Possibly the most powerful verses in this chapter (Hebrews 11) that describe faith as seeing are verses 26 and 27. I am thrilled when I see the unmistakeable connection between three things in these verses. The first is the fact that Moses had the ability to see. Secondly, the things he could see motivated him in exceptional service. Thirdly, the reader must conclude that the things he was seeing must have been of a breathtaking quality and beauty in order to so affect his life on a daily basis.
He had the sinful pleasures of Egypt at his fingertips, and among the Egyptians it was presupposed that he would simply dip in and enjoy himself as they did. He could see all of the exquisitely shapely and delightful women at his disposal, with their arresting beauty. He could see all of the comfort and ease that was practically his, pampering his desire to sit back and relax while others worked for him. He could see all of the luscious, choice food and drink without measure that was his. He could taste the power of being in such a privileged position, in authority over the masses, who snapped to attention when he spoke. He could enjoy the thrill of intellectual status over the nameless, faceless horde, having been educated while they remained illiterate and simple—dependent upon his wisdom.
Today we can understand the allurement of the things Moses saw. Western culture sees these things as the reason for existence and sadly has seen no further. In our pleasure-saturated mindsets, we have seen the eternal pleasures of God only through the eyes of an overfed sleeper, who can’t even open his eyes to focus on anything in the real world.
Moses however saw something so amazing and breathtaking and arresting, that the spectacle before his eyes completely overwhelmed the visions of earthly beauty dancing before his eyes. Moses could see a reward that was so attractive, that the simple act of looking at it enabled him to power through the most unpleasant experiences in his life. Once he had seen what lay ahead of him as an unshakeable certainty, he himself could not be shaken. Isn’t this what the psalmist is saying in Psalm 16?
But more specifically, what is Moses looking at? What is it he is seeing? Verse 27 should settle in your mind with a sense of permanence. This verse is going to help you as this mindset helped Moses. “…he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” This verse has brought me more joy and satisfaction in Christ over the years than I can describe. It is so full and so bold. Do you want to be the kind of person who perseveres through anything in this world? You need to see Him who is invisible. This ability to see is the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8). But notice, it is not simply the ability to see that gives you the power to persevere, it is the ability to see the lovely Jesus. It is His beauty, His loveliness, His delightfulness, His desirableness, His attractiveness that arrests the eye of the beholder and drives him on to Christ, his reward. Do you see the beauty of Jesus as Moses did?
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