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Hebrews 11:23
Like us, Moses was born at the end of an age. However, he had an advantage of birth that most of us do not have: He was born into a truly God-fearing family, a family that had faith. This verse witnesses to the faith of his mother and father. God has always reserved to Himself a remnant of people that have faith, and Moses "happened" to be born into such a family.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Conviction and MosesRelated Topics: Conviction | Family | Family Relationship | Family Ties | Moses | Moses, Faithfulness of
Hebrews 11:23
Moses was born into a terrible situation. We may think we were born into unfortunate circumstances, but our situations pale in comparison to Moses' start. However, he had one thing going for him humanly: his parents, Amram and Jochebed.
Moses, of course, was unaware of these things, but God supplied the saving grace in the form of Amram and Jochebed. The Exodus account focuses on the part of Jochebed because it was she, undoubtedly, along with Miriam, who actually carried out the casting of Moses on the Nile. Hebrews 11:23, though, uses the term "parents," so that we understand that Amram was also involved—with his faith.
Notice that they were not afraid of the king's command. The Bible does not say what strengthened their faith, but they did a pretty dangerous thing. They put their lives on the line, as well as Moses' life, by putting him out on the water. Did God speak to them in a dream? Did God give them a vision? Did God send an angel? Or did they rely on the promise given to Abraham, knowing that they were coming to the end of an age? We cannot know because God does not say.
Whatever it was, in a way it does not matter. All that matters is that, somehow, they believed it and followed through by doing this thing that, at least on the surface, appears to have been very risky. Were they convicted that what they were doing was right? Certainly! Even the power of Egypt could not turn them aside from their conviction. Even the fear or the threat of losing their lives could not dissuade them. They did not have a preference—they were convicted! They put their lives, and their son's life, on the line because they trusted the word of their God.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Conviction and MosesRelated Topics: Amram and Jochebed. | Conviction | Faith | Faith and Obedience | Faith and Works | Faith as Gift of God | Faith in God's Providence | Faith, Building | Faith, Living | Faith, Saving | Moses | Obedience | Trust in God
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What Does Hebrews 11:23 Mean?
Moses was born into terrible circumstances at the end of an age, but God supplied saving grace through his God-fearing parents, Amram and Jochebed. Though the Exodus account focuses on Jochebed, who along with Miriam carried out casting Moses on the Nile, Hebrews uses "parents" so that Amram's faith is understood too. God has always reserved a remnant of people with faith, and Moses was born into such a family. The Bible does not reveal what strengthened their faith—whether a dream, vision, angel, or the promise given to Abraham—yet something must have been communicated, for faith comes by hearing God's Word. They were convicted, not merely preferring; neither Egypt's power nor the threat of death could dissuade them, because they trusted their God's word.