"23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible."
Hebrews 11:23-27
It is clear that like Abraham, Moses stood out for the Apostle as a supremely important figure and again he devotes considerable space to a consideration of his life. The summary that he gives is masterly in its selection of salient features and its penetrating grasp of the basic issues that faced Moses in his experience. In four words, like swift strokes of the brush, he sketches the complete picture of a man given over utterly to God. "By faith Moses... refused... choosing... esteeming... had respect..." How much these simple words tell us of the man's dedication. Like Abraham, it was a dedication that cut across all natural desires and aspirations. Note that while his refusal is mentioned first in the text (24), it was surely his decision to cast in his lot with the suffering people of God that led him to it, and we may learn from this something of what it costs to make this decision of faith. It always involves a refusal of the world - inevitably, since the unseen world of faith and this present evil world are in irreconcilable opposition to one another and mutually exclusive and we do not understand the gospel aright if we do not realise this. But he proved, as Abraham did, and as all who walk this way prove, that the true goal of sacrifice is not death but life, and he entered a spaciousness of life, in intimate communion with God, that can only be described as 'glory begun below'. "The Lord spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). This was his reward on earth before ever he entered into the infinitely greater reward in heaven. God is no man's debtor. "Them that honour Me I will honour", He says. And by faith Moses knew this, He lived with eternity's values in view. Do we?