Austin Bible Church
Moses applied five grace principles in making his decision to identify with his people instead of Egypt. Remember, Moses was the heir to the throne of Egypt and would have been one of the greatest Pharaohs of all time. Heb. 11:24-26.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26, NASB)
The phrase “By faith” refers to the process of making a decision used by Moses. He was in fellowship and used faith-rest. In decision making, make sure you are in fellowship and thus filled with the Holy Spirit.
The phrase “refused to be called” refers to decision making. In making a decision, one must be able to refuse and choose. This is thinking divine viewpoint versus human viewpoint. This is application of epignosis Bible doctrine in the right lobe of the soul. Many people cannot make a decision because they cannot refuse. They want the best of two worlds.
In Hebrews 11:24-26, “choosing rather” refers to Moses in considering the facts, he took in the panorama of the consequences of his decision. At the point the decision, he may have looked very foolish to some, but time bore out the wisdom of his decision. Moses was spiritually self-sufficient and was responsible for his own actions.
The phrase “considering the reproach of Christ” means that Moses was in fellowship and considered all the angles. He had epignosis in the right lobe of his soul and knew the will of God meant much more than all the glitter in Egypt. Being a believer does not rule out thinking. “For he was looking” means that when Moses finally made the decision to identify with his own people, it was with eternity’s values in view.
“By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” (Hebrews 11:27, NASB)
In Hebrews 11:27, the phrase “he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” refers to the world that Moses could see by faith was more real to him than the world he could see by rationalism and empiricism.
The Greek Verbs “To Do”
The word “do” comes from three different Greek words. Κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) means something on the inside working itself to the outside. Πράσσω (prassō) means to practice something therefore to do it. Ποιέω (poieō) means “to do” as the only legitimate translation.
All through the Pauline epistles, poieō is used for the believer committing sin. Prassō is used when an unbeliever sins. The difference between the two verbs is one of category, not relativity. When the believer is under the control of their old sin nature, they imitate the unbeliever.
In Romans 7:15, katergazomai, prassō, and poieō are used.
“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15, NASB)
In Romans 7:16, Romans 7:21 and Galatians 5:17, poieō is used.
“But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.” (Romans 7:16, NASB)
“I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.” (Romans 7:21, NASB)
“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” (Galatians 5:17, NASB)
In Romans 7:18, katergazomai is used in “the doing of the good.”
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” (Romans 7:18, NASB)
In Romans 7:19, both prassō and poieō are used.
“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (Romans 7:19, NASB)
In Romans 7:20, both katergazomai and poieō are used.
“But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” (Romans 7:20, NASB)
In Galatians 5:21, prassō is used.
“envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21, NASB)
When you make a decision, you should never look back. Just keep on moving forward. Don’t shift back and forth and muse, “Now did I or did I not make a right decision?” Moses made the right decision – the divine viewpoint decision.