MOSES SUFFERED AFFLICTION RATHER THAN THE PLEASURES OF SIN Heb 11

When Moses came of age, he chose not to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter’. (v24) He had every right to claim the title of Pharoah as the ruler of that great civilisation. He disentitled himself, because of his love for the living God.

He could not compromise his spiritual walk, after forty years of faithful teaching from his mother, his spiritual adviser and counsellor in the Egyptian court.

The Lord Jesus strongly affirmed, ‘ Blessed are you who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for your’s is the kingdom of heaven ( Matthew 5:10-13 ) He continued, ‘Blessed ar eyou when men shal persecute you and say all manner of evul against you flasely, for My Name’s sake. He then instructed His disciplesd to ‘rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you,’ Moses understood this.

This same principle is seen in the suffering of 300 pastors from the house churches of china, who were imprisoned this christmas 1999 for preaching the Word of God. A recent report states that from all the nations 120,000 will be martyred this year. It is costly to follow Him.

Paul understood that suffering was essential for spiritual development in the christian walk, saying ‘ That chains and imprisonment and tribulation await me, But none of these things move me. Neither I count my life dear to myself. ( Acts 20:23;24 ) Why has the Western church softened while the church in the two thirds world rejoices in the suffering of the gospel. They are willing to endure hardship for their Lord, certainly a distinguishing mark.

Hebrews 11:25 puts it clearly , that ‘He ( Moses )chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. ‘Moses’ 40 years in the palace spared him many trials. Nevertheless, he associated with God’s people regardless of the cost. Paul writes in Romans 5:3 that ’We glory in tribulations , knowing that tribulation works perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope’ . God had built these qualities into Moses’ life, which he builds into your life when you suffer for your Lord.

Paul continues his study on suffering in Romans 8:17 , when he said, ’I reckon that the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be conpared with the glory that shall be revealed.’ WE must never bog down in the hour of endurance, rather keep our eyes firmly fixed on our glorious Lord. Suffering then assumes a different character.

During my medical experience in World War 11, I spent long months in Papua New guinea., often longing to see the baby daughter, whom God had given my wife and me. Often I cried to the Lord. One day, leave was granted. The troop ship took an excited hospital staff back to Australia. I was home again, and saw our beloved Ruth. It was glory! Far above this, heaven is promised to those who have borne sorrow for Him.

And in the same chapter, verse 35-39, Paul adds, ‘Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’ Pretty real factors in life. In the natural. we reject the thought of suffering and hardship, but the great apostle Paul challenged the forces of evil in stating that nothing shall separate us from the love of our God. Let the devil throw all his flaming darts at me, I am secure in our dear Lord. It was Moses’ strength also!

‘I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.’ (Colossians 1:24 )

Let it be understood that nothing could be added to the sufferings of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. However , in every generation of believers, men and women and some children, who have loved their Lord deeply have suffered for Him even as those thrown to the lions before Nero. They would never deny their Saviour and thus be relieved of their sufferings.

2 Timothy 2:11,12 states, ‘ If we be dead with him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer we shall also reign with Him’ If we have died to all the attractions and seductions of the world, we shall enjoy the resurrection life of our ascended Lord. If in the course of that, we suffer for Him, He has promised that we shall also reign as kings with Him.

Paul says there are no exceptions in 2 Timothy 2:12, for ‘All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ Moses suffered. Our dear Lord did supremely on the cross. Shall not we? We must tell new believers that after they have received the Lord Jesus, they will face constant endurance and warfare. No bed of roses is promised.

1 Peter 1:6 speaks of ‘the trial of your faith being precious, though it be tried by fire’.

God purifies the golden character of His children when the fire of persecution separates the precious metal from impurities.

Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than endure the pleasures of sin for a season’. God perfectly chose to lead His people through the 40 years in the desert. Moses’God did not lead him for a brief over-night trial, but a generation of physical, spiritual, and devilish assaults. Winston Churchill declared Moses’ evauation of 2 ½ million an epic. The Lord looks for similar endurance in men and women of our day. How do you shape?

Please feel free to call Harrold om hgsteward@cobweb.com.au