Choosing Faith: Moses' Decision and Our Identity

 

Summary

In the book of Acts, chapter 7, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stands before the Sanhedrin, accused of blasphemy for proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. Stephen's defense is a profound recapitulation of Israel's history, highlighting how the Jewish leaders misunderstood key figures like Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. Stephen uses Moses as a type of Christ, illustrating how Moses prefigures the Son of God as a leader and deliverer. However, Moses is also an example of how one becomes truly one of God's people through faith.

Moses' life presents a turning point when he is confronted with a momentous decision. Raised as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses enjoyed the privileges of Egyptian royalty. Yet, at the age of 40, he is faced with a choice: continue in the luxury of Egypt or identify with his true people, the Israelites. This decision is a universal principle in the Christian faith, where a crisis or decision point is always present. One cannot be a Christian unconsciously; it requires a conscious choice.

Moses' choice is a perfect illustration of the gospel's call to decision. The world presents two opposing forces: God and the devil. This dichotomy is the basis of the biblical message and the gospel. Moses' decision to identify with the Israelites, despite their current suffering, is driven by his realization of his true identity and the righteousness of God's cause. He sees beyond the temporary pleasures of Egypt, understanding the eternal value of being one of God's people.

Moses' decision is also informed by his sense of justice and righteousness. He is moved by the oppression of his people and acts against the injustice he witnesses. This mirrors the Christian call to live a life of truth and righteousness, recognizing the wrongness of a sinful life. Moses takes the long view, understanding that the pleasures of sin are temporary, while the rewards of faithfulness to God are eternal.

Ultimately, Moses' choice is about belonging to a greater company, the people of God, and seeing the invisible God. This choice is available to all, offering the glory of eternal life with God. The call is to choose between the temporary pleasures of the world and the eternal joy of life with God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Necessity of a Conscious Decision: Becoming a Christian involves a conscious decision, a crisis point where one must choose between the world and God. This decision is universal and cannot be made unconsciously. It requires a recognition of one's true identity and a commitment to follow Christ. [06:03]

- The Dichotomy of Life's Choices: Life presents two opposing forces: God and the devil. This fundamental choice is the basis of the biblical message. Like Moses, we must choose between the temporary pleasures of the world and the eternal value of being one of God's people. [11:16]

- The Importance of Identity: Moses' decision was driven by his realization of his true identity as one of God's people. Understanding who we are in Christ is crucial to making the right choice. Our identity in God surpasses any worldly status or privilege. [24:42]

- The Call to Righteousness and Justice: Moses' sense of justice and righteousness compelled him to act against oppression. As Christians, we are called to live a life of truth and righteousness, recognizing the wrongness of sin and the rightness of God's ways. [32:30]

- The Eternal Perspective: Moses took the long view, understanding that the pleasures of sin are temporary, while the rewards of faithfulness to God are eternal. This eternal perspective is essential for making the right choice and living a life that honors God. [41:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Stephen's Defense
- [00:59] - Stephen's Recapitulation of Israel's History
- [02:28] - Moses as a Type of Christ
- [04:43] - The Turning Point in Moses' Life
- [06:03] - The Necessity of a Conscious Decision
- [08:00] - Moses' Choice and Its Implications
- [10:23] - The Gospel's Call to Decision
- [11:16] - The Dichotomy of Life's Choices
- [14:33] - The Call to Righteousness and Justice
- [24:42] - The Importance of Identity
- [32:30] - Moses' Sense of Justice
- [41:04] - The Eternal Perspective
- [44:08] - The Recompense of the Reward
- [50:33] - The Glory of Belonging to God's People

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 7:22-29
2. Hebrews 11:24-26

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Observation Questions:

1. How does Stephen use the history of Israel to defend his faith before the Sanhedrin? What key figures does he highlight, and why? [01:16]

2. What significant decision did Moses face at the age of 40, and what were the implications of this decision for his life? [08:00]

3. According to the sermon, what does the author of Hebrews emphasize about Moses' faith and decision-making? [03:25]

4. How does the sermon describe the dichotomy of life's choices between God and the devil? [11:16]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does Moses' decision to identify with the Israelites, despite their suffering, reveal about his understanding of his true identity? How does this relate to the Christian understanding of identity in Christ? [24:42]

2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of a conscious decision in the Christian faith? Why is this decision described as a crisis point? [06:03]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Moses' sense of justice and righteousness influenced his actions? How does this reflect the Christian call to live a life of truth and righteousness? [32:30]

4. How does the sermon explain the importance of having an eternal perspective when making life choices? What does it mean to take the "long view" as Moses did? [41:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant decision that required you to choose between worldly comforts and spiritual growth. How did you approach this decision, and what was the outcome? [08:00]

2. How can you become more conscious of your identity in Christ in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of this identity when faced with difficult choices? [24:42]

3. Consider an area in your life where you feel called to act against injustice or unrighteousness. What specific actions can you take to address this issue in a way that aligns with your faith? [32:30]

4. What are some temporary pleasures or distractions in your life that might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you shift your focus to the eternal rewards of faithfulness to God? [41:04]

5. Think about a recent situation where you had to make a conscious decision to follow Christ. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? [06:03]

6. How can you cultivate a sense of belonging to the "greater company" of God's people in your community? What steps can you take to strengthen your connection with fellow believers? [50:33]

7. Identify one specific way you can live out the call to righteousness and justice in your workplace or community this week. What support or resources do you need to take this step? [32:30]

Devotional

Day 1: Conscious Decision in Faith
In the journey of faith, a conscious decision is essential. Moses, raised in the luxury of Egyptian royalty, faced a pivotal moment at the age of 40. He had to choose between the comforts of Egypt and identifying with his true people, the Israelites. This decision reflects a universal principle in Christianity: one cannot be a Christian unconsciously. It requires a deliberate choice to follow Christ, recognizing one's true identity in God. This conscious decision is a crisis point where one must choose between the world and God, as Moses did. [06:03]

Hebrews 11:24-25 (ESV): "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin."

Reflection: What is a decision you need to make today that aligns with your identity in Christ, even if it means stepping away from comfort or convenience?


Day 2: The Dichotomy of Life's Choices
Life presents us with two opposing forces: God and the devil. This fundamental choice is the basis of the biblical message. Moses' decision to identify with the Israelites, despite their suffering, exemplifies the choice between the temporary pleasures of the world and the eternal value of being one of God's people. This dichotomy is ever-present, urging us to choose the path of righteousness and eternal life over fleeting worldly pleasures. [11:16]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days."

Reflection: Identify a situation where you are tempted by temporary pleasures. How can you choose the eternal value of being one of God's people in this situation today?


Day 3: Understanding Our True Identity
Moses' decision was driven by his realization of his true identity as one of God's people. Understanding who we are in Christ is crucial to making the right choices. Our identity in God surpasses any worldly status or privilege. Moses saw beyond the temporary pleasures of Egypt, understanding the eternal value of being one of God's people. This understanding of identity is vital for Christians, as it guides us in our decisions and actions. [24:42]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: Reflect on your identity in Christ. How does this understanding influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?


Day 4: The Call to Righteousness and Justice
Moses was moved by the oppression of his people and acted against the injustice he witnessed. This mirrors the Christian call to live a life of truth and righteousness, recognizing the wrongness of sin and the rightness of God's ways. As Christians, we are called to act justly and live righteously, following Moses' example of standing against oppression and injustice. [32:30]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Consider an area of injustice you are aware of. How can you take a step today to act justly and live righteously in response to this situation?


Day 5: Embracing the Eternal Perspective
Moses took the long view, understanding that the pleasures of sin are temporary, while the rewards of faithfulness to God are eternal. This eternal perspective is essential for making the right choices and living a life that honors God. By focusing on the eternal, we can navigate the challenges of life with a clear sense of purpose and direction, just as Moses did. [41:04]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to shift your focus from the temporary to the eternal? How can you begin to make this shift today?

Quotes



Moses' life presents a turning point when he is confronted with a momentous decision. Raised as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses enjoyed the privileges of Egyptian royalty. Yet, at the age of 40, he is faced with a choice: continue in the luxury of Egypt or identify with his true people, the Israelites. This decision is a universal principle in the Christian faith, where a crisis or decision point is always present. One cannot be a Christian unconsciously; it requires a conscious choice. [00:04:43]

No men can be a Christian without knowing it no one can unconsciously be a Christian that's impossible, though there are great variations in the way in which people actually become Christian there is one thing that is always present, it is a universal principle and ethics, there is always an element of crisis, there is always an element of decision. [00:06:03]

Moses suddenly found himself confronted by a choice. I say suddenly I can't prove that it was subtle but we rather give the impression that it was because the 23rd verse puts it like this and when he was fully 40 years old it came into his heart to visit his president the children of Israel 40 years old. [00:10:23]

He is confronted by the trice of going on as he warns or identifying himself with the people to whom he belong here is the choice now my argument is that this is a perfect way of presenting the gospel and its message to us the gospel comes to us and always presents us with a choice. [00:11:16]

The world would have us believe that men is just an any more a reasoning animal, certainly but only an animal not essentially different they say not a unique creation isn't just some elusive and a little bit farther than the other animals the cerebrum is more highly developed but man is really only an animal and is nothing beyond him anymore. [00:27:52]

Moses saw in a flesh that if he rarely obeys this thing that's within him that urges him to identify himself with his people and to become their deliverer he's going to forsake all the greatness and the glory and the pomp and the privilege of Egypt he's giving up everything for nothing but apparent slavery and suffering. [00:44:08]

Moses' decision is also informed by his sense of justice and righteousness. He is moved by the oppression of his people and acts against the injustice he witnesses. This mirrors the Christian call to live a life of truth and righteousness, recognizing the wrongness of a sinful life. Moses takes the long view, understanding that the pleasures of sin are temporary, while the rewards of faithfulness to God are eternal. [00:32:30]

Moses saw these two things very plainly and clearly there was no difficulty about deciding but then another thing that we see so plainly and clearly and this is brought out particularly in Hebrews 11 is that he took the long view he considered the enemy Oh what up, this is he didn't merely look at the temporary position he looked right through to the end. [00:41:04]

He had his eye he looked to the recompense of the reward Moses saw in a flesh that if he rarely obeys this thing that's within him that urges him to identify himself with his people and to become their deliverer he's going to forsake all the greatness and the glory and the pomp and the privilege of Egypt. [00:44:08]

The moment you take this great decision give your life and yourself to God in Christ you know that your sins are forgiven you will enjoy your peace that you've never imagined to be possible for the men in this world you will have satisfactions that are beyond description I'm spending many Sunday mornings in trying to describe this very thing. [00:45:33]

The pleasures of sin for a season all the greatness and the pomp of Egypt yes but they're pagans they don't know God these are my people they know God they may be passing to the furnace of affliction but they're God's people they're going to Canaan the landings are heavy, Kamin I look to eternity to the glory of a lasting although the present is but as nothing. [00:50:33]

The call of God comes to all of us every one of us the call to follow Christ is universal in some way or another, and so I say we are all confronted by the two possibilities the two possibilities no-face losers which is it to be easy to go on was the son of Pharaoh's daughter and all that's going to follow that or is he going to identify himself with his people. [00:24:42]

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Transcript
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