We often think of superheroes in terms of what they can do. But one of the great markers of our superheroes is what they refuse to do. Luke Skywalker refuses to give in to the dark side. Batman refuses to ignore injustice. Heroes separate themselves from villains because they refuse to use their strengths solely for their own gain at the cost of others.
Moses is regarded as one of the great heroes of the faith. He had his flaws and his setbacks. But he refused earthly riches, and instead chose to serve God. He chose to be mistreated with God’s people over a comfortable and profitable association with Pharaoh.
Why would Moses refuse such things? Because “He was looking ahead to his reward.” Moses was making an eternal investment that would last. He chose the permanence of heavenly treasures rather than the “fleeting pleasures of sin.” He had the eyes of faith to see beyond this life.
Moses had readily available to him the riches of this world, the promises of the flesh. He refused them. He knew they would not last. They were “fleeting.”
Moses is a faith superhero because he placed his trust in God for a reward he could not see. He sought treasure in heaven. At great cost to himself, in service of others, and in faith that the rewards of righteousness outweigh the fleeting promises of the flesh.
Each day we must choose whom we trust. What do we believe? What reward will we seek, and what reward will we refuse? It is an exercise of the most heroic resource available to us – our faith. God commanded Moses, He also commands us to follow Him.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
– Hebrews 11:25-26