Mountain Movers

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 11:26)

This is a key verse in understanding Moses' motivation for persevering during the challenges he faced. Moses could have given up or continued with his comfortable lifestyle but he chose to step boldly into the adventure that God placed before him.

The first part of the verse says that Moses "regarded disgrace..." In this context, the word disgrace comes from the Greek word neidismos which can be defined as reproach, such as the sort of mocking or humiliation that Christ suffered, for the cause of God, from his enemies.

Moses was well aware of the disgrace he would face in his life. He carefully considered it. He wasn't caught off-guard by Pharaoh's anger, threats, and insults. What is interesting is that Moses tolerated the injury to his dignity "for the sake of Christ." Obviously, Moses never knew Jesus. He lived thousands of years before Jesus even walked the earth. However, according to this verse, he was motivated by Christ. Why? Because Christ held his reward.

The treasures of Egypt were incredibly valuable back in the day of Moses. Even today, the great pyramids of Egypt have withstood thousands of years of erosion. Scholars believe that the pyramids were originally painted in rainbow colors with gold caps. Certainly Egypt rose up stunningly powerful and glorious by all appearances.

Moses considered disgrace for the sake of Christ more valuable than all the riches and the glory Egypt had to offer. He believed in the modern platitude, 'no pain, no gain." Moses' bruised dignity had in common with the Pharaoh's wealth a temporary status. In the eternal scheme of things, the treasures of Egypt don't help Pharaoh or anyone else. When they die, they appear before God the same way we all do. Moses' standing before God is much more glorious than any wealth or position Pharaoh could attain upon this earth. Moses' temporary humiliation for the cause of God and for the sake of Christ led to a permanent grace in the sight of God.

The last part of Hebrews 11:26 states that Moses "was looking ahead to his reward." Looking ahead derives from the Greek poblepo meaning "to look with a steadfast, mental gaze." Reward as it is used here is from the Greek word isthapodosia, or "payment of wages due."

Moses held a steadfast, mental gaze as he took bead on God's reward, a characteristic that consistent in the faithful people of the Bible. They don't get distracted by the things of the world. They remain focused on the eternal and are about their purpose. They are not swayed by people, events or circumstances around them.

Moses viewed his reward as something that God was offering him because he pleased God and because he knew that God was a fair and just God. In Hebrews 6:10, it states that,

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Moses took comfort in knowing that "the storm was passing over." God continually expressed His love to Moses and he was constantly comforted by that. God's boundless love gave Moses the strength to carry on during the most turbulent times, indeed, imbuing him with greater strength and confidence as he faced Pharaoh's increasing opposition. In Exodus 12, as the Israelites were about to leave Egypt, Moses instructed them to ask the Egyptians for gold, silver, and all sorts of clothing. Even after being struck by plague after plague, the Egyptians gave the Israelites what they wanted. Moses was determined to receive his reward from God.

Ultimately, Moses lived a faithful life for the sake of Christ. He weathered the storms of adversity for the sake of Christ and received his reward because of Christ. If Jesus had not sacrificed his life at the cross, Moses would not have received his reward.

Moses was a powerful leader and a man of deep convictions. He was also considered the most humble person on the face of the earth. Yet, this Giant of Faith fell short of the glory of God and needed Jesus. While Moses came before Jesus, he needed Jesus' sacrifice to make his reward complete.

We live in the Information Age. We are easily distracted, overwhelmed and bombarded by the world and all its negative influences. Yet, we can see from the example of Moses that nothing the world can offer us will ever replace God's reward. Even the worst injury or humiliation that we experience for the sake of God is more worthy of our respect and yearning than are the greatest riches of this world. God will send "his graces" our way to test our sincerity towards Him and to refine our characters.

Like the multi-billionaires on the today's Fortune 500 List, Pharaoh and his family amassed megatons of wealth in Egypt. His life, however, in disgrace, his hard heart falling victim to a sorrow that all the temporary pleasures of a hedonistic life could not appease. The pleasures he enjoyed on earth-- and they were immense pleasures-- were responsible for his demise. The discounting, mistreatment and torture of God's people lent itself to his loss of eternal bliss.

2 Timothy 3:12 states that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Guaranteed! When we commit to live a life fully obedient to Christ, we will have to endure the mocking and persecutions, sometimes imprisonment and death, that Christians have endured through the ages. Fixing our eyes on Jesus may be the only thing that will help us persevere through these times. However, in the end, when we reach heaven, we will know joy but have no regrets.

In the next chapter we will see how Moses, by faith, was able to lead millions of people out of Egypt and give them a sense of freedom and hope that they had never experienced in their lives. While he was headed on a journey where he and the millions he led did not know where he was leading, Moses put his security in God's hands. He faced monumental challenges, but even more massive returns.