Hebrews 11:23-31
Faith Against Fear
23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
24By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
Berean Standard Bible
Moses' parents hid him for three months because they saw he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the king's edict. Their faith took the form of protecting a vulnerable baby in defiance of a ruler's command.
When Moses grew up, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose oppression with God's people over the fleeting enjoyment of sin. He valued disgrace for Christ above Egypt's treasures because he was looking toward his reward.
Moses left Egypt by faith and persevered because he saw the invisible God. He kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood so the destroyer would not touch Israel's firstborn. The people passed through the Red Sea on dry land, while the Egyptians who tried to follow were drowned.
The walls of Jericho fell after Israel marched around them for seven days. Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the spies in peace and did not perish with the disobedient. The list includes a family protecting life, a leader rejecting privilege, a people obeying together, and a woman whose welcome placed her among God's faithful.
Questions
1 Why did Moses' parents hide him?
AnswerThey hid Moses because they saw he was beautiful and were not afraid of the king's command.
2 What did Moses choose?
AnswerMoses chose oppression with God's people rather than the fleeting enjoyment of sin and Egypt's treasures.
3 How did the Israelites cross the sea?
AnswerBy faith, the Israelites passed through the Red Sea as though walking on dry land.
4 Why did Rahab survive?
AnswerRahab survived because she welcomed the spies in peace and did not join the disobedient.
What This Means for Us
Fear can make power look unquestionable. Faith may require protecting someone vulnerable, rejecting an unjust privilege, or choosing solidarity over comfort.
Rahab's inclusion challenges families to notice where God is building faith rather than assuming that respectability, background, or social status tells the whole story.
Prayer
God, give us courage when fear serves injustice. Help us protect the vulnerable, reject comfort that depends on another person's oppression, and welcome people whose faith surprises our assumptions. Amen.