Hebrews 11:23-29, “24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, 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 passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward”
Yesterday we looked at the faith of Moses’ parents for him, today we look at Moses’ faith for himself. In other words, his faith in God. Vs. 24-25 says, “24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, 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 passing pleasures of sin”. What age was this, the age of awareness, the age of accountability”. He may have begun to evaluate things, realizing that something was not right with the setup; a glamorous life (not putting God first), idolatry. Based on what he was taught, he was able to distinguish right from wrong. To make this point clear, let’s read what Paul tells Timothy a young man, his son in faith, 2Timothy 3:15, “..and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”. What he was taught did not save him; it prepared him for the Savior. It instructed him to the One who would save him. Here we see that the instructions Moses received made him wise unto salvation.
There are parents who encourage and even push their children to be successful in life but minimally or neglect to instruct their children on the things of God which is crucial to make them wise for salvation. With this I mean, they would rather have their children succeed academically, financially etc but do very little to instill Godly values in their lives that they would one day come under conviction and abandon Egypt and it’s pride and embrace Christ and His cross. They can be successful and they should but their call to follow Christ is priority. Everything else centers on that call. When they become of age, they become accountable for the life they live and for that reason; their faith in God is what will save them not their parent’s faith. I see parents whose children are saved and serving the Lord beam. I also say this with tenderness, there are kids who are not walking with the Lord which is a great indication they are not saved and their parents find it hard to call them unbelievers. They may have prayed a salvation prayer at some point but how they live today ought to drive the parents on their knees crying out to God for their salvation. One thing I thank God for is that even though I grew up in a Christian home and may have said the sinner’s prayer, when my parents saw that I wasn’t walking the walk concluded I wasn’t saved and went into prayers crying out to God to save me. A tree is known by its fruit and if your child is not walking, don’t be naïve and say he is Christian who is not walking. You should be concerned for them and battle on your knees for them.
Paul pursued things in life but upon his conversion his primary desires changed, he later says Philippians 3:7-8, ” 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”
Moses was partly raised in a palace as prince only to be used in the desert as a shepherd. We tend to expect that someone would start in the desert and make it to the palace, not with Moses. He had a call in his life, he separated himself for that call.
The writer of Hebrews adds this line vs. 26 “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward”. To quote B. W. Johnson’s Bible Commentary, “Any reproach endured through faith in the promises of which Christ was the center and sum, was called the reproach of Christ. This reproach, though men might shrink from it, was really of more value permanently than the treasures of Egypt, because he looked forward to the recompense, the heavenly blessings. 27. By faith he forsook Egypt. The Exodus was all an achievement of faith. It was faith that made Moses disdain the king’s wrath. He endured, as seeing him who is invisible. The unseen God was present with him by faith and his support gave strength to endure all”.
For the sake of the call may we have faith for our children to be saved, teach them Holy Scriptures, teach them priorities and when they become of age, they will be candidates for grace. If you have a child who has made a profession of faith but he or she is not walking, ask the Lord to give you a burden to pray them into the kingdom. For the sake of the call, we pray and hope they turn to Christ by faith, trust and live for Him. Blessings Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 