Hebrews 11:21-25
 
Heb 11:21 (KJB)
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
 
When Jacob was dying he pronounced blessings upon the two sons of Joseph. Jacob who had given the blessings within the confines of the promise made to Abraham. Jacob had reverence for God because when he pronounced the blessing, he did not do it from his bed, instead he had leaned upon his staff and worshipped the God of Heaven. Jacob had made both Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons. (Gen 48:5 KJV) And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Jacob had blessed therewith the prophecy that they too would be in the line of the inheritance which God promised to Abraham.
 
Heb 11:22 (KJB)
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
 
When it was time for Joseph to die, he had made a prophecy that God would not let Israel remain in the land of Egypt forever. (Gen 50:23-24 KJV) And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. {24} And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Joseph, being in the line of the inheritance, knew that God had promised a better place for the Patriarchs and told them that in the future they would go into the land promised to them. Joseph even gave instructions that his bones were not to remain in the land of Egypt but when they came into the land, they were to bring his bones to be reburied in the promised land. (Exo 13:19 KJV) And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. Only a person who had great faith in God’s promises would give instruction to carry their bones away many years later.
 
Heb 11:23 (KJB)
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.
 
Proper - Beautiful or pleasing
Afraid - Fearful
 
Here is a great principle in that the parents of Moses hid him for three months when he should have been slaughtered along with the other children. His parents did not fear the edict of Pharaoh. The principle is that faith always displaces fear and the parents of Moses had great faith in God. When a person has faith in God, even when the edict comes from the highest office in the land, it does not matter, God is greater than any world leader. This is why when we fear the Lord above government, it builds our faith because we are deeming God higher than any ruler on earth, realizing that they too must be accountable to God.
 
Heb 11:24 (KJB)
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
 
Refused - Renounce, deny, or disown
 
Moses was raised in all the glory and splendor of the Pharaoh’s palace. He had all the riches and education that a man could want in this world, yet, he had an understanding of the promise made to the forefathers of Israel. This understanding had caused him renounce the belief that he was really the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. His life was based upon his faith in God as he exchanged the visible palaces of the Pharaoh for faith in God, not knowing what his destiny was at the time he renounced association with the royal family.
 
Heb 11:25 (KJB)
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
 
For a season - Temporary or transitory
 
Here is a principle that every Christian needs to understand. If we turn our backs on the world and identify ourselves with the people of God, that does not mean we will escape any type of persecution. In fact, it means just the opposite. Walking with God in this sin-cursed world is a guarantee of persecution. Moses had turned his back on the world and had walked right through the door of adversity. Moses understood that the pleasures of Egypt were but fleeting but the promises of God were eternal. Moses could have accepted the pleasures of sin for a while but instead he chose to identify himself with Israel because he knew they were the people of God plus he believed the promises of God to be true and he acted upon that belief because he was a child of God.

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