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The Faith of Moses
Hebrews 11:23–29 traces faith through key moments connected with Moses. The passage does not retell every detail. It highlights choices, endurance and obedience that trusted God more than power, comfort or fear.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of Hebrews 11 presents examples of faith. In verses 23–29, the writer moves from Moses’ parents to Moses himself, then to the people passing through the Red Sea. The passage is teaching about faith, using these events to show what faith looks like in action.
Hebrews 11:23–29Main takeaway
Faith is shown here in courageous choices, steady endurance and obedient action that value God’s people and God’s reward above earthly power or safety.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Moses’ parents acted without fearThe passage begins before Moses could do anything himself. His parents hid him for three months ‘by faith’.
Explanation
The passage begins before Moses could do anything himself. His parents hid him for three months ‘by faith’. The writer says they saw he was ‘a beautiful child’ and were not afraid of the king’s commandment. Faith here is shown in protective, courageous action under pressure.
02Moses chose God’s people over statusWhen Moses had grown up, he refused a royal identity and made a costly choice. He chose to share ill treatment with God’s people instead of enjoying ‘the pleasures of sin for a time’.
Explanation
When Moses had grown up, he refused a royal identity and made a costly choice. He chose to share ill treatment with God’s people instead of enjoying ‘the pleasures of sin for a time’. Faith did not chase comfort. It accepted hardship in order to stand with God’s people.
03He valued reproach above Egypt’s treasuresThe writer says Moses considered ‘the reproach of Christ’ greater riches than Egypt’s treasures because he was looking to the reward.
Explanation
The writer says Moses considered ‘the reproach of Christ’ greater riches than Egypt’s treasures because he was looking to the reward. The passage does not explain the phrase in detail, but it clearly contrasts temporary wealth with something more valuable that comes with faith and endurance.
04Faith endured through danger and obedienceMoses left Egypt ‘by faith’, not fearing the king’s wrath, and endured as seeing the invisible God.
Explanation
Moses left Egypt ‘by faith’, not fearing the king’s wrath, and endured as seeing the invisible God. He also kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood so that the destroyer would not touch the firstborn. Faith here is endurance joined with obedient response to God’s way.
05Faith led the people through the seaThe final example widens from Moses to ‘they’. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land.
Explanation
The final example widens from Moses to ‘they’. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. In contrast, the Egyptians attempted the same crossing and were swallowed up. The passage highlights faith as the difference in these outwardly similar actions.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions in this passage are specifically described as done ‘by faith’?
List each example in order: the parents hiding Moses, Moses’ choices and endurance, keeping the Passover, and the people passing through the sea.
02What did Moses give up, and what did he choose instead?
Notice the contrasts between being called Pharaoh’s daughter’s son, Egypt’s treasures and temporary pleasure, versus ill treatment with God’s people and the reward he looked toward.
03How does verse 29 compare the people of faith with the Egyptians?
Both entered the sea, but the outcomes were different, and the verse connects the safe crossing of the people with faith.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Hebrews 11:23–29
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
26considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.