Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When the text says Moses "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter," it highlights a profound choice rooted in his identity. It wasn't just about rejecting a title; it was about actively disowning the privilege and status of the Egyptian royal family to embrace solidarity with his enslaved people.
The author is highlighting Moses' incredible faith, contrasting his humble beginnings and hidden infancy with his monumental choices as an adult. After recounting how Moses' parents saved him by faith, the text now shifts to Moses himself, emphasizing that he chose to identify with God's oppressed people, an act of profound faith that set the stage for his future leadership.
What does it mean to 'come to years'? This phrase points to a mature decision, not a childish reaction. Discover why Moses' choice was a profound act of faith.
The text says Moses, 'when he was grown up,' refused the status of Pharaoh's son. This wasn't a fleeting thought from a boy, but a conscious decision made in maturity.
A Shift in Identity
This highlights that true faith often involves difficult, reasoned decisions to align ourselves with God's people and purposes, even when it means leaving behind a life of ease and societal approval.
The world calls comfort and status 'riches.' But Moses, by faith, saw 'reproach' as greater riches. How can suffering be more valuable than treasure?
The passage contrasts the 'treasures of Egypt' with the 'reproach of Christ.' This isn't about loving hardship for its own sake, but understanding its eternal value.
Redefining Value
Understand the original words
laō tou theou · Greek Noun phrase
A term describing God's covenant people, set apart for His purposes, redeemed by His grace, and called to bear His name and reflect His character in the world.
hamartias apolausin · Greek Noun phrase
Actions or experiences that provide temporary gratification but are contrary to God's moral law; they are inherently deceptive and ultimately lead to death.
pistis · Greek Noun
The settled trust and confident reliance on God, His character, and His promises, even when evidence is not immediately seen. It is the active response of the believer to God's revelation.
oneidismos · Greek Noun
This verse highlights Moses' choice at a pivotal moment in his life: recognizing his Hebrew identity and God's promises over the privilege and power offered by Egyptian royalty.
~1527 BC
Birth of Moses
Moses is born to Hebrew parents in Egypt during a time of severe oppression, shortly after Pharaoh decrees that all newborn Israelite males must be killed.
~1527 BC
Moses Adopted by Pharaoh's Daughter
Moses' mother places him in a basket on the Nile to save him, where he is found by Pharaoh's daughter and adopted into the Egyptian royal family.
~1487 BC— this verse
Moses Slays an Egyptian Overseer
Around the age of 40, Moses encounters an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and, in a moment of rage and solidarity, kills the Egyptian. This act reveals his true allegiance and forces him to flee Egypt.
~1487 BC - ~1447 BC
Moses' Exile in Midian
Moses flees to Midian, where he lives as a shepherd for 40 years, marries Zipporah, and distances himself from Egyptian life and status.
This passage details Moses' early life and his first explicit act of identifying with his people by defending an Israelite and fleeing Egypt, directly illustrating his choice to forsake his Egyptian upbringing.
Acts 7:22-29Stephen's sermon recounts Moses' life, emphasizing his awareness of his Hebrew heritage and his eventual rejection of Egyptian privilege, paralleling the faith described in Hebrews.
Philippians 3:7-9Paul describes a similar spiritual re-evaluation, counting his former status and heritage (like Moses' adoption) as loss for the sake of gaining Christ, highlighting the value of faith over worldly gain.
Galatians 2:20This verse speaks of living by faith in the Son of God, echoing Moses' decision to live by faith in God's promises rather than by the visible comforts and status of Egypt.
ellicottHebrews 11:24: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;"
(24) Come to years — i.e. , grown up, “when he was full forty years old” ( Acts 7:23 ). The words here used are taken from the Greek translation of Exodus 2:11 , where we first read of Moses as openly Associating himself with his oppressed people. When Moses slew the Egyptian who was “smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren,” he in act “refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter,”…
calvinHebrews 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, etc. There have been others, and those heathens, who from no fear of God, but only from a desire of propagating an offspring, preserved their own children at the peril of life; but the Apostle shows that the parents of Moses were inducted to save him for another reason, even for this, -- that as…
When the text says Moses "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter," it highlights a profound choice rooted in his identity. It wasn't just about rejecting a title; it was about actively disowning the privilege and status of the Egyptian royal family to embrace solidarity with his enslaved people.
The author is highlighting Moses' incredible faith, contrasting his humble beginnings and hidden infancy with his monumental choices as an adult. After recounting how Moses' parents saved him by faith, the text now shifts to Moses himself, emphasizing that he chose to identify with God's oppressed people, an act of profound faith that set the stage for his future leadership.
The author is highlighting Moses' incredible faith, contrasting his humble beginnings and hidden infancy with his monumental choices as an adult. After recounting how Moses' parents saved him by faith, the text now shifts to Moses himself, emphasizing that he to identify with God's oppressed people, an act of profound faith that set the stage for his future leadership.
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This teaches us that what the world values most – wealth, status, ease – is temporary. True, lasting riches are found in faithfulness to God, even when it involves sharing in the 'reproach of Christ.'
Disgrace, shame, or mockery endured on account of one's allegiance to God or His anointed. It implies suffering for righteousness' sake.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Messiah or the Anointed One of God; in this context, it refers to the identification of the suffering of God's people with the suffering of Christ.
misthapodosia · Greek Noun
The compensation or prize granted by God to those who persevere in faith, focusing on eternal rather than temporal gain.
kartereō · Greek Verb
To persist, remain steadfast, or hold one's ground under pressure or hardship without giving up.
~1447 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God calls Moses from the burning bush to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery, culminating in the plagues and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea.
"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wea…" — When the text says Moses "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter," it highlights a profound choice rooted in his identity. It wasn't just about rejecting a title; it was about actively di…
