Select Page

FAITH, Part 16: By Faith, Moses…Part A

by | Oct 18, 2014 | Faith, Faith (A Mini-Series), Reward

In last week’s lesson on faith from the Hebrews 11:20,21, we learned that true faith requires action that is sometimes completely contrary to what we see around us. It requires that we do NOT ask “what about” or “what if” or “why”, but that we simply do. Now let’s go on to Heb. 11:24-27 for a lesson in faith brought to us by Moses:

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Heb. 11:24-27 NIV)

Our friend Moses was in a tough spot. He had been adopted as Pharaoh’s grandchild, and he was destined to be the next Pharaoh of Egypt (see Ex. 2). This must have seemed to him and his people like the hand of God was at work. I mean, if Moses were Pharaoh, all of Israel’s problems would be resolved. They could return to their former lives of peace and prosperity in the Land of Goshen.

It must have come as quite a shock to Israel when Moses declined this offer by killing an Egyptian and fleeing into the wilderness to escape Pharaoh’s wrath! (See Ex. 2:11-15)

Why did he do it? Hebrews tells us that it was because he “regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt . . . Because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:27)

Wait a minute. What was Moses’ reward? When he left Egypt at age 40, we are told that he went into the wilderness and herded sheep for 40 years. Then God called him and he began leading people instead of sheep. His ultimate destination was the land of Canaan, but after 40 years of wandering with the people in the wilderness, Moses was not permitted to enter, and he died within sight of the Promised Land.

Doesn’t sound like much of a reward, does it?

Maybe Moses’ reward was the praise and honor of the people he led.

Or maybe not. Here’s what God says about the people: “‘I have seen these people,’ the LORD said to Moses, ‘and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them.'” (Ex. 32:9-10)

Some reward!

But Moses wasn’t looking for an earthly reward. His faith in God far superseded anything so carnal. Moses’ eyes were fixed on his heavenly reward, and he received it. Moses would later appear on the Mount of Transfiguration as an honored resident of Heaven! (See Matt 17:3)

Which would you rather be, friends? A Pharaoh? Or an Honored resident of Heaven? I’d say Moses made the right choice, wouldn’t you? Despite the humiliation and hardship he must have suffered on Earth, his faith that God would give him his due reward in Heaven earned him a spot in the book of Hebrews: By faith Moses . . .

Enough to ponder, friends. But do ponder this: When we are within God’s will, it doesn’t matter what bad things happen to us on this earth, because we can trust that God will provide us with an ultimate Heavenly reward.

Join us next week for the next lesson in faith to be learned from the life of Moses.

God bless you!

Lyn

Lyn Chaffart, Author, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets website, www.scripturalnuggets.org , Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .

(To access tne entire “Faith” mini-series, please click here.)

Categories

Archives