Wednesday, April 11, 2007, Part 3
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward" (Hebrews 11:23-26).
IDEA: Faith enables us to see people in new ways.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that faith in a sovereign God changes our perspective about people.
I. When we say that we believe that God is sovereign, what does that mean?
Is it merely a title for God? That only the big things in the universe are under His control, and most of us live by chance?
Is it merely a way of saying that we live in a mechanistic universe where everything is determined by forces that we cannot control?
II. People of faith believe that our lives are controlled by God who cares about them.
Moses' parents hid their son for three months after he was born. Why did they have to hide him? Exodus 1:16, 22: "The Pharaoh decreed, 'When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.' . . . So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, 'Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.' "
Because Moses' parents were people of faith, they saw their situation in a different way.
They saw their infant son in a different way: "He was no ordinary child" (Hebrews 11:23 NIV). The term no ordinary has the sense of special, attractive, well-pleasing, beautiful. What do you think that meant for Moses' parents? They saw him as fair or special in the sight of God.
Does faith enable us to see our children in a different way?
They saw Pharaoh in a different way: He was not to be feared. If you fear God, then you don't have to fear anyone else.
"The Lord is my helped; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6).
"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me. Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me" (Psalm 118:6-7).
No government is sovereign. When governments conflict with God's purposes, they are not to be obeyed.
CONCLUSION: Faith in a sovereign God whose purposes are best for us enables us to see people and situations in a new way and to change the way we act.