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===Moses Refusing Egypt, Choosing God's People, by Faith===
<span style="color:darkred">By '''faith Moses''', when he became of age, '''refused''' to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, '''choosing''' rather to '''suffer affliction''' with the '''people''' of '''God''' than to enjoy the '''passing''' pleasures of '''sin'''.</span style="color:darkred"> (Hebrews 11:24-25)
The natural tendency of humanity is to desire privilege and pleasure. Moses certainly had these two abundantly available to him in Egypt. Yet, he demonstrated the '''impact''' that '''trusting''' in the '''Lord''' can have by '''refusing Egypt and choosing God's people'''.
When the daughter of Pharoah discovered baby Moses, she decided to raise him as her child. "Moses was born...and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. But when he was set out, '''Pharaoh's daughter''' took him away and brought him up '''as her own son'''" (Acts 7:20-21). As an offspring of the palace, Moses had access to the very best of human education, and he became proficient in all that was provided for him. "And Moses was '''learned''' in '''all''' the '''wisdom''' of the '''Egyptians''', and was '''mighty''' in '''words''' and '''deeds'''" (Acts 7:22). In terms of conventional earthly perspectives, Moses was guaranteed a life of privilege and pleasure.
However, when he reached the age of relative maturity, his heart was drawn in a distinctively different direction. "'''But''' when he was '''forty''' years old, it came into his '''heart''' to visit '''his brethren''', the '''children''' of '''Israel'''" (Acts 7:23). The wording implies that he had been taught of his link with the Israelites as he was growing up in Pharoah's household. Eventually, his heart was stirred by this connection, and he made a life-shaping decision, by faith. "By '''faith Moses''', when he became of age, '''refused''' to be called the '''son''' of '''Pharaoh's daughter'''." He decided to renounce his place of privilege in Pharoah's family and to identify himself with God's people. He was aware that this choice was a renunciation of a pleasure-filled life and would inevitably lead to suffering: "'''choosing''' rather to '''suffer affliction''' with the '''people''' of '''God''' than to enjoy the '''passing''' pleasures of '''sin'''."
To commit to the palace would have been pleasurable, but sinful. Furthermore, those sinful pleasures would have been temporary. On the other hand, the blessings of following the leading of the Lord would last forever. Moses' heavenly perspective was much like the Psalmist "For a '''day''' in '''Your''' courts is '''better''' than a '''thousand''' [that is, anyplace else]. I would rather be a '''doorkeeper''' in the '''house''' of my '''God''' than '''dwell''' in the '''tents''' of '''wickedness'''" (Psalm 84:10).
<span style="color:red">Heavenly Father, help me to discern whenever the offer of human privilege is competing with Your will for my life. Please give me a heart to identify with Your people, even though inconvenience or suffering might result. Strengthen my faith to choose eternal blessings over the passing pleasures of sin, '''Amen.'''</span style="color:darkred">
[[Category:Daily Readings]]