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            Decisions are made every day concerning every possible issue, and it is more important that we decide correctly today than ever.  Every decision we make must be made according to God’s Word, and based in faith on His promises.  Hebrews 11:24-25 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

            Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are examples of believing faith on God’s promises when they had to decide on important issues.  They had accepted God’s promises by faith, and they would pass them on to their children in faith—Hebrews 11:20-22 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come; Jacob blessed both the sons of Joseph; and Joseph made mention of the departing of the children of Israel.”  They all passed on before the promises were fulfilled.

            God promised Abraham the land of Canaan; the creation of a large nation; and that the world would be blessed through him, but Moses did not see the fulfillment of those things.  Abraham died believing that Isaac would see the reality of those promises, but Isaac and Jacob also died and they still had not come to pass.

            Joseph was a fourth-generation heir of the promise, but he still did not inherit the Promised Land.  It had been over two hundred years since God made the initial covenant with Abraham, and still the fulfillment of the promise was not in sight. 

            By the time of Joseph’s death, none of Abraham’s descendants lived in the Promised Land.  Their faith may have wavered in life, but they still believed God in death.  Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

            For the believer to leave this life still trusting God in faith, is to be ushered into the presence of the Lord by that same faith.  Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  To those who remain faithful to God to the end, the following applies; 1 Corinthians 15:54 “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  It is the fulfillment of Matthew 10:22 “he who endures to the end will be saved.”

            Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses were so confident of the truth of God’s Word that they believed in the reality of God’s promises.  They had no inheritance to give the children, but a promise—a promise that they considered was a greater treasure.  They had not possessed the land; the nation was not established, nor the world blessed, but they believed God and that was enough.

            All these Bible examples show that the principle of pleasing God by faith, did not originate with the New Covenant, because faith was always the way to eternal life.  Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses all lived by faith in God.  Without faith, it has always been impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6.

            Life is made up of decisions, but the Christian life involves making right and scriptural decisions—some are made in a moment; some after much thought; and others by default—we put off deciding, so the decision is made for us—which is not always good.  Hebrews 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.”

            Godliness is making right decisions according to the Word; and worldliness is making wrong decision according to the world.  Spiritual maturity is determined by correct decisions.  When Satan tempts—we either say yes or no to him.  We decide whether to read the Bible and pray, or put it off until later.  It is not a matter of having time, but of taking the time for important matters.

            From day one, God gave His creation the power to decide, and those decisions determine the direction of our life.  Adam made the first wrong decision—which began a tragic chain of more wrong decisions that has plagued his descendants to this day. 

            Joshua said to the people at Shechem Joshua 24:15 “choose you this day whom ye will serve;” and the prophet Elijah asked 1 Kings 18:21 “How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

            Amram and Jochebed had to decide correctly concerning an unscriptural law.  It took real faith in God to place Moses in a basket and believe he would be protected, but it was a correct decision with right results.  Jochebed was able to nurse her own child; to teach him about God’s promises to inherit Canaan; to be a great nation, and a blessing to the world.  Jochebed taught her child to love the Lord with all of his heart, and when he had to decide, he made the right decision Proverbs 22:6.

            Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward [or, looking ahead to his reward].”

            Moses had been a prince of Egypt forty years—the wealthiest and most advanced society of that day.  He was highly educated, skilled, and part of the royal court.  Acts 7:22 “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.”  But when he was forty, he faced a crucial decision—to be an Egyptian or be an Israelite; choose the world or the Word—of God.

            There are parallels in the life of Joseph and Moses.  Joseph used Egypt’s power for the good of God’s people; but Moses opposed Egypt’s power for the good of God’s people.  Moses had all the fame, power, reputation, money, and luxury anyone could want, but he gave it up for the Lord.

            From the world’s standpoint, he sacrificed everything for nothing; but from a divine standpoint, he sacrificed nothing for everything.  Jesus said Luke 16:15 “That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

            John the Baptist was not famous, influential, nor wealthy, but John was great in the sight of God, because he was submissive to God.  1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  John was just doing God’s will.  1 John 2:17 “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

            We must decide as Moses did Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”  Sin seems pleasurable because it feeds our pride, appetites, desires, and cravings of the flesh—but the flesh cannot see that sin is always wrong; always deceptive; and always temporary.

            Jeremiah asked 12:1 “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?  Why do all the faithless live at ease?”  Job gives the answer Job 21:13 “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave”—only to face God’s judgment, suddenly.  Those of the world Romans 2:5 are just “treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”

            Moses decided correctly—he chose to Hebrews 11:25 ““be mistreated along with the people of God” rather than enjoy any passing pleasure of sin for a season.  He had the best Egypt had to offer, but he would Abandon it all, for the sake of the call.

            Hebrews 11:27 “By faith [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”  The first time he left Egypt, Moses was fleeing from the Pharaoh who wanted to kill him Exodus 2:15; but the second time, the Pharaoh would not let the Israelites leave.

            Moses would face the pressure of fear—one of Satan’s most used weapons.  Christians can fear being criticized; mocked; left out, or persecuted, but God’s will always comes first for the believer, as it did with Moses—who “forsook Egypt”—which means more than just leaving Egypt.  He turned his back on the world and renounced it.  Moses forsook everything he had, to follow the Lord in faith.  He put his hand to the plow and never looked back Luke 9:62.

            The tenth and last plague God sent on the Egyptians, was the death of the first-born Exodus 11:5.  To be protected from this plague, Passover was instituted.  Hebrews 11:28 “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”  Lamb’s blood was put on the doors and lintels of their houses 112:7. They would do in faith, what God commanded by word—it would save them, as the Blood saves us. 

            Moses not only gave the people those regulations for leaving Egypt, but he said they were to be observed as a lasting ordinance—from that time on.  Moses never doubted that God would protect them that night, and he never doubted that they would later reach the Promised Land.  He knew that when God gives a command, He also gives the strength to carry through.

            When they reached the Red Sea, the Pharaoh’s army was closing in.  The Israelites were trapped with no escape.  At first they complained Exodus 14:11 “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?”

            Moses had to decide, and he said Exodus 14:13-14 “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.  The LORD shall fight for you.”

            They believed his words and started across.  It would take real faith, as tons of water were stacked up on both sides.  If the sea came back, they would all drown.  Moses knew his God was faithful, Hebrews 11:29 “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.”

            The Israelites only had God’s promise that He would not change His mind, nor forsake them.  The Israelites believed and were saved; but the Egyptians rebelled and were lost. 

            When a wall of water is piled up on all sides, and our problems seem more than could be solved, our faith is tested—seriously.  At these times, we must decide correctly, as Moses decided, which was always according to the Word—Hebrews 10:23 because, “He who promised is faithful.”