Questions that Define You

 

A Series on Living by Faith
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
Exodus 2:10-15; Hebrews 11:24-27

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… throw off sin; run with perseverance; fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, live “by faith”.]

  

What defines who you are? Is it your job; your family; your personality; your financial wellbeing? For some, their addiction defines them, or even one single event in their life; good or bad.

 

In the beginning, your family is most certainly where you get your identity from. In the small town where I grew up in Mid-Michigan, I would tell people that “I am Dwight and Marge’s son”. That was my most basic identity. Before anything else, I was the son of my parents.

 

Because of the circumstances surrounding Moses’ birth, his Mother gave him up so that he could live. Eventually he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. She raised him as her own, even naming him. In fact, the New Living Testament translates that “Pharaoh’s daughter, adopted him as her own son”. 

 

Moses was the biological son of Hebrew slaves, but grew up in the house of Pharaoh. So how did Moses answer the question, “Who are you”? Where did he get his identity from?

 

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.      NIV

 

The Passion Translation, makes an even stronger statement.

 

²⁴ Faith enabled Moses to choose God’s will, for although he was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he refused to make that his identity…            TPT

 

Moses could have lived his whole life in the privilege and luxury of Pharaoh’s household; but he chose not to. Instead, Moses chose to identify with his people; his culture; his birth parents; and ultimately, his God.

 

Many years ago, at a men’s retreat, my Pastor spoke about, “Who are you? Whose are you? Whom do you serve?” For Moses, when he answered those questions, his life took a totally new direction.

 

Like Moses, you make decisions every day of your life based on your answers to these questions. As a result, what direction is your life trending?