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By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’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. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
– Hebrews 11:24-28

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Among the many Old Testament faith-filled believers whom the author of Hebrews highlights in chapter 11, he notes Moses. Moses refused the present luxuries of Egypt, to be lumped in with the poor marginalized slaves, for the hope of an unseen potential greater luxury for all his people. The potential of a land forever theirs, where they are free to worship their Savior. The author can’t help but be reminded of Jesus by this story. He says that Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, even though Moses lived thousands of years before Jesus. Any time I doubt the whole Bible is telling us something about Jesus, I can remember passages like this.

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Moses laid aside his wealth, power, comforts, not because those things were evil. He did it because he believed God when he said that greater wealth, power, comforts were on the way. He did it because that’s what Jesus would do.

Jesus would lay aside all the wealth, power, comforts of heaven and place himself in the skin of a man, but not in a man of power. In a carpenter, who would not be taken seriously when he spoke as a prophet, let alone as the Son of God. And he would be beaten, disrespected every way possible, and brutally murdered. Did he do this because there was something evil about him being in heaven perfectly in community with his Father? Of course not. He did it because he believed his Father had better wealth, power and comfort in store through the suffering. What kind of hope could be worth the price of that kind of suffering coming upon that kind of heavenly King? The hope of a forever place for the people of God to give him the glory that he deserves.

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This is the kind of life to which you retroactively called Moses, and this is the life you’re actively calling me to. I admit, Lord, I’m so in love with the seen treasures of the world around me that I often ignore your unseen promised better treasures. Help me! What other point could there be in an honest prayer than asking you for help? Help me remember, trust, and put all my energy toward your promises. Help me put all my eggs in that basket like Moses did as he represented Christ.

This post is part of my Weekly REAP series. I’m posting these from my personal journal to share what God is teaching me, and to give some practical examples of the REAP method.  I didn’t write any of these with publishing in mind, so forgive me if they don’t always wax eloquent. Here is some more information on the REAP study method.