"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Hebrews addressed believers who were losing their place of privilege in society. They'd begun to experience mistreatment for their connection to Jesus. Like Moses, they were driven from a comfortable life because of Christ, so it makes sense that Moses' faith would stand as an excellent example for them (and also us).
As I wrote previously, Moses' generation lived under the backdrop of Egypt's disfavor. Oppression, over the years, had developed. What began as a harmonious relationship between the kings of Egypt and the family of Jacob turned into bitter envy from the powers of the age against God's people. And Israel, now approximately 2 million people in number, lived under the brutality of Pharaoh and his edicts.
Since God is a long-ranger planner, Moses was born and protected from the edict to kill male Hebrew infants, and then raised in the household of Pharaoh. He was a Hebrew living inside the Egyptian power structure. God would topple the kingdom from the inside out.
Eventually, Moses grew up, and when he did, Hebrews tells us, he "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter." "Refused" is a word that indicates a specific choice, a moment likely backed by much deliberation and consideration. With premeditated thought, Moses came to the point of decision where he removed himself from Pharaoh's family.
For Moses, this was no small decision. We cannot know if the Jewish historian Josephus accurately depicted Moses' secular life. He said Moses was, in effect, the crown prince of Pharaoh, a mighty general who'd won significant battles for Egypt. Josephus' history was many centuries removed from Moses' time, so elaboration is possible, if not likely. Moses was, after all, a national hero.
Still, growing up as the grandson of Pharaoh in Egypt's most glorious days would've had its perks. But he decided enough was enough.
Moses decided what he wasn't, but also what he was. He was Hebrew, so he chose to "be mistreated with the people of God."
Though prestige and influence were open to Moses, he gave it all up. He could have lived comfortably among the Egyptian aristocracy, but instead, he denied himself and chose the "reproach of Christ."
Had we been there, we might have tried to talk him out of it, but Moses made the right decision. Eternity rejoices over his life. So do we.
But Moses' decision was made possible by a transaction. A moment came where he began calculating life differently. He considered Christ's shame or disgrace "greater wealth" than all the "treasures of Egypt."
In all this, Moses "was looking to the reward." And the reward is precisely what the man received.
First, he got a front-row seat to God's workings on earth. Second, he received an incredible legacy; he became God's instrument. Third, he gained eternity with God. Fourth, he entered into friendship with God. Fifth, he was a fixture on the winning team, for Israel overcame Egypt's oppression through the power of God.
Faith, it seems, rearranges our value system. It enables us to recalculate life with God's mathematics. While most of the world is stuck on rudimentary addition and subtraction, God brings his people into trigonometry. He shows us His deeper math. We learn, through Him, how valuable the reproach, shame, or embarrassment attached to life with Him can be. We see the reward and deny the flesh because of it.
Faith helps us with this new value system. This facet of faith enables us to avoid dishonest forms of income to get the pleasure of God upon our work. It helps us value our integrity and life balance more than a promotion. It strengthens us to resist sexual desires God forbids in favor of his eternal reward.
But this faith was propelled by a simple question in Moses: Who am I? Am I Egyptian or Hebrew? Am I Pharaoh's or God's child?
And society is continuously asking this question, thinking the entertainment we consume, the degrees we accumulate, or the friends we acquire all define us. But you cannot be explained by your Pinterest board or tattoos. You are Christ's. Moses made the hard choice and laid down his life to engage in Christ's plan and purpose.
Think about the first readers of Hebrews. As they were marginalized for Christ, they flirted with the idea of neglecting Jesus to get society's approval. Moses' example would've aided them greatly, for when Egypt called, Moses rebuffed them. He chose to suffer with Christ. His whole value system was rearranged. The Hebrew readers knew Moses made the right call.
And now, as they read Hebrews, they knew the approval of their world was akin to Egypt's invitation. They knew they needed to resist in order to connect to the shame, disgrace, and reproach of Christ. They knew what the better call would be, and they'd stand ready to make the right decision.
What about you today? Have you discovered there are deeper values faith wants to bring you into? Have you seen how the embarrassment of Christ is greater wealth than all the treasures and approval of this world? Have you allowed God to bring you into the deeper math?
The faith Moses displayed is of great aid to the modern believer. Your stand for Christ and His word will get you embarrassment, but it is worth the shame. It is undoubtedly easier, like the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira, to change the Scripture to suit our current passions. But it is better to take Him at His word.
A great reward from Christ is yours. One day, after letting Him rearrange your value system and living accordingly, he'll say, "We done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Master" (Matthew 25:21).
