26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ [anointed one; Messiah] greater riches than the treasures in Egypt;
Moses possessed no knowledge of the Christ of the New Testament. However, he knew that the Messiah one day would come.
The choice of Moses in the previous verse to suffer affliction with the people of God came from how he esteemed eternal values. His motivation was that the reproach of the Messiah was greater riches than could be found in all of Egypt.
The word “esteeming” means to reckon, calculate. Moses weighed his options carefully, whether he would continue in the Egyptian palace or suffer pain with the Hebrew people. The options were treasures or pain.
for he looked to [fixed on] the reward.
Moses’ value lay beyond Egypt or the priorities of this world. God’s “reward” is much different than the world’s reward. His standard is not fame or wealth but purpose and mission (Mt 5:11–12).
Moses fixed his affections on the things of greater importance. He made a determined choice to believe God. God would give him a “reward” for his faith (Re 22:12). He would rather accept an eternal reward sight unseen than a temporal reward that he could see clearly.
PRINCIPLE:
Our reward from God is vastly superior to all that the world has to offer.
APPLICATION:
That which influenced Moses to make his choice was the comparative value of God’s way of life and the world’s worldview. Spiritual wealth is greater than material wealth. Moses’ rejection of the values of his culture was an act of faith. He carefully weighed his options and made a deliberate choice to follow God’s will rather than the riches of the world. Christians will bear the reproach of Christ (He 13:13). Anyone who has shared their faith has experienced this reproach (Acts 5:41; Ro 8:18; 2 Co 4:17; 1 Pe 4:14).
The basis for our choice to walk by faith is the reward God has laid up for us. Eternal values far transcend temporal values (2 Co 4:17, 18; 12:9, 10).
