“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
It’s been said that many people give in to temptation not because they want too much but because they settle for too little. Moses forsook Egypt to follow God’s will because he believed that God had promised him greater riches than all the treasure in Egypt. He did not act rashly or unadvisedly in his choice. It was made when he was forty years old. Notice several things about the choice that Moses made:
1. WHAT HE REFUSED
He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He refused to identify himself with the people and culture of Egypt. He refused to sanction their oppression of the children of Israel. He refused to continue in the service of the greatest earthly kingdom of that day.
2. WHAT HE LOST
Moses lost a high worldly position and a life of great privilege and ease. He lost all opportunity for gratifying the highest human ambition. In a nutshell, he lost “the pleasures of sin for a season.”
3. WHAT HE SUFFERED
He had to flee for his life and endure forty years of exile. He suffered the reproach, the trials, and the afflictions of the people with whom he identified himself. He encountered the dangers of delivering them from bondage and leading them to liberty.
4. WHAT HE GAINED
He gained the blessing and favor of God. He gained the deliverance of his people. He gained a life of highest usefulness. He gained a blessing for all mankind. He gained the riches of heaven.
5. HOW HE DID THIS
By that faith which endures “as seeing Him who is invisible ” (Hebrews 11:27). By that faith which has respect to the recompense of the reward. Moses chose to embrace his faith and his heritage because he considered the reward that comes from God far superior to anything this world had to offer.
Each and every day we face choices — some of them very minor and irrelevant; others very important and highly significant. Moses chose the spiritual over the physical; the heavenly over the earthly; and the eternal over the temporal. There is pleasure in sin, but it lasts only “for a season.” Unlike Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup, Moses refused to sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate. He took the long look. He made the right choice.
When the time comes, what choice will you make?