Hebrews 11:23-26 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 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 recompence of the reward. 

‘Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.’ Moses – faith’s declaration: Renounced sonship to Pharoah’s daughter and possible kingship of Egypt. He chose affliction with God’s people instead of enjoying the pleasures of sin (11:25). Esteemed the reproach of Christ greater than the riches of Egypt (11:26). Had his eyes fixed upon the reward of renouncing sin for Christ (11:26).

‘Refused’ [Greek: arneomai] is translated as refused (11:24; Acts 7:35) and denied 26 times (Matt. 10:33; 27:1-66; 1Tim. 5:8; etc.). He rejected sonship and kingship on earth to gain the same things in heaven.

‘Suffer affliction’ [Greek: sungkoucheo] to endure ill-treatment, wrong, hurt, or injury with another.

‘Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.’ Moses had a revelation of the coming Messiah and looked forward to His day, as did Abraham (John 8:56).

Hebrews 11:23-27 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 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 recompence of the reward. 

‘Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents.’ Amram and Jochebed -faith’s recognition (Exo. 2:2; 6:20; Acts 7:20). Jochebed took for Moses an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put him therein. Like Noah’s, it was made by divine command (Heb. 11:23; Rom. 10:17). It was a small boat made from papyrus reeds that grow 3 to 4,5 meters high above the marsh water of the Nile. The pith of the papyrus was used for food, and boats were made from the wood (Isa. 18:2). It was also used as paper (Isa. 19:7). Pharaoh’s daughter took Moses as her own child and her compassion defeated satan, preserved a nation, fulfilled prophecy, and furthered God’s plan for the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15; 12:1-3; 15:13-16; 46:3-4; 50:24). Josephus gives her name as Thermuthis and says she adopted Moses to succeed her father as ruler of Egypt. According to Josephus, Moses was put in command of the Egyptian war against the Ethiopians and conquered them completely.

God arranged it so that Moses’ own mother brought up the very child that was to defeat Pharaoh, and she was paid for it (Exo. 2:9). Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed, evidently lived nearby, for his mother knew the habits and character of the princess, and placed Moses where she would find him. Moses means drawn out and comes from the same root word as in 2Samuel 2:17 and Psalms 18:16. He is mentioned 813 times; his history is found in Exodus 2:10 – Deuteronomy 34:12.

‘Proper’ [Greek: asteios] pretty. Translated as “proper” (11:23) and “fair” (Acts 7:20).

‘Were not afraid of the king’s commandment.’ They must have had some revelation from God on which to base their faith, for faith comes from reading God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).

To be continued…