John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 11:23

"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king`s commandment." — Hebrews 11:23 (ASV)

By faith Moses, etc. There have been others, even pagans, who, not from any fear of God but only from a desire of continuing their lineage, preserved their own children at the risk of their lives. However, the Apostle shows that Moses's parents were moved to save him for another reason: namely, that since God had promised them a deliverer would come at some time during their oppression, they relied confidently on that promise and preferred the infant's safety to their own.

But he seems to say what is inconsistent with the nature of faith when he says that they were moved to do this by the child's beauty. For we know that Jesse was reproved when he brought his sons to Samuel as each excelled in personal appearance; and undoubtedly, God would not want us to focus on what is externally attractive.

To this, I reply that Moses's parents were not charmed with beauty, so as to be moved by pity to save him, as is common among people. Instead, there was some mark, so to speak, of future excellence imprinted on the child, which promised something extraordinary.

Therefore, there is no doubt that his very appearance inspired them with the hope of a coming deliverance, for they considered that the child was destined to do great things.

Moreover, it should have carried great weight with the Jews to hear that Moses, the minister of their redemption, had been rescued from death in an extraordinary way through faith. However, we must note that the faith praised here was very weak; for after disregarding the fear of death, they should have brought up Moses themselves. Instead of doing so, they exposed him.

It is thus evident that their faith soon not only wavered but failed completely; at least they neglected their duty when they cast the infant out on the riverbank. But we should be more encouraged when we hear that their faith, though weak, was nevertheless so approved by God that it secured Moses's life, on which depended the deliverance of the Church.