38 lines
4.3 KiB
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38 lines
4.3 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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November 1
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<h1>Moses Refusing Egypt and Choosing God's People, by Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>By <b>faith Moses</b>, when he became of age, <b>refused</b> to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, <b>choosing</b> rather to <b>suffer affliction</b> with the <b>people</b> of <b>God</b> than to enjoy the <b>passing</b> pleasures of <b>sin</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '24-25');">Hebrews 11:24-25</a>)</div>
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<p>The natural tendency of humanity is to desire privilege and pleasure. These two were certainly available to Moses in Egypt. Yet, he <b>refused Egypt and chose God's people</b>, demonstrating the far reaching impact of trusting in the Lord.</p>
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<p>When the daughter of Pharaoh discovered baby Moses, she decided to raise him as her child. <i>"Moses was born…and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. But when he was set out, <b>Pharaoh's daughter</b> took him away and brought him up <b>as her own son</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 7, '20-21');">Acts 7:20-21</a>). As an offspring of the palace, Moses had access to the very best of human education, and he became proficient in all that was provided for him. <i>"And Moses was <b>learned</b> in <b>all</b> the <b>wisdom</b> of the <b>Egyptians</b>, and was <b>mighty</b> in <b>words</b> and <b>deeds</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 7, '22-22');">Acts 7:22</a>). In terms of conventional earthly perspectives, Moses was guaranteed a life of privilege and pleasure.</p>
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<p>However, when he reached the age of relative maturity, his heart was drawn in a distinctively different direction. <i>"<b>But</b> when he was <b>forty</b> years old, it came into his <b>heart</b> to visit <b>his brethren</b>, the <b>children</b> of <b>Israel</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 7, '23-23');">Acts 7:23</a>). The wording implies that he had been taught of his link with the Israelites as he was growing up in Pharoah's household. Eventually, his heart was stirred by this connection, and he made a life-shaping decision, by faith. <i>"By <b>faith Moses</b>, when he became of age, <b>refused</b> to be called the <b>son</b> of <b>Pharaoh's daughter</b>."</i> He decided to renounce his place of privilege in Pharoah's family and to identify himself with God's people. He was aware that this choice was a renunciation of a pleasure-filled life and would inevitably lead to suffering: <i>"<b>choosing</b> rather to <b>suffer affliction</b> with the <b>people</b> of <b>God</b> than to enjoy the <b>passing</b> pleasures of <b>sin</b>."</i></p>
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<p>To commit to the palace would have been pleasurable, but sinful. Furthermore, those sinful pleasures would have been temporary. On the other hand, the blessings of following the leading of the Lord would last forever. Moses' heavenly perspective was much like the Psalmist. <i>"For a <b>day</b> in <b>Your</b> courts is <b>better</b> than a <b>thousand</b></i> [that is, in anyplace else]<i>. I would rather be a <b>doorkeeper</b> in the <b>house</b> of my <b>God</b> than <b>dwell in</b> the <b>tents</b> of <b>wickedness</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 84, '10-10');">Psalm 84:10</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Heavenly Father, help me to discern whenever the offer of human privilege is competing with Your will for my life. Please give me a heart to identify with Your people, even though inconvenience or suffering might result. Strengthen my faith to choose eternal blessings over the passing pleasures of sin, Amen.</div>
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