By: Pastor Daniel Ethridge
Every day, we make decisions. Some seem small and insignificant, while others have the power to shape the course of our lives. Graduates make choices about colleges, careers, and relationships. Parents make choices that influence generations. Followers of Christ make choices every day about who they will trust and what they will pursue.
The reality is that our lives are often formed by a few key decisions. That is exactly what we see in the life of Moses.
When we think about Moses, we often remember the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, or the Ten Commandments. Yet Hebrews 11 highlights something deeper. Moses was a man whose life was defined by faith because he continually chose God over every alternative. His story reminds us that faith is not merely something we believe. Faith is demonstrated by the choices we make.
Choosing God Over the World
Hebrews tells us that Moses reached a defining moment in his life.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.”
Hebrews 11:24
Moses had everything the world could offer. He lived in the most powerful nation on earth. He had influence, wealth, prestige, and privilege. Some historians even believe he may have been positioned to become the next Pharaoh, yet Moses made a surprising choice.
He refused to find his identity in Egypt.
Though he had been raised in Pharaoh’s household, Moses knew who he truly was. He belonged to God. Every believer faces this same decision. Will we identify with the world or with Christ? The enemy often attacks our identity before he attacks anything else. He did it with Jesus in the wilderness when he challenged Him with the words, “If you are the Son of God…”
The question remains the same today: Who do you belong to?
Your identity determines your direction.
Moses understood that following God might bring suffering, but he also knew that the pleasures of sin never last.
“He chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.”
Hebrews 11:25
Sin always promises satisfaction but never delivers it. Its pleasures are temporary. God’s rewards are eternal.
The world may offer acceptance today, but Christ offers a reward that lasts forever.
Choosing the Future Over the Present
Faith allows us to see beyond what is immediately in front of us.
Hebrews says:
“By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.”
Hebrews 11:27
Moses left what he could see for what he could not see. That is the essence of faith. Faith sees beyond circumstances. Faith sees beyond fear. Faith sees beyond the temporary realities of this world and trusts in the promises of God.
At one point, Moses’ life seemed completely off track. After killing an Egyptian, he fled into the wilderness. He spent decades tending sheep in the desert. Many people would have viewed those years as a detour. But God was preparing Moses for his greatest assignment.
The same is often true in our lives. What feels like a setback may actually be God’s setup. What feels like a detour may actually be His direction.
Then one day, God appeared to Moses through a burning bush and called him to lead His people out of slavery. God introduced Himself with a name that changed everything:
“I AM WHO I AM.”
Exodus 3:14
God reminded Moses that He is eternal, sovereign, and present. He has always been, He is now, and He always will be. Because Moses knew who God was, he no longer feared Pharaoh.
Today, many people fear circumstances, opinions, financial uncertainty, or the future itself. But Scripture teaches us that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. A healthy fear of God is not terror. It is reverence, worship, awe, and a desire to remain close to Him. When we see God rightly, everything else falls into proper perspective.
Choosing Life Over Death
The final choice Moses faced was the most important of all. Would he choose life or death?
Hebrews points us to the Passover.
“By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.”
Hebrews 11:28
On the night of the final plague, God instructed every Israelite family to sacrifice a spotless lamb and place its blood on the doorposts of their homes. When judgment passed through Egypt, those covered by the blood were spared. That moment pointed to something far greater.
The Passover lamb was a picture of Jesus Christ.
Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from death, the blood of Jesus saves us from the penalty of sin. The Bible teaches that sin always leads to death. Not only physical death, but eternal separation from God. Yet God made a way. Jesus lived the life we could never live. He died the death we deserved. Then He rose again, defeating sin, death, and hell forever.
As Scripture says:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
The greatest choice any person will ever make is what they will do with Jesus.
Will you trust Him?
Will you follow Him?
Will you choose life?
Faith Requires a Choice
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.