Hebrews 11:22-28

 

11:22 – Joseph

“when his end was near” (Genesis 50:24)

  1. “spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt”
    1. Joseph had lived in Egypt from the age of 17 until he died at the age of 110.
  2. “gave instructions about his bones”

a.     Like Jacob, Joseph wanted to be buried in the Promised Land.

b.     Exodus 13:19

c.     Joshua 24:32

  1. Jacob wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan (Gen. 49:29-50:14)
  2. Joseph followed his father’s example in Gen. 50:22

Much could be said of Joseph’s faith and character but the focus here remains on the continuation of the promise that was not received.

____________________

1560 BC

  • 18th dynasty established by Amenhotep (1546-1525)
  • Drove out foreigners
  • Assisted by son Thutmose I

1525-1508 Thutmose I rules Egypt

  • Ruled to the Euphrates
  • Built first rock cut tomb
  • Three royal children
    • Wasmose – son, died
    • Amenomose – son, died
    • Hatshepsut – daughter
    • One Harem Son – Thutmose II

1508-1504 Thutmose II and his step sister/wife rule, then Thutmose II dies

1504-1482 Hatshepsut, the royal daughter reigns

  • Three children:
    • Thutmose III – harem son of Thutmose II who worked against Hatshepsut
    • Neferure – royal daughter
    • Moses – adopted son
  • Hatshepsut
    • Extended the empire
    • Built first obelisk to Ra
    • Built temples, statues, monuments
    • Thebes was her capital
  • Moses walks out in 1483, Hatshepsut is dead by 1482 and Thutmose III is on the throne

1482-1450 Thutmose III reigns in Egypt while Moses is in Midian

1450-1425 Amenhotep II reigns

  • He is the pharaoh of the exodus
  • Exodus occurs in 1441
  • Amenhotep is not replaced by his eldest son but by a younger son Thutmose IV

1425-2408 Thutmose IV reigns

  • A dream inscribe on a immense slab of granite near the sphinx records a dream predicting he would be pharaoh when he was older was found.

 

Moses is born to a Hebrew family around the year 1525 BC but raised in the palace of Pharaoh Thutmose II.  

The name Thutmose (also read as Thutmosis) means “Thoth is born”.

It can easily be seen that Moses was called by his Egyptian family name “mose” through out his life. 

The name of the Egyptian’s most important deity, Thoth, is dropped from Moses’ name leaving him with the simple ending “mose” or “moses” which means fittingly “born”, “son” or “rightful heir.” 

Hatshepsut, the half-sister and wife of Thutmose II, would have been the royal princess who took Moses from the Nile.  

Moses is trained in all the wisdom of Egypt and becomes a great man among the Egyptians. 

At the age of forty Moses tries to free the Hebrews but has to flee across the desert into the land of Midian. 

After serving as a shepherd for forty years Moses is called by God to return to Egypt to get the people of Israel. 

God wants Moses led these men and their families to Mt. Sinai to receive instructions from God.  

 

Hebrews 11:23

 

Josephus recognizes Moses exceptional wisdom and beauty (Ant. 2:230, 2:238)

Philo in the “Life of Moses” 1:20 states that Moses was proficient in:

  • Arithmetic,
  • Geometry
  • Poetry
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Astrology
  • All branches of education

 

“Parents” – “pateres” is literally “fathers”.  The Hebrew text makes his mother the key player.  The LXX says both parents hid him for 3 months

According to Josephus Mosis father, Amram, received a night vision (Ant. 2:210-216)

 

“no ordinary child”

Read Stephen’s account in Acts 7:22

Read Exodus 2:2

“not afraid of the king’s edict”

 

11:24

“grown up” “megas genomenos”

  • “Megas” is the word for “great” here it means large, adult, mature”
  • “genomenos”  means “to be, to become”

 

“refused” “ernesato” means “to say no to, to deny, to refuse”

 

11:25

“He choose”

“mistreated along with the people of God”

  • “mistreat” means “to suffer evil together, to suffer with someone.”

 

“enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.”

 

11:26

“regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ”

  • “regarded” means “to consider, to reckon”
  • Heb. 13:13 the readers are urged to bear the stigma

 

“greater value”

 

“treasures of Egypt”

 

“looking ahead to his reward”

  • “looking” is literally “eyes were fixed” is also used of an artist keeping his eyes fixed on the object or model he is painting or sculpturing.

 

11:27

“left” – is the same word used of Levi (Matthew) the tax-collector in Luke 5:28 to follow Jesus.

Philo says Moses “abandoned the government of Egypt”

Moses became a stranger – see Exodus 2:22 and the name of his first born Gershom

 

“not fearing the king’s anger”

  • Moses was afraid according to Exodus 2:14
  • But, Moses did not flee in fear he fled in faith knowing he was going to have to wait
  • Moses knew that God’s hour of deliverance had not yet come
  • Moses was not afraid because he did return to Egypt

“persevered”

 

“he saw him who is invisible.”

Colossians 2:1-4

 

11:28

“kept the Passover”

 

“sprinkling of blood”

 

“destroyer . . . would not touch. . . Israel”