According
to the writer of Hebrews, Moses chose “rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season”. In
chapter eleven and verse twenty-six of Hebrews, the writer shares
how Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures in Egypt:”
where we read:
Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he
had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
The
verse begins, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt:”. The
writer began with the words, “Esteeming”
which means “considering, deeming, accounting and thinking” “the
reproach” or “the cause of
God from enemies” “of Christ”
which refers to “the anointed Messiah and Son of God” “greater
riches” or “larger and
stronger wealth, abundance, fulness and plentitude” “than
the treasures” which refers to
“compared to the coffers, receptacles, treasury, storehouse and
magazine where collected valuables are stored” “in
Egypt” which means “double
straits” and was “a country occupying the northeast angle of
Africa where Moses grew up”. Moses considered the “cause of God
from enemies” of greater value than all the riches available to him
in Egypt.
The
verse goes on to say, “ for he had respect unto the
recompense of the reward.”. The
writer continued with the words, “for he had respect”
or “because and on account
that Moses turned his eyes from other things and fixed them on some
on thing” “unto the recompense of the reward”
which means “toward the payment of wages due and requital”. Moses
looked beyond the “riches of Egypt” and saw greater value in the
“cause of God from enemies” who were “against Christ”.
When
we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we see how Moses used
“eternal value” verses the “temporary worth” to make his
decision. The “treasures in Egypt” would only last him a
lifetime, but the “eternal” “greater riches” of “the
reproach of Christ” would last forever. Thus it is in our
lives. We have opportunities to enjoy the “wealth of this world”
that is temporary, but we also may choose to invest ourselves in
“eternal and everlasting” things. Jesus came to reveal to us
there is an “everlasting life”, and He provided Himself as
a sacrifice for our sins that we may obtain it. Let us determine to
have the “faith” of Moses, who forsook the “temporary”
riches for those that are “everlasting”, and should we
“suffer reproach” for doing so, we shall identify more
fully with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Next
time the writer shares how Moses “by
faith” “forsook Egypt”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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