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.”
The book of Hebrews presents the fact that Moses’ parents hid him due to faith. This event was a great enough example of faith to be placed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. When the parents of Moses hid their son they did so clinging to the promise of God. This was the promise that God would abide with His people and He would deliver them from this land of bondage and He would lead them to the land of promise.
Indeed, it took faith at the time of the birth of Moses to trust in this promise of God. For Israel was under great affliction at the hands of the wicked Pharaoh and the Egyptians. We read in Exodus two that Pharaoh had implemented three commands against the Israelites. First, he subjected them to a slave labor which was very severe. He did so to subdue this people unto his service. But under this affliction the Hebrews grew and waxed strong. Therefore, in wrath Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill all the Hebrew male infants. This also failed, because the midwives failed to carry out this command. Finally, Pharaoh commanded all the people under his jurisdiction to kill any male infant born to the Hebrews.
This last commandment was in full force at the time of the birth of Moses. The Pharaoh had his spies by the homes of the Israelites and it is for this reason that the parents were forced to hide Moses. The severity of this command is easily seen. If carried out, it would mean the destruction of Israel. Further, it would render God’s promise of none effect.
Oh, it took great faith to marry and to bear children in that day. It appeared from the earthly point of view that there was no hope. Today, it also takes great faith to marry and to become parents. It is true that the church does not live, at the present time, in fear for the earthly life of her children. But this earthly life we live does not have the same significance as it did at the time of Moses. Christ was to come from the loins of Israel, so that, death to Israel was the end of the promise. And this same spiritual life is at stake today as it was then. Today, it is the rapid development of sin in the world which threatens to swallow up the children of the promise.
Today, young people, as never before the world has developed in its sinful way. There are more ways and it is easier to sin than ever before. And this we must face antithetically. As parents when we look at this world—its riots, its hippies, its drugs, its nudity and especially its complete departure from Scripture—it appears to be a hopeless time to raise a child of God. The devil has so many means to snuff out one’s spiritual life. This I face now as a parent. This you face as parents of a few years hence, and as children of the covenant. Beloved, we can only face the times ahead by faith, by a faith every bit as strong as Moses’ parents. Only in faith can we have courage to go on. Seek we must God’s Word proclaimed. For in that proclaimed Word is the nourishment for our faith. We must trust in God; then the impossible becomes possible indeed. Pray for grace to look to the future in the faith that God never forsakes His work.

Originally Published in:
Vol. 29 No. 4 June July 1969