Back in the time of Moses, Egypt was one of the great civilizations and world powers of ancient times. And Moses, as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, stood to inherit great riches and a life of amazing ease and comfort being a prince in Egypt.
But because of his great faith in the God of Israel we read this remarkable section of Scripture: “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Notice first, that Moses chose mistreatment over the pleasures of sin. I believe that Moses understood, as the passage indicates, that sin’s pleasures are very fleeting, and though desirable to the flesh cannot compare with the pleasures that he could experience being near to God. (Psalm 16:11) gives us the contrast when we read: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Moses chose pleasures forevermore rather than fleeting pleasures. Moses understood one of the great secrets of the Christian walk that mistreatment for the sake of Christ leads to eternal pleasures which trump fleeting pleasures every time.
And notice second, that Moses considered disgrace for the sake of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. In the flesh this makes no sense but in the realm of the spirit Moses was looking ahead to his great reward. My friends enduring mistreatment and disgrace for the sake of Christ always promises incredible rewards such as joy now and eternal blessings later. (Hebrews 12:2) shows us that Jesus understood this truth for we read: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And (Matthew 5:11-12) drives home this point for we read: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Moses understood that great joy and eternal rewards were worth the sacrifice that the immediate pleasures of serving self and sin offered. As Christians we too understand that the riches of this world cannot compare with the riches and blessings that serving Christ bring with it. The sacrifices we make as children of God by enduring the inconveniences, trials, and sufferings in this life, for the sake of Christ and the gospel, cannot compare with the blessings we receive in return. Not only do we receive joy, peace, and meaning now but as (2 Corinthians 4:17) shares we accrue in heaven an eternal weight of glory, for we read: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Passing pleasures or pleasures forevermore – I believe the choice is abundantly clear!