Better To Suffer For The Sake Of Christ

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. Hebrews 11:24-26

MOSES GREW UP “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22, NIV). He likely learned linguistics, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, music, medicine, law, and the fine art of diplomacy. Ironically, the training Moses would need to lead his people out of Egypt and shepherd them in the desert was provided in the household of the pharaoh himself. While Exodus doesn’t tell us about what went on in Moses’ life during these years, the writer of Hebrews allows us to see what motivated Moses, what he valued, and where he chose to place his confidence. Moses “thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt.”

Moses, who had lived for several years in the Hebrew home of his believing parents before being schooled in the halls of Pharaoh’s palace, knew about the Christ, the offspring of the woman God had promised would one day be born who would put an end to the suffering and cruelty in this world. Moses held on to this promise. It was his confidence in the Christ that enabled him to walk away from worldly wealth, power, and privilege. He had his eyes and his heart set on something better than the treasures of Egypt —the reward that awaited him in heaven for investing all of his hopes in the promised Christ. Moses was willing to pass up temporary pleasure now for the lasting pleasure that would be his forever.

How did he do it? “It was by faith . . .” His parents told him about God’s promise, and he took hold of it and lived in light of it.

Lord, we have told ________ about you and your promises. Will you give ________ the faith to take hold of those promises and live in light of them? Will you give ________ the faith to choose to share in the oppression of God’s people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin? Will you shape ________’s perspective to see that it is better to suffer for your sake than to own the treasures of the world? Will you give ________ eyes to look ahead to the great reward to come?