MOSES EXAMPLE

MOSES’ EXAMPLE!

Heb 11:24-26

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

           Suckled by his own mother who received wages for her service, Moses was raised as the found child of Pharaoh’s daughter. As an Egyptian prince, he was privileged and probably pampered. He received the very best of everything including education and military training. It was a lifestyle that would have been hard to abandon.

           We are not told just how Moses learned that he was a Jew and not an Egyptian but we strongly suspect it was at his own mother’s knee. Doubtless, she told him the story of his own rescue from the cruel order to murder all male Jewish babies. It was not a good time to be a Jew. As he looked about he wore the garments of Egypt but he saw life through Jewish eyes. At least four key words are listed in our text above.

           Moses refused (verse 24). He disavowed his Egyptian upbringing to align himself with his Jewish heritage even though it meant participating in their suffering as slave laborers.

Moses chose! This, no doubt, created confusion for both Egyptians and Jews. It was hard for either camp to identify Moses. Ultimately Moses identified himself when he killed one of the Egyptian tormentors although he did not receive the gratitude he expected (see Exodus 2:12-14).

           Moses esteemed (verse verse 26). The word “esteem” is the Greek word hegeomai and basically means “to consider.” Moses wrestled with his options and ultimately valued his heritage to be more valuable than Egypt’s treasures. This is not the reasoning of economy. It is the reasoning of faith.

           Moses had respect (verse 26). The word “respect” is the Greek word apoblepo which means “to look away from everything else.” The idea is to focus on a goal or prize. Oh, how we need this kind of focus in our Christian lives.

Dear Lord, let me carefully consider my Christian heritage as greater riches than all of earth’s treasures. AMEN