16: The Promises to Israel - The Reproach of Christ

The Present Truth : August 20, 1896

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” Hebrews 11.24, 25

Here we are told most positively that the treasures of Egypt were the pleasures of sin; that refusing the treasures of Egypt was to refuse to live in sin; that to cast in one’s lot with the Israelites, was to suffer the reproach of Christ. This demonstrates that Christ was the real leader of that people, and that that which had been promised them, and to share which they were to be delivered from Egypt, was to be theirs only through Him, and that, too, through His reproach.  Now the reproach of Christ is the cross. Thus we are again brought face to face with the fact that the seed of Abraham, —the true Israel, —are those who are Christ’s through faith in His blood.

Very few stop to think what it was that Moses gave up for the sake of Christ. He was the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and was heir to the throne of Egypt. All the treasures of Egypt were therefore at his command. He “was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” Acts 7.22. The crown prince, a scholar, a general, and an orator, with every flattering worldly prospect open before him, —he gave up everything to cast in his lot with a despised class of people for the sake of Christ.

He “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” That implies that he was urged to retain his position. It was in the face of opposition that he gave up his worldly prospects, and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God. We cannot over-estimate the contempt with which his action would be regarded, nor the epithets of scorn that must have been heaped upon him, among which that of “fool” must have been the mildest. When people in these days are called upon to accept an unpopular truth at the expense of their position, it will be well for them to remember the case of Moses.