SEEING THE INVISIBLE

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:24-27).

MOSES IS ONE OF THE GREAT. He was identified as "very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Num 12:3). He did not have the opportunity of living in a godly home after he was "nursed," although he was afforded some tutelage by his godly mother, Jochebed. He was born in hard times, when his people were slaves in the land of Egypt, which worshiped idols. He was also born when male babies were to be killed. His parents recognized at his birth that he was an unusual child, and determined to see that he was spared. Scripture informs us they were "not afraid of the king's command" (Heb 11:23). When his mother could no longer hide him, she constructed an ark of bulrushes, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, and placed him in some reeds by a river bank. You will recall that Pharaoh's daughter discovered the babe. Moses' sister, Miriam, told Pharaoh's daughter she would find a Hebrew woman who could nurse the child (his own mother), and was given leave to do so. The Egyptian princess then told Moses' mother to take the child and nurse him for her, even giving her wages to do so – not knowing she was the baby's mother (Ex2:3-10).

AFTER BEING RAISED in Pharaoh's house, the time finally came for Moses to fulfill his appointed role – leading Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and being used of God to give the Law. At this point, our text says he "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh' daughter." The time for making a decision had arrived, and he chose "to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin for a season." In this case, "sin," was remaining identified with Egypt, and enjoying its opulence. Sin would have involved rising to the heights in Egypt, as the "son of Pharaoh's daughter." Instead of embarking on a sure Egyptian career path, he considered "the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt." Faith told him the seeming advantages of Egyptian superiority would be short-lived.

LITTLE WAS KNOWN OF THE coming Messiah at this time – only that He would come through the woman (Gen 3:15), and would come through the seed of Abraham – the Offspring through Whom the world would be blessed (Gen 22:18). Moses chose identity with the lineage of Christ, knowing it would incur the "wrath of the king." He "forsook Egypt," knowing God would reward his decision, and, in respect of God's view of his determination, "not fearing the wrath of the king."

MOSES LEFT THE TEEMING ACTIVITY of Egypt to dwell relatively alone in the desert. From the palace of a king to the desolation of a desert. How would he survive? We know from Scripture that it was forty years before he would be used to accomplish the exodus of the people of God from Egypt. We are told that, in his decision, the forsaking of Egypt, and the desolation of isolation, "he endured as seeing Him who is invisible." How is such a thing possible?

THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION OF FAITH – it is faith that "sees Him who is invisible." Faith is the eye of the soul, able to penetrate beyond the veil of the flesh and the realm of the seen. Seeing Him who is invisible is being convinced of His reality, persuaded of His promises, and assured of His blessing. Moses was more certain of God than he was of Pharaoh that is why he did not "fear the wrath of the king." O, he knew Pharaoh would be angry, but he knew God was greater than Pharaoh. His thinking was dominated by the consideration of the Living God, not the possibilities of wicked Pharaoh. He thought more about what he would receive from the Lord, than what might come his way from Pharaoh. His considerations enabled him to survive – to "endure."

I CALL YOU TO THE SAME ACTIVITY – seeing Him who is invisible. Your faith can "see Him," even though your eyes cannot. You can be persuaded of His reality. You can be convinced of His blessing. You can be assured of His reward. But You must consider Him, ponder Him, seek for Him with all of your heart. When He makes Himself known to you, or draws near to you, you have seen Him! Do not the Scriptures say, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Jeremiah's words are still true, "And you will seek Me and FIND ME, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jer 29:13). That is when you are seeing Him!

YOU WILL BE ABLE to "endure" in the strength of the vision of faith. You will survive the assaults of temptations, and the oppositions of the world. Life itself, which can be a burden, will be endured with all of its complexities and disappointments when you "see Him who is invisible." Check your vision! Are you seeing "Him who is invisible?"

– Given O. Blakely