Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:27

"By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." — Hebrews 11:27 (ASV)

This verse poses a problem because Moses left Egypt on two occasions: he fled to Midian after he had slain the Egyptian oppressor (Exodus 2:11–15), and he went out with the rest of the Israelites at the Exodus. There would be little doubt that the former is meant here were it not for the fact that it was fear that led Moses to flee to Midian after killing the Egyptian (Exodus 2:14), whereas this verse says he did not fear “the king’s anger.” In spite of this problem, the author seems to have Moses’ flight to Midian in mind for the following reasons: (1) The order of events. The Passover is mentioned in v.28; therefore, Moses’ flight seems to have preceded this event. (2) “He” left Egypt seems a strange way of referring to the Exodus of an entire nation. (3) The Exodus was the result of Pharaoh’s request (Exodus 12:31–32), not his “anger.” The author goes on to give the reason for Moses’ perseverance in a fine paradox: “He saw him who is invisible.” The OT has a good deal to say about Moses’ close relationship with God: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11; cf. Numbers 12:7–8). This close walk with God sustained Moses through all the difficult days.