Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
This passage of scripture teaches us how we are to walk by faith and not by sight, a method that is foreign to the systems of this world, where seeing is believing. In the above verses we see where Moses, who had a promising future before him as the next in line to the throne in Egypt, refused to be brainwashed by the grandeur and display which had characterized the monarchs of that era. All of the wealth, pomp and circumstance could not shake his faith in the invisible God, for he held on tenaciously to His promises of deliverance from Egypt, even though the current circumstances seemed to tend to the contrary. With all of the affliction of the Hebrew people, and with all the boasting and pride manifested by the then ruling pharaoh, Moses did not permit that which is seen to obscure or diminish in any way, that which is unseen, for the true followers of God are to walk by faith and not by sight. Let's read:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
In our own experiences, there are times when the promises of God seem to be far off, and we are tempted to wonder whether they are real, or are a figment of our imagination. It is at times like these when we need to cling tenaciously to a "Thus saith The Lord", and not allow the devil, with his specious reasoning to cause us to doubt. When murmuring, complaining, and doubt are harbored in our minds, it brings us clouds of darkness, which then prevent us from seeing with clarity, the protracted working of God in our behalf, and the many evidences He gives, which can only be seen with the eye of faith are lost upon us.
When the children of Israel were just upon the borders of the promised land, the twelve spies brought back irrefutable evidence of the fertility and richness of the soil, yet with all of the evidences before their faces, they chose to doubt and murmur, and this attitude then blinded their eyes to the reality that God was able to do as He had promised. When satan suggests any doubt to us about the promises of God, it would be well if at the same time we can read in the Bible of the fulfillment of promises made to the righteous in ages past, and this will serve to cheer us on our way, by reaffirming in our hearts that God is well able to accomplish all that He has promised.
With the eye of faith the Christian is able to discern invisible realities, and is thus enabled to relish the fulfillment of God's promises, long before they come to pass. This is the joy of living by faith, for it takes hold of The Eternal God and His promises, and works proactively and in harmony with what He has promised, thereby giving us access to realities that are hidden from the view of those who walk by sight. Hence the reason why Christ tells us that when we pray and make our petitions to God, we should believe that we have them before we actually do, and we shall have them. Let's read:
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
In our own life experiences, let us then be sure to exercise a living faith in God for everything, not only temporal but also spiritual, because without faith it is impossible to please God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to see with the eye of faith, and we will find out that with God nothing is impossible. Let's read:
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!