By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27 – NKJV)
In reading today’s title, it would be easy to formulate the pictures of Moses, the great deliverer of God’s people, delivering the plagues to Pharaoh and leading the Israelites through the Red Sea. But I believe there is an often-missed picture of the might of Moses that can strengthen us in our faith today.
The might of Moses is to be found in the fact that he forsook Egypt – the power of Egypt, the prestige of Egypt, the prosperity of Egypt, the pleasure of Egypt, the popularity of Egypt – all while still in the land of Egypt in the palace of Pharaoh. How was it possible for Moses to do such a mighty thing? It is found in the fact that he feared God far more than he feared the king of Egypt. Moses set his faith and his fear on the only One worthy of our faith and our fear. He knew there was a God and it was not the earthly Pharaoh king.
The question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we willing to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin?” (Hebrews 11:25). What I have learned by painful experience is it is easy to forsake that which is no longer desirable to us for the sake of Christ. But it is far more difficult to forsake what still attracts our attention. Are we willing, like Moses, to forsake that which pleases us for that which pleases God? Are we willing to walk away from the sinful pleasures of this life for the supernatural promises of the next?
Remember, when our Lord Jesus was offered the kingdoms of this world by Satan without suffering, He chose the way of His Father, a way marked by suffering and sorrow. To be sure, it’s not easy to forsake the things of this life, but it can and it must be done, if we are to be like our Lord in this life and the next.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 