Hebrews 11:23, commentary and pictures

By faith Amram and Jochebed, devout Israelites of Levi, hid their newborn son Moses for three months while Pharaoh's decree to destroy the Hebrew male children was in full force. They saw he was a fine, goodly and remarkable child, and believing the time of Israel's release was drawing near and that God would raise up a deliverer, they determined he should not be sacrificed. Their hearts were strengthened to trust God rather than fear or obey the king's commandment, committing the child to God's care with earnest prayer under angelic guard. When his mother was paid to nurse her own son, she believed God had preserved him for some great work and trained him to fear the living God, love truth and justice, hate idolatry, and stand firm against pride and corruption amid court splendor until he became Pharaoh's daughter's son at about twelve. Their fidelity stands among the heroes of faith as an example that calls believers now to turn from what is seen to the unseen, lay aside every weight of evil habit, and trust God through trial so He can work through them.

Hiding Moses by Faith

The parents were Amram and Jochebed, devout Israelites of the tribe of Levi, and their son was born while Pharaoh's decree to destroy the Hebrew male children was in full force. The mother's faith and courage form the setting for the birth of Moses, Israel's deliverer. Because they saw he was a proper, fine, goodly and remarkable child, and because they believed the time of Israel's release was drawing near and that God would raise up a deliverer for His people, they determined that their child should not be sacrificed. By faith their hearts were strengthened to hide him for three months, trusting God rather than fearing the king's commandment or obeying it, and their faith overcame fear.

In hiding him they committed him to God's care with earnest prayers mingled with tears under angelic guard. When his mother was liberally paid to nurse her own son, she believed God had preserved his life for some great work and faithfully used the precious opportunity to educate him for a life of usefulness. She instilled in his young mind the fear of God and love for truthfulness and justice, taught him to bow and pray to the living God who alone could hear and help in any emergency, impressed him with the sinfulness of idolatry, and prayed he would be preserved from every corrupting influence. She fortified his mind to shield him from being lifted up with pride and corrupted by sin and from disbelieving the Maker of heaven and earth amid the splendor and extravagance of court life, so that with a clear mind and understanding heart he never lost those youthful pious impressions before she was obliged to separate from him when he was about twelve years old and he became the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

The verse illustrates faith in unseen things, the kind of faith workers for God need as they move forward and labor. It calls for turning the mind from discouraging things that are seen toward the unseen. It points to the hope of a better country and a heavenly city built by God.

Enduring Example for Believers

The verse belongs to the record of the faithful, to the chapter on faith and the account of the ancient heroes of faith and God's servants in sacred history, with Moses and his parents numbered among that great cloud of witnesses. Their fidelity to God and firm principles shine as an example brought conspicuously before the world, so that their light shines forth to those in spiritual darkness and to the Christian church and leads others to glorify God.

The same faith that worked in them can work in believers now, the faith in unseen things that workers for God need as they move forward and labor, helping them trust God through trials and preparing them for service so that God can act through them. Their faith overcame fear rather than fearing the king's command, and as those who faced evils and difficulties in their way they braced successfully against opposing forces of evil in the name of the Lord, sustained and strengthened and held by His hand. Their example therefore calls believers to lay aside every weight of evil habits and practices formed by following natural dispositions and to run with patience the race set before them.