Verse of the day: Exodus
2:11 Now it came to pass in
those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked
at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
After
forty years of being in the house of Pharaoh, Moses goes out amongst his people
and does not merely see how his people are suffering, but thoughtfully
considers it. The result is that he chooses to stand, and suffer affliction,
with God’s people, rather than enjoy the luxury and privilege of being adopted
by Pharaoh’s daughter. Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us, “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”. We
often gloss over this reading in Exodus without giving much thought to what
Moses was willing to give up. It is said that he was the only son (adopted son)
of Pharaoh’s daughter, who was an only child. What this meant for Moses was
that at some point he stood to inherit Pharaoh’s throne. He was already living
in luxury, and enjoyed the status, and comfort, that came with being the
grandson of Pharaoh. Unlike with Joseph, God did not choose to deliver His
people by putting Moses in a place of power in Egypt. Instead, God’s plan was
one that would show the Israelites just how powerful their God is, and Egypt,
just how weak their heathen gods are. Nonetheless, Moses overcame the
temptation of enjoying the luxury of being identified as an Egyptian, and chose
instead to hold on to his heritage, and religion, as a man whose God is the one
true God of Heaven. He chose to reject the pleasures of the world and suffer as
a follower of the Lord. What a difference it would make in the church today, if
we as born again believers thought that much of our faith and our God? Imagine
what God could do within the body of Christ to reach a lost and dying world. 1
John 2:15-17 admonishes us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all
that is in the world—the lust
of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father
but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but
he who does the will of God abides forever.” Sadly, there have been too
many of God’s children that have forsaken God, the church, and their faith to
follow after the riches, and the things of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 reminds
us, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing
into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But
those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a
root of all kinds of evil, for
which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows.” What was it that gave Moses the
strength to overcome such a great temptation? Verse 26 of Hebrews 11 tells us, “Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he
looked to the reward.” We, as Christians, are often so short-sighted in
our faith. We put our eyes on what is here and now, and neglect that which God
promised us was to come. We forfeit future heavenly reward, which will not
perish, for earthly goods which perish, and can be lost in the blink of an eye.
Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.” As God’s children we need to put our
focus on what is to come, and realize that no amount of earthly riches will
equal that which God has promised He has in store for us.
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