“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”
– Hebrews 11:24-26
Main Thought: We all know very well the story of Moses, a child rescued from the Nile River by Pharoah’s daughter and raised among the royal family as her son. However, in time Moses discovered that he was not an Egyptian by birth, but was of the Hebrews. We are told here that Moses, rather than choosing to stay among the Egyptians with an accompanying life of riches and ease, chose instead by faith the pains and afflictions of God’s people. What a striking example of someone who walked by faith and believed in the only true God, and did not choose temporal ease and pleasures and remain among the pagan gods of the Egyptians. He understood by faith that the reward that would come to him was eternal, “greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.” Like the Egyptians, most in our world are choosing the pleasures of this world, the kingdom of here and now, ignoring the eternal consequences of the sin and pleasure that is leading them down a wide path (Matt. 7:13) to destruction. There are many in Hebrews 11 who demonstrated this same walk of faith in the eternal God as Moses did, living as light, not darkness in a perverse world that disdained them because they walked with God and lived by faith before them. But Moses’ testimony, and all the rest of these Old Testament saints, is a testimony for all of us to not be “conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Rom. 12:2). The question we must ask ourselves is are we, as Moses, choosing to walk by faith with God, looking to our eternal reward, or are we instead choosing “Egypt,” valuing this world above Christ and the eternal reward He has prepared for all His children? It is a question worth asking, for the answer reveals whether or not we have faith in God or have a love first for this world. I pray that you and I will continue to choose reproaches in Christ above this world and culture, revealing that we truly “walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Job 14:1-2
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” – Job 14:1-2
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Psalm 119:41-42
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me.” – Psalm 119:41-42
Psalm 86:9
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” – Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)

