Moses Refusing the Pleasures of Sin (Heb. 11:24-25)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-07-03

 

My Worship Time      Focus: Moses refusing the pleasures of sin

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 11:24, 25

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” (ASB) “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.”  (NLT)

            I am not sure as to how Moses knew of the promises that God had given to Abraham, but he may have learned them from his mother who came to the Egyptian palace where Moses was living to nurse him, and during that time women nursed their children for a long period of time.  He also may have had contact with some of the Hebrews while growing up.  At any rate Moses knew the promises of God, and God worked within his heart to give him the kind of faith to be able to say good-bye to a “successful career” as it were at the palace in Egypt and to go and live with the Hebrews who were in slavery.  Dr. Wiersbe says, “True faith causes a believer to hold the right values and make the right decisions.”  This was surely true in the life of Moses.  The passage speaks of “pleasures of sin.”  Dr. Wiersbe comments on this phrase this way, “The phrase describes a way of life that we today would call ‘successful’—position, prestige, power, wealth, and freedom from problems.”

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I get out of this passage what it is to be a man of faith in terms of how the Bible would describe it.  Moses had the faith to see past the “stuff” of this world, the pleasures of this world and live a life that, though it may seem stupid to many people, it was exactly the life that God wanted him to live.  He gave up an earthly palace for the hope of a heavenly palace, and he gave up a lot more to receive by faith a building whose builder, and designer was God Himself.  I hope that as I read and study more about the people of faith that my faith will increase and that I would be willing to do what ever it is that God would want me to do for the cause of Jesus Christ!

 

The Word of God has surely brought a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To love my wife as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for it.  I do not want to be in competition with my wife today, nor seek to argue with her today about the things that are going on with our investments with Andrew Leck.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation continually say, “The Lord be magnified!”