READ: Heb. 11:24-28: … By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Moses, found and adopted as a son by Pharaoh’s daughter, grows up in Pharaoh’s court. He gains respect and lives amidst the treasures of the court. However, Moses also learns that the people from whom he came are oppressed and mistreated. He knows that this is the people of God. His desire is to be with this people who have God’s promises and he wants to serve the God of his forefathers.
From a human perspective, this seems like an impossible choice. Would he leave behind luxury and prestige and willingly put himself in danger to be despised and mistreated? But Moses makes the choice of faith and acts accordingly. He recognizes the sin against God in the wealth and pleasures of the Egyptian court.
Moses then considers that the reproach of Christ, the promised blessed Offspring of Adam and Abraham , will make him richer than the treasures of Egypt. In faith, he envisions the glory that awaits him with all those who follow Christ. This is what gives Moses the strength to leave Egypt after 40 years without fear of Pharaoh’s wrath.
He is strengthened by his faith in the hope of God (11:1). He sees God as if He were visible, even though God is invisible. We can think here of what happened at the burning bush. Through this, Moses will always be assured of God’s presence in his difficult task of being an instrument of God with a challenging people.
In these verses, we are encouraged not to fixate on the sin that the world can offer us. Let us, as a church, choose to participate in the suffering of Christ in this world without fear, full of hope, so that we may enter His eternal kingdom.
Are we attached to the riches of the world?
Singing: Ps. 73:8