Hebrews 11: 26: [Moses esteemed] the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Prior to this verse Moses gave up the honors this world had to offer. Next, he gave up the pleasures this world had to offer. Now he gives up the wealth this world has to offer. Moses was not dragged into making these decisions, but he willingly, joyfully chose this path because of the rejoicing he had in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But how was it that Moses suffered reproach for Christ when the incarnate Christ had not yet come? Christ had a being long before he was born of the virgin. He has always been Head of the church, the one who led his people under the name "the Angel of the Covenant." For example, Exodus 23:20-22 speaks expressly of Christ, "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21: Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22: But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."The Lord Christ communed with his people then as well as with his people now (Isa 63: 9; Zec 2: 8.)
The wording "reproach of Christ" has to do with Christ's oneness with his people and their oneness with him. Like a bride because of her union and communion with her husband, takes his name to be her name even so the church goes by Christ's name. Notice Jeremiah 23:6 speaks of Christ's name: In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now Jeremiah 33:16 which speaks of his brides' name: In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. The reason Moses suffered reproach for Christ is because he bore Christ's name. Furthermore, like a husband and a wife, when one suffers the other suffers thus being one with Christ and Christ being one with Moses therefore the reproach sinners had for Christ they had for Moses likewise the reproach that fell on Moses fell on Christ.
Yet we see Moses' held the highest love for his Redeemer in that he counted the reproach that sinners held for Christ and that he therefore bore, as greater riches than those Egypt had to offer for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Though his name was blotted from the pages of Pharaoh's royal book of nobles, by faith Moses knew his name had been written in the Lamb's book of life from before the world began. While his comrades gazed with a covetous eye upon the king's golden palace, the bejeweled royal chariot of Pharaoh, the mighty stallion which pulled him along the streets where men and women honored him as they stooped and bowed before their king, by faith Moses saw something which made all that look like a little child's playhouse. By faith Moses beheld the King of kings and Lord of lords, the King of righteousness whose people are not servants but sons and daughters, who eat at his table and are served by the one who has everlastingly loved them. Christ and eternal life with him was the reward Moses had respect unto.
Oh, believer, ponder the promise of Eternal Life. By faith sore to heavens' heights survey the scene of that world where sin is not even a memory. Most of all gaze with faith's eye upon Christ Jesus in all his Majestic glory. Remember the promise that as we have suffered together with him we shall be "also glorified together" (Ro 8:17.) This was the sight faith afforded Moses so that he esteemed this world's reproach as the highest honor, a light affliction lasting only a moment, which would soon turn into a far better, eternal weight of glorious life with Christ Jesus the Lord. How sad it makes one feel for the kings of this world who right now in this world possess the only riches they will ever have.
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SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday 10 AM Bible Class 11 AM Morning Worship Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service (The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)
NOTE: Dear Friends, As more of you continue to listen in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania I would like to say how much I am encoraged as you download the messages. I hope the Lord will be pleased to use them for your good and his glory. Our mid-week worship service is on Thursday night at 7:00 pm. It is like our Sunday service, we sing songs that glorify our Redeemer, we pray that Christ might continue to be exalted, and we hear a message of the free and sovereign grace in Christ and him crucified. Some who have driven as far as 2 hours for the mid-week service have ended up coming back on a regualar basis. My prayer is that more of you will do the same. I want you to know you are always welcome.