Hebrews 11:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh 's daughter,

NIV: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

NASB: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

CSB: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter

NLT: It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

KJV: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

NKJV: By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

This section of the book of Hebrews lists examples of Old Testament figures who demonstrated true, godly faith. This kind of faith, according to the writer, is a trust in God, which looks beyond current circumstances, and around the unknown, relying on God to deliver His promises in His own time (Hebrews 11:1–3, 10). Examples given so far have included men like Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, all of whom died expressing their faith that God would keep His word to their descendants (Hebrews 11:20–22). The writer has also mentioned Abraham, perhaps the most vivid example of this kind of informed, trusting, obedient faith in God (Hebrews 11:17–19).

Moses also faced an immediate, personal choice regarding His trust in God. As an adopted son of the daughter of the Egyptian king (Exodus 2:1–10), Moses could have kept himself separate from the oppression and shame of his birth people, the nation of Israel (Exodus 1:8–14). Instead, he took sides with Israel rather than Egypt. Unfortunately, Moses' first recorded action along those lines was the killing of an Egyptian who was beating an Israeli slave (Exodus 2:11–12), an act which forced him to flee the country (Exodus 2:13–15). The mention of Moses' attitude, given here in the book of Hebrews, indicates that this was not a spur-of-the-moment action by Moses. Rather, he seems to have fully embraced his Jewish heritage, rather than rejecting it in favor of a life of luxury in the Egyptian palace (Hebrews 11:25).

Hebrews 11:17–31 makes a subtle shift from the prior verses. Earlier, the writer had given examples of faithful obedience leading to God's blessings. Those cases were mostly general, where a willingness to trust God was weighed against an uncertain future. In this passage, however, we are shown men and women who chose to trust God despite immediate, personal hardships. This, as well, is a crucial aspect of faith, which the writer has already defined as a confident trust in God.

True, godly faith is defined as trust, relying on God when looking to the future, and obeying even when we don't fully understand all details. The great figures of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, and David, all lived according to this type of faith. Ultimately, that means trusting God's intent to make good on His promises from an eternal perspective. The model of faith presented by those people, in light of the struggles they faced, ought to inspire Christians towards a more confident, purposeful faith.

Up to this point, the book of Hebrews has given extensive evidence proving that Jesus Christ, and the new covenant He brought about, is God's ultimate plan for mankind's salvation. Chapter 10 provided an additional warning about the danger of falling away from this truth. Chapter 11 begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ''faith,'' primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplify it. The ultimate application of this knowledge should be a motivation to ''hold fast'' to the gospel, despite hardships. That encouragement is a major theme of chapter 12.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.