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lived from infancy in the midst of rank； and riches； and luxury； came
down from his high estate； and cast in his lot with poor menslaves；
serfs； helots； pariahs； bondservants； oppressed； destitute； afflicted；
tormentedlabourers in the brick…kiln。
How wonderful； once more； was this choice！
Generally speaking； we think it enough to carry our own troubles。 We
may be sorry for others whose lot is to be mean and despised。We may
even try to help themwe may give money to raise themwe may speak
for them to those on whom they depend； but here we generally stop。
But here is a man who does far more。 He not merely feels for despised
Israel； but actually goes down to them； adds himself to their society；
and lives with them altogether。 You would wonder if some great man in
Grosvenor or Belgrave Square were to give up house； and fortune； and
position in society； and go to live on a small allowance in some narrow
lane in Bethnal Green； for the sake of doing good。 Yet this would
convey a very faint and feeble notion of the kind of thing that Moses
did。 He saw a despised people； and he chose their pany in preference
to that of the noblest in the land。 He became one with themtheir
fellow； their panion in tribulation； their ally； their associate；
and their friend。
（3） But he did even more。 He chose reproach and scorn。
Who can conceive the torrent of mockery and ridicule that Moses would
have to stem； in turning away from Pharaoh's court to join Israel！ Men
would tell him he was mad； foolish； weak； silly； out of his mind。 He
would lose his influence； he would forfeit the favour and good opinion
of all among whom he had lived。 But none of these things moved him。 He
left the court and joined the slaves！
Let us think again； what a choice this was！
There are few things more powerful than ridicule and scorn。 It can do
far more than open enmity and persecution。 Many a man who would march
up to a cannon's mouth； or lead a forlorn hope； or storm a breach； has
found it impossible to face the mockery of a few panions； and has
flinched from the path of duty to avoid it。 To be laughed at！ To be
made a joke of！ To be jested and sneered at！ To be reckoned weak and
silly！ To be thought a fool！There is nothing grand in all this； and
many； alas； cannot make up their minds to undergo it！
Yet here is a man who made up his mind to it； and did not shrink from
the trial。 Moses saw reproach and scorn before him； and he chose them；
and accepted them for his portion。
Such then were the things that Moses chose： afflictionthe pany of
a despised peopleand scorn。
Set down beside all this； that Moses was no weak； ignorant； illiterate
person； who did not know what he was about。 You are specially told he
was 〃mighty in words and in deeds；〃 and yet he chose as he did！ （Acts
vii。 22。）
Set down； too； the circumstances of his choice。 He was not obliged to
choose as he did。 None pelled him to take such a course。 The things
he took up did not force themselves upon him against his will。 He went
after them； they did not e after him。 All that he did； he did of his
own free choicevoluntarily； and of his own accord。
And then judge whether it is not true that his choices were as
wonderful as his refusals。 Since the world began； I suppose； none ever
made such a choice as Moses did in our text。
III。 And now let me go on to a third thing：let me speak of the
principle which moved Moses； and made him do as he did。
How can this conduct of his be accounted for？ What possible reason can
be given for it？ To refuse that which is generally called good； to
choose that which is monly thought evil； this is not the way of
flesh and blood。 This is not the manner of man； this requires some
explanation。 What will that explanation be？
We have the answer in the text。 I know not whether its greatness or its
simplicity is more to be admired。 It all lies in one little word； and
that word is 〃faith。〃
Moses had faith。 Faith was the mainspring of his wonderful conduct。
Faith made him do as he did； choose what he chose； and refuse what he
refused。 He did it all because he believed。
God set before the eyes of his mind His own will and purpose。 God
revealed to him that a Saviour was to be born of the stock of Israel；
that mighty promises were bound up in these children of Abraham； and
yet to be fulfilled； that the time for fulfilling a portion of these
promises was at hand； and Moses put credit in this； and believed。 And
every step in his wonderful career； every action in his journey through
life after leaving Pharaoh's courthis choice of seeming evil； his
refusal of seeming goodall； all must be traced up to this fountain；
all will be found to rest on this foundation。 God had spoken to him；
and he had faith in God's word。
He believed that God would keep His promisesthat what He had said He
would surely do； and what He had covenanted He would surely perform。
He believed that with God nothing was impossible。 Reason and sense
might say that the deliverance of Israel was out of the question： the
obstacles were too many； the difficulties too great。 But faith told
Moses that God was all…sufficient。 God had undertaken the work； and it
would be done。
He believed that God was all wise。 Reason and sense might tell him that
his line of action was absurd； that he was throwing away useful
influence； and destroying all chance of benefiting his people； by
breaking with Pharaoh's daughter。 But faith told Moses that if God said
〃Go this way；〃 it must be the best。
He believed that God was all merciful。 Reason and sense might hint that
a more pleasant manner of deliverance might be found； that some
promise might be effected； and many hardships be avoided。 But faith
told Moses that God was love； and would not give His people one drop of
bitterness beyond what was absolutely needed。
Faith was a telescope to Moses。 It made him see the goodly land afar
offrest； peace； and victory； when dim…sighted reason could only see
trial and barrenness； storm and tempest； weariness and pain；
Faith was an interpreter to Moses。 It made him pick out a fortable
meaning in the dark mands of God's handwriting； while ignorant sense
could see nothing in it but mystery and foolishness。
Faith told Moses that all this rank and greatness was of the earth；
earthy； a poor； vain； empty thing； frail； fleeting； and passing away；
and that there was no true greatness like that of serving God。 He was
the king； he the true nobleman who belonged to the family of God。 It
was better to be last in heaven than first in hell。
Faith told Moses that worldly pleasures were 〃pleasures of sin。〃 They
were mingled with sin； they led on to sin； they were ruinous to the
soul； and displeasing to God。 It would be small fort to have
pleasure while God was against him。 Better suffer and obey God； than be
at ease and sin。
Faith told Moses that these pleasures after all were only for a
〃season。〃 They could not last； they were all short…lived； they would
weary him soon； he must leave them all in a few years。
Faith told him that there was a reward in heaven for the believer far
richer than the treasures in Egypt； durable riches； where rust could
not corrupt； nor thieves break through and steal。 The crown there would
be incorruptible； the weight of glory would be exceeding and
eternal；and faith bade him look away to an unseen heaven if his eyes
were dazzled with Egyptian gold。
Faith told Moses that affliction and suffering were not real
evils。They were the school of God； in which He trains the children of
grace for glorythe medicines which are needful to purify our corrupt
willsthe furnace which must burn away our drossthe knife which must
cut the ties that bind us to the world。
Faith told Moses that the despised Israelites were the chosen people of
God。 He believed that to them belonged the adoption； and the covenant；
and the promises； and the glory； that of them the seed of the woman was
one day to be born； who should bruise the serpent's head； that the
special blessing of God was upon them； that they were lovely and
beautiful in His eyesand that it was better to be a doorkeeper among
the people of God than to reign in the palaces of wickedness。
Faith told Moses that all the reproach and scorn poured out on him was
〃the reproach of Christ〃；that it was honourable to be mocked and
despised for Christ's sakethat whoso persecuted Christ's people was
persecuting Christ Himselfand that the day must e when His enemies
would bow before Him and lick the dust。 All this； and much more； of
which I cannot speak particularly； Moses saw by faith。 These were the
things he believed； and believing； did what he did。 He was persuaded of
them； and embraced themhe reckoned them as certaintieshe regarded
them as substantial veritieshe counted them as sure as if he had seen
them with his own eyeshe acted on them as realitiesand this made
him the man that he was。 He had faith。 He believed。
Marvel not that he refused greatness； riches； and pleasure。He looked
far forward。 He saw with the eye of faith kingdoms crumbling into
dustriches taking to themselves wings and fleeing awaypleasures
leading on to death and judgmentand Christ only and His little flock
enduring for ever。
Wonder not that he chose affliction； a despised people； and
reproach。He beheld things below the surface。 He saw with the eye of
faith affliction lasting but for a momentreproach rolled away； and
ending in everlasting honourand the despised people of God reigning
as kings with Christ in glory。
And was he not right？ Does he not speak to us； though dead； this very
day？ The name of Pharaoh's daughter has perished； or at any rate is
extremely doubtful。The city where Pharaoh reigned is not known。The
treasures in Egypt are gone。But the name of Moses is known wherever
the Bible is read； and is still a standing witness that 〃whoso liveth
by faith； happy is he。〃
IV。 And now let me wind up all by trying to set forth in order some
practical lessons； which appear to me to follow； as legitimate
consequences； from this history of Moses。
What has all this to do with us？ some men will say。 We do not live in
Egyptwe have seen no miracleswe are not Israeliteswe are weary of
the subject。
Stay a little； if this be the thought of your heart； and by God's help
I will show you that all may learn here； and all may be instructed。 He
that would live a Christian life； and be a really holy man； let him
mark the history of Moses and get wisdom。
（1） For one thing； if you would ever be saved； you must make the choice
that Moses madeyou must choose God before the world。
Mark well what I say。 Do not overlook this； though all the rest be
forgotten。 I do not say that the statesman must throw up his office；
and the rich man forsake his property。 Let no one fancy that I mean
this。 But I say； if a man would be saved； whatever be his rank in life；
he must be prepared for tribulation。 He must make up his mind to choose
much which seems evil； and to give up and refuse much which seems good。
I dare say this sounds strange language to some who read these pages。 I
know well you may have a certain form of religion； and find no trouble
in your way。 There is a mon； worldly kind of Christianity in this
day； which many have； and think they have enougha cheap Christianity
which offends nobody； and is worth nothing。 I am not speaking of
religion of this kind。
But if you really are in earnest about your soulif your religion is
something more than a mere fashionable Sunday cloakif you are
determined to live by the Bibleif you are resolved to be a New
Testament Christian； then； I repeat； you will soon find you must carry
a c