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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 a terrible situation at the end of an age, but he had one advantage: his parents, Amram and Jochebed, a truly God-fearing family with faith. Though the Exodus account focuses on Jochebed, who along with Miriam cast Moses upon the Nile, Hebrews uses "parents," showing Amram's faith too. They were not afraid of the king's command that every male child be put to death. Scripture does not reveal what strengthened their faith, but something was communicated to them, for faith comes by hearing God's Word. They put their own lives and Moses' life at risk because they were convicted, not merely preferring. Even Egypt's power and the threat of death could not dissuade them, for they trusted God's word.