Scripture: Heb 11:23 – “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.”
1. Moses was born into danger of which he knew nothing. That is why his parents hid him. Eph 2:2-3.
Parent don’t always know the danger their children are in!
2. Parents need faith to rightly raise their children!
It was the faith of Moses’ parents that caused them to hide him and then put him in the ark of bullrushes. “They were not afraid of the king’s commandment”. That is what faith gives you- courage, for you see the Lord above man. 1 Sam 17:44-48, Acts 5:29.
Scripture: Hebrews 11:20-22 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones,” .
We only were able to look at verse 20 last week so we will continue our study of the other two verses today.
I. JACOB FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF HIS FATHER, ISAAC, WHEN HE CAME TO DIE.
1. He spoke to his sons of ‘things to come’! “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father,” Genesis 49:1-2.
The future was very much in the minds of this godly man and he would have his sons to consider such things.
2. He imparted a blessing to his grandsons. He was desirous of their spiritual wellbeing right to the end!
3. He died, not in fear, but in loving reverence of God. That is what the word ‘worshipped’ means.
4. His earthly strength was gone. He was leaning on his staff.
II. JOSEPH LIKEWISE DIED BELIEVING IN ‘THINGS TO COME’.
1. He spoke of God’s promise. He had an awareness of God’s plan for the future of His people.It is good for fathers to make mention of God’ promise to His people. He is going to take them out of ‘Egypt’ to the ‘promised land’ of Heaven one day.
2. He commanded that they take his bones with them and burying him in Canaan. This indicates the firmness of his faith.
Scripture: “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones,” Hebrews 11:20-22.
Since verse 8 we have been looking at Abraham and his faith with a brief mention of Sarah. Now we come to his son, grandsons and great grandsons. The mention of Isaac was very small. His faith was merely suggested to us in that he did not resist his father when he prepared to sacrifice him at God’s command, even though he was man-big. In this verse 20 his faith is seen again in that he blessed his sons.
I. ISAAC BELIEVED IN ‘THINGS TO COME’.
1. He had an knowledge of things to come. It came from God directly to Isaac (Gen 27:26-40) and he believed God.
2.There was a difference in Isaac’s sons. Jacob was saved, Esau was not. Consider Hebrews 12:16-17. He was a ‘fornicator’ and a ‘profane’ person. He was sinful and an ungodly irreverent man. Furthermore, he cared nothing for his birthright, the blessing of God, but sold it for a ‘morsel of meat’!
3. Isaac had taught both sons the same truth. How many in the family reject the gospel which their siblings believe and divide themselves from the rest of the family!!
