Parting Ways
Today’s Verse:
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ~Hebrews 11:27
In life, we are sometimes faced with the decision of having to part ways with people or things. Someone seeking asylum from a country that represses freedom must part ways with that country and whatever good memories he may have had in the past. When a professional ball player is traded by his team, that player is parting ways with former teammates and all of the memories he had from his previous playing days. Sometimes parting ways can be painful. In our devotion this morning, we see that Moses parted ways with Egypt in order to do the will of God for his life.
We see the renouncement.
“By faith he forsook Egypt….” Egypt is a picture of the world system. The world seeks to ensnare and compress us into thinking and doing what people in the world do. The world system makes things appealing to our flesh and tries to pull us away from the Lord. Moses was educated in the leading schools of his day. He had the promise of being a leader and man of influence in Egypt. However, “by faith he forsook Egypt.” He abandoned Egypt. Once he made the decision, he had no intention of turning back. He left the glitter, glory, gluttony, and gold that Egypt tried to offer. He was not driven by an eye towards finances; he was driven by the eye of faith. If you determine to be a man of faith, you will eventually need to part ways with Egypt.
We see the resolve.
“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.” Parting ways with Egypt meant that Moses disagreed with Pharaoh. It meant that he was rudely telling Pharaoh “no” to worldly promotion. Faith gave Moses the conviction and the courage to leave Egypt behind. His faith in God’s providential care for him, even though he could not see how things would unfold, gave him the determination to do right, even if it made enemies. Pharaoh’s armies, strength, and modern-day technology did not make Moses waver. Like Moses, we must say “no” to the world and not be afraid of Pharaoh’s disapproval.
We see the resistance.
“For he endured….” By faith, Moses persevered. He did not let Pharaoh’s threats change his decision. There were difficult times, but he endured. He endured in spite of having to live in the hot desert. He endured the scorn of family and friends. He endured when there were times of food and water shortages. He resisted the temptation to go back to Egypt. He did not allow the complaining of the people to move him. Once you step out in faith, keep going, no matter how tough things may get.
We see the reliance.
“For he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” How is it that Moses could endure? He saw Him Who is invisible! Moses had spiritual vision. He kept his eyes on the God Who never fails. He kept his eyes on the God Who took better care of him than Egypt or Pharaoh could. With the eye of faith, he could see Jesus. When we walk by faith, we see what others cannot see. He was not afraid of Pharaoh’s disapproval as long he looked to the heavens.
Do you need to part ways with Egypt? You can, by faith!
Have a faith in God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 14-17