Image: Iris flowers, June 2016, North Garden, Virginia
Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday morning's sermon on Hebrews 11:23-29.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, 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 pleasures of sin for a season; 26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
We see
Moses here as a willful agent. He is no longer
an infant. Theologians sometimes speak
about the illusive “age of accountability.”
Here the author simply says, “when he was come to years.”
What
happened then? First, it says, “he
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (v. 24).
Exodus
2:10 describes how the infant Moses was taken from the basket by Pharaoh’s
daughter and was raised as her son. But
it proceeds to say: “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown,
that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens….” (v. 11).
We
might describe this as akin to Moses’ conversion. He separated himself from the world and associated
himself with God’s people, lowly as they were.
As
Paul wrote the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto
you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
In the
opening of Romans, Paul describes himself as “separated unto the gospel of God”
(Romans 1:1).
The
question is: Where do you prefer to be? With whom do you prefer to be associated?
Two
further descriptions are given:
First, in v. 25, it says Moses was, “choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season.”
From a
wordly perspective it seems like a fool’s bargain. Would you rather suffer afflictions as a
Christian (in some places that might mean being imprisoned or death; in others it
might mean merely scorn and marginalization) or imbibe the pleasures of sin?
Some
might wonder at the phrase “the pleasures of sin.” How can the inspired writer say such a thing! But let’s be honest: Sin can appeal to the flesh, and it can
appear pleasurable. It can give fleeting
fleshly satisfaction. The key qualifying
phrase, however, is “for a season.” Sins’
pleasures are short-lived. The truth is
we usually see their demise in the life.
Drink and drugs promise escape, release, pleasure. But it can end with hangovers, addiction, and
destruction. Adultery and promiscuity
promise titillation, excitement, experience.
It ends with broken homes, shame, tears, and disease.
I
recently read someone who compared the attainment of worldly pleasures to being
like goods purchased with counterfeit money.
You can use fake money to buy real items but when they discover your money
is counterfeit all those things are taken away and you are placed in jail. Faith in Christ gives real capital to
purchase real satisfaction that can never be taken away.
Second, in v. 26 it says Moses was “esteeming the
reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.”
That
is a logically jarring statement. The
reproach of Christ (the snubs, insults, or indignities one receives from his
association with or loyalty to Christ) are described as riches. What is more, these riches are greater than
the treasures of the world! Compare the
teaching of Jesus himself:
Matthew 6: 19 Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves break through and steal:
20 But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your
treasure is, there will your
heart be also.
The
key to Moses’ conversion and his separation comes in v. 26b: “for he had respect unto the recompense of
reward.” Another way of saying this: He
knew that he was not living just for this life. He knew that one day God will
judge the living and the dead. He knew
that each man will one day have to give an account of his life and deeds before
the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
No comments:
Post a Comment