevalent. Around this time every year, people usually make new year resolutions. For instance, to pursue a better health condition, they decide to stop unhealthy dietary. Similarly, it is obvious that to live as Godâ€™s children, we also need to refuse something in our lives in order to have a healthy faith. With his refusal, Moses also positively sought godly life. Look at verse 25-26. â€œHe chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 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.â€ His choice shows his value system very well. People do not want to live a hard life and rather prefer life with less suffering and troubles. However, Moses chose suffering with Godâ€™s people instead of easy and cozy life in the palace. He chose disgrace for Christ rather than treasures of Egypt. Why he valued the suffering so much more than sweet happiness in the palace? It was because he knew that what he enjoyed is temporal and meaningless. Moses sang in Psalm 90:10 â€œThe length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.â€ But, life for Christ, Godâ€™s promised one is meaningful indeed. Moses believed Godâ€™s promise that God saves his people from the oppression of the king in the land and also from the oppression of his enemy in this fallen world through Christ. Moses wanted to serve Christ as his king and live a life for him. Moses believed that in the end, Christ will give him his reward far better than any reward in this temporal world. Moses already experienced all the good things in the world. What could be his best reward to expect? That is God himself. God said to Abraham â€œI am your great rewardâ€ Apostle Paul also sought this reward â€œWhat is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christâ€ (Philippians 3:8) When Moses fixed his heart on Christ and Godâ€™s work, he could willingly sacrifice his privilege and participate in his redemptive work. He believed that his suffering is so much valuable than any treasures in the world. Look at verse 27 â€œBy faith he left Egypt, not fearing the kingâ€™s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisibleâ€ This verse is related to the event in Exodus 2. After such decision of faith, Moses went out to see his people. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. At this, he attacked and killed the Egyptian with his palace martial art and hid him in the sand. However, this was known to others. He was also rejected by Israelites. Pharaoh was also angry and tried to kill him. Moses could not belong to any of them. He fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian. This event looked unexpected to Moses who somehow tried to help his people. But when he was rejected by them, he did not go back to Pharaoh. He left Egypt by faith and lived in Midian for 40 years as a shepherd. Prince of Egypt became a nameless shepherd. He was somebody but now became nobody. He who had many servants became a person who should serve many others. Previously, he enjoyed various lamb dishes. But now he had to take care of them. He read â€œfeeding sheep for dummiesâ€ and learned how to prepare food, make shelter, and protect them, etc. This was Godâ€™s guidance for him to become a humble servant. Moses had a great zeal for the work of God. But God couldnâ€™t use him as he was. God put a great hope for Israelites to be a kingdom of priest and holy nation. But, they had deep slavery mentality. They were so weak to live according to Godâ€™s will. They easily complained and lived with flesh desire. With prince mentality, Moses would not bear their weakness. He was ready to command rather than to understand and serve them. So through the Midian life, God moulded Moses into meek shepherd and an obedient servant so that he can take care of helpless sheep like people. Moses also learned perseverance through this time. Rather to use his strong one punch with hot temper, he prayed and helped his people with a great patience. Later, God commented about Moses in Numbers 12:3 â€œNow Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.â€ But, his Midian life was not easy at all when his heart and strong self-ego was broken many times in a lowly position. But he persevered the time because he saw him who is invisible. This means that he acknowledged God at the time of trial. With eyes of faith, he considered the time as Godâ€™s discipline. Like him, Godâ€™s people had a time of humble discipline. Job said when he was in a painful trial, â€œBut he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.â€ (Job 23:10). More than Job and Moses, Jesus, the son of God, also suffered much to save helpless sinners. So Hebrews 12:3 â€œLet us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.â€ Moses fixed his eyes on God during his trials. His spiritual sight was getting better and brighter, so he learned of God more and better. When Godâ€™s time came, he sent Moses back to Egypt to deliver his people from the hand of Pharaoh. Look at verse 28. â€œBy faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.â€ This is the last plague given to Egypt. Before this event, God sent nine plagues to Pharaoh and his people. However, he was so stubborn and unyielding and refused to let Israelites go. Finally, God prepared this final plague and called Moses to prepare Israel with Passover instruction. In Exodus 12, God instructed about the Passover. â€˜Each man is to take a lamb (year old males without defect) for his family. They should slaughter the lamb and take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses. God said "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.â€ God said â€œâ€¦ it is the LORD'S Passover.â€ Unlike other plagues, the Israelites needed to keep this LORDâ€™s Passover to escape from the final judgement. So, this shows that the Passover was the day of presenting Godâ€™s deep grace and judgment at the same time. His grace is shown to those who follow his instruction while his righteous judgment is revealed to those who reject. This shows that Godâ€™s salvation can be effective only through faith in him. Verse 28 says again â€œBy faith Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.â€ As a result of this judgment, Israelites, more than two million people could come out of Egypt. With Godâ€™s grace and their faith, they experienced a brand new historical event, unprecedented work of God. In this way, God freed Israelites from the hand of the cruel king. This Mosesâ€™ faith also showed the way of our salvation in Christ. The sprinkling of the blood is the shadow of work of our Lamb of God, Jesus who shed his blood for us. Thus, with faith in his blood, we can also receive Godâ€™s grace. This Jesus saves us from our sins. Our strong sins are like Pharaoh. We were slaves to sin and died in sin. But faith in Jesus set us free from the power of our sins and death. So, we can truly live a new life in Jesus. In conclusion, God redeemed his people as he promised. Moses and his parents participated in his work by faith. Moses refused sinful life and chose life for Christ. Their faith was greatly blessed. I pray that we may continue to grow in such faith and serve Godâ€™s work with faith.

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Message

Thank God for the faith of Abraham, who obeyed God even when he did not know where he was going, and who lived by faith as a stranger in this world, like others who lived having the words of Godâ€™s promise in their hearts and looking forward to the city whose architect and builder is God, the country of his own, the heavenly country. That hope was also the hope of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Today we will think about the faith of Moses along with the faith of Mosesâ€™ parents. Moses was regarded as the founder of Judaism. He received the law from God and gave it to the people of God to keep. When the Jewish Christians were tempted to go back to Judaism, presumably Moses was in their minds. According to the author of Hebrews he was faithful in all Godâ€™s house (3:2,5), and his faithfulness was even compared to that of Christ. It is somewhat surprising that Moses was also one of those patriarchs who lived by faith in this world. In particular, the writer of Hebrews discloses that Moses bore disgrace for the sake of Christ, knowing its value. Mosesâ€™ faith is well shown in his choice and value system. Also, the faith of Mosesâ€™ parents is striking. First, the faith of Mosesâ€™ parents (23). In verse 23, â€œBy faith Mosesâ€™ 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 kingâ€™s edict.â€ At that time the political and social situation was that every male child had to be thrown in Nile River according to the kingâ€™s edit. All the parents except Mosesâ€™ parents had thrown their newborn sons into the Nile in deep sorrow out of their fear of the king. However, Mosesâ€™ parents hid him three months after he was born. This was an extraordinary act of Mosesâ€™ parents. How could they do that? Yes, in short it was by faith. Yet, a clear reason is further written: â€œbecause they saw he was no ordinary child.â€ What does this mean? To any parents their sons and daughters are no ordinary children. Their children are special to their eyes. However, at such a time of terror, what parents could see their newborn sons as no ordinary children? All the parents besides Mosesâ€™ saw them as objects of great sorrow and tragedy, crying over them, questioning, â€œO my child, why were you born at this time in this generation?â€ or, â€œWhy were you born as a baby boy, not a girl?â€ To them, there was no way to see their children as no ordinary. They had no eyes to see the beauty of their children, not because of no love but because of the circumstanced they lived in. But Mosesâ€™ parent had eyes to see the beauty and extraordinariness of their child, because they were not afraid of the kingâ€™s edict, in other words, because they feared God. In the fear of God they believed that this child was born not by accident or mistake but by Godâ€™s deep providence with a clear purpose of God even in that generation. That was the faith of Mosesâ€™ parents. It is true that oneâ€™s faith is directly related to oneâ€™s view, how to see oneâ€™s children and each situation in life, especially at a difficult time. As you know, when Moses sent twelves spies to explore the land of Canaan, the report of ten of the spies was different from that of Joshua and Calebâ€“even though they saw the same people, the same thing. To ten of the spies, the residents in Canaan were men of great size and they themselves, like grasshoppers. But to Joshua and Caleb, the Canaanites were bread to be deliciously eaten, and they themselves, the great people whom the LORD is with. The view of ten explorers was without faith, and the view of the other, with faith. When their views were different, their reports were different, the one negative and so bad, the other positive and so good. The bad report made all the people of the community of God cry the whole night and they became the object of Godâ€™s severe punishment. The former view and report were negative because their hearts were dark, with no God in them. But the letter view and report were positive, because their hearts were bright with God in their hearts. Jesus said in Luke 11:34-35, â€œYour eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.â€ Once Jesus and his disciples saw a man born blind. At this sight the disciples were very sorrowful and fatalistic. Their hearts were dark and their thinking and view, negative. But Jesus was different. He said, â€œâ€¦this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his lifeâ€ (Jn 9:3). To Jesusâ€™ view, the man was born blind not fatalistically but wonderfully to display Godâ€™s work in his life. To Jesus the manâ€™s blind condition was an opportunity to display the marvelous work of God. Another time, at the news of the serious sickness of his beloved one, Jesus said, â€œThis sickness will not end in death. No, it is for Godâ€™s glory so that Godâ€™s Son may be glorified through itâ€ (Jn 11:4). Then when the man died in Jesusâ€™ intentional delay, his sisters were full of sorrow and bitterness under the power of death. At this Jesus had a holy anger toward the power of darkness of death, Jesus said, â€œDid I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?â€ Soon after Jesus raised the dead and revealed Godâ€™s glory, planting faith in the hearts of the sisters and people there. Again, I thank God for granting us this centre anew. In the process and effort for a new centre, we were not anxious but believed that God would lead us in his best way. Although we had different opinions, we all wanted to please God in this matter, ready to deny oneâ€™s opinion for the sake of God and the whole community, and prayed to the end. Then God gave us this place anew. As for me this place is like wonder land. May we really serve him better in this centre and see wonders of God by faith. I will believe that he will do a new thing as we put our full faith in him, since he showed this unexpected precious sign. Again, letâ€™s remember that in such a terrible time Mosesâ€™ parent saw he was no ordinary child. This is the way we should see our children regardless of their own conditions and circumstances and pray for them and raise them accordingly. This is also the way to see and serve each of Godâ€™s given flock of sheep whom God has sent. This is also the way to see each situation and event happening before us. Second, the faith of Moses (24-28). In verse 24, â€œBy faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaohâ€™s daughter.â€ When Moses had grown up, this was the very time for him to make himself known as the son of Pharaohâ€™s daughter to the Egyptian Empire. What an opportunity to a great success with fame and wealth and love in the world! But amazingly he refused his worldly fascinating identity which most people of the world would envy. He refused all the good things the world could offer, human affection, honour, position, riches and pleasures. We know that it is not easy to attain such things, but also it is not easy at all to refuse them. However, without knowing how to refuse the good things of the world Godâ€™s people cannot become the persons God wants them to be and serve God. To be men and women of God we should know what to refuse and how to refuse and when to refuse. Then in verse 25, â€œHe chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.â€ Mosesâ€™ refusal and his choice are connected. His refusal was because of his choice. His choice was between mistreatment along with the people of God and temporary pleasures of sin. More fundamentally it was between God and the world. When he had to identify himself as a Hebrew, it meant to be mistreated along with the slave people, whom he believed were the people of God. Living in the palace, he had seen how Hebrew slaves were treated. They were whipped and moved and had to work hard for their daily bread. They groaned day and night. They were slaves one generation after another. Humanly speaking, to be mistreated along with them was unthinkable. Without identifying himself as a Hebrew he could have been well treated and enjoyed palace life in ease and luxury and honour and glory. Yet, Moses chose God and Godâ€™s people, although it meant mistreatment and suffering. Because of this choice, he has been known as Moses, a servant of the LORD. Otherwise, he would have been known as Moses, just Prince of Egypt, and remained one of mummies. Then in verse 26, â€œHe regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.â€ Being mistreated along with the people God would not be something graceful at all. It was disgrace and shame in the eyes of people of the world. Yet it was disgrace for the sake of Christ. This is the writer of Hebrewsâ€™ insight to see the life of Moses. Mosesâ€™ life was connected to Christ. God must have revealed Christ to him at a certain point in his life. And Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. As we thought of, the treasures of Egypt would be peopleâ€™s praise and prize in human honour and glory, that is, the earthly reward. 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. The heavenly reward, Christâ€™ reward is Christ himself along with his kingdom and his praise and honour. Here we see that behind Mosesâ€™ making such a choice was his value system. He knew what is truly valuable, what is temporal and what is eternal. We remember Jesusâ€™ words concerning what is really important in life. He said to his followers, â€œWhat good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?â€ (Mk 8:36). We also remember Apostle Paul, who said, â€œWhatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christâ€ (Phil. 3:7-8). And then he said, â€œI press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesusâ€ (Phil. 3:13-14). When God made man, he gave man freedom of choice. Certainly, oneâ€™s choice reveals what kind person he or she is. Also, we can say that life consists of continuation of choices. According to how one makes a choice at each time, the personâ€™s life path is set. As you know Abrahamâ€™s life path and Lotâ€™s life path were divided when they made different choices. Lot chose a beautiful land in Egypt, which was like the Garden of Eden, according to his smart calculation while Abraham chose the promise land according the word of Godâ€™s promise to him. Through this choice, Lotâ€™s life path was set to the way of downfall. One Sunday evening in 1855, two drunk young men were stumbling toward a gambling house. But ironically there was a small church on their way. And at the entrance of the church the title of the evening sermon was written, â€œThe wages of sin is death.â€ One young man began to have guilty feelings and said to the other, â€œLetâ€™s go to the church tonight, not the gambling house.â€ But the other young man did not want to change their plan. He said, â€œWe have already decided to have much fun with gambling tonight,â€ and went into the casino. However, that night the first young man went to the church and heard the sermon. He repented of his life of sin and turned to God. After the conversion he changed his lifestyle and studied very hard, growing in faith in God. But the other man kept on his life of drinking and gambling. 30 years later, the converted young man became a president of America, the 22nd and 24th president. The other man came to know this news through the newspaper in the prison. He beat his chest and regretted his past wrong decision. This is the story of the president Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908). Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (1962 - ) was an English Professor at Syracuse University in New York State, specializing in womenâ€™s studies. She had a lesbian partner with whom she owned two homes. These homes were open for students who freely came and went, spending hours discussing relevant issues and plans for social activism. While researching a paper to critique the religious right, she published an article which was read by a local pastor. The pastor sent her a kind, but thought-provoking letter. This led to a personal relationship with him and his wife, who embraced her with love and understanding and shared the truth of God with her. After a couple of years, Rosaria felt a deep conviction of sin. She accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. She is sure that Jesus is living, that he is who the Bible says he is, and that he loves her. After much struggle, and with trembling, she publicly confessed her faith in Christ. She did so through a lecture that people expected to be feminist and anti-Christian. She describes the result on her life as a train wreck. She lost everything: her professor position, her social status, and her friends. People who had been very dear to her felt betrayed by her. Her whole life was turned upside down. But she gained Christ. She now loves to hear Godâ€™s word proclaimed truthfully in the Spirit. She has married a pastor and they have opened their home for Bible studies with many young people. Her hope is in the glorious inheritance that Jesus gives. She valued Christ more than anything. We pray that many young people may find Christ and value him most. In Acts when the apostles, after preaching the name of Jesus, were arrested and flogged by Sanhedrin and kicked out, they rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Nameâ€ (Acts 4:40-41). In the course of serving Godâ€™s flock of sheep and doing the work of God, we can also receive disgrace and reproach and dishonour. In this world, as we stand in the name of Jesus, we can be ridiculed and disgraced. We see that in light of Moses and the apostles and other precious people of Christ it is a privilege, for we can also participate in the sufferings of Christ in such a way. Apostle Peter said, â€œRejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealedâ€ (1 Pe 4:13). Verses 27-28 tell us what Moses did after he made his decision: he led Israel during the Exodus and kept the Passover. After 40 years of his life in the wilderness, God sent Moses to confront Pharaoh and deliver his people from Egyptian bondage. This was a really hard task to do. Humanly speaking, Pharaoh was the mightiest man on earth and Moses was a fugitive criminal. Moses seemed to be no match for Pharaoh; it was like throwing an egg at a rock and expecting the rock to break. However, when Moses obeyed God, God displayed his power going through nine plagues imposed on Egypt. Whenever Pharaoh got angry, he wanted to kill Moses. But by faith Moses persevered; it was because he saw him who is invisibleâ€”the King of kings. The Exodus cannot be separated from the Passover. Verse 28 says, â€œBy faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.â€ Exodus was possible when the blood of the Passover lambs was shed. It was not easy for Moses to keep the Passover. How could the blood of a lamb on a doorframe save them from the Destroyer? But by faith Moses kept the Passover and the Israelites were saved. The Passover lamb foreshadows the coming of Jesus as the Lamb of God. By his blood, Jesus delivers us from the power of sin and Satan. Thank God for teaching us the faith of Mosesâ€™ parents and that of Moses. May truly have the eyes of faith to see and make a choice with a right and eternal value system.

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