Trading Treasures: Choosing Faith Over Pharoah’s Fortune

Hebrews 11:23–28 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 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. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.”

Sermon 11 in Series on Hebrews 11

Alternative Titles

· Unbreakable: Moses’ Faith Through Failure and Fire

· Against All Odds: Why Moses Didn’t Give Up on God

· Trading Treasures: Choosing Faith Over Pharaoh’s Fortune

· Real Heroes Are Flawed: The Persevering Faith of Moses

· The Reproach Revolution: Standing Strong When It’s Tough

· Faith That Fights Back: Lessons from Moses When Life Gets Messy

A Four-Point Sermon on Persevering Faith Despite Flaws and Trials

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Holy God,

As we gather now to meditate on Your Word, we invite Your Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds. Grant us wisdom as we look into the example of Moses—a flawed yet faithful servant—and open our eyes to the truths You have for us today. May we be strengthened in our faith and emboldened to follow You with perseverance, despite our weaknesses. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Introduction

When we think of heroes of the faith, we often imagine people who are nearly perfect—giants of virtue, unwavering in spirit, and mighty in their trust of God. But Hebrews 11, sometimes called the “Hall of Faith,” offers us portraits of men and women who, while steadfast, were also profoundly human. Moses, one of the central figures in this chapter, is a prime example. Today, as we explore Hebrews 11:23–28, we will see how Moses’ life shows us that faith perseveres—not in the absence of flaws, doubts, or suffering, but right through them.

Let us anchor ourselves in our passage:

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents… 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… By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king… By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.” (Hebrews 11:23–28, ESV)

Let us draw out four key lessons from Moses’ faith journey.

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Point 1: God Uses Imperfect People (Moral and Character Flaws)

When we study the story of Moses, we are quickly confronted with his imperfections. Not only does the source material remind us that Moses was branded a “murderer,” but it emphasizes how reluctant he was to answer God’s call. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses “hemmed and hawed endlessly,” inventing all sorts of excuses—he was not eloquent, he doubted whether the people would listen, and he hesitated at every turn.

Here is a profound truth: God does not wait for us to be perfect before He calls us. In fact, it is in our weakness and failure that His power is most evident. Moses is described as a “whiner,” someone who did not have it all together, someone who struggled with self-doubt and insecurity. Yet, God persisted. God provided Aaron to assist him, graciously accommodating Moses’ frailties.

This should encourage us. If you have ever felt unqualified, unworthy, or deeply flawed, remember Moses. God is not looking for perfection but for a willing heart—one that, even amid struggle, turns back to Him. God’s grace covers our failures and works through our brokenness to accomplish His plans.

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Point 2: Faith Must Pass Through Doubt and Adversity

Moses did not remain paralyzed by his doubts. The text says he “was not stuck permanently in this ‘hole’ of doubt, but he ‘goes through it.’” He wrestled with the enormity of the task ahead, but God’s presence and patience gradually strengthened him.

Notice how God’s response to Moses’ uncertainty wasn’t harsh rebuke, but gracious condescension—He met Moses where he was, and empowered him for the task. God gave Moses signs, reassured him, and provided Aaron as a helper.

The life of faith is not a linear trajectory upward. Like Moses, we might struggle, question, or even resist God’s call. But faith means moving through the doubt, not being trapped by it. It’s not the absence of struggle that marks a person of faith, but the willingness to persevere through it.

Wherever you find yourself today—full of questions, battered by adversity, unsure of your next step—remember Moses. God’s patience is long, His help is near, and He is able to carry you through your doubts to deeper faith.

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Point 3: The Value of Loyalty and Perseverance

One of the most striking elements in this passage is Moses’ ultimate loyalty. Despite his failures and struggles, “at the end of the day, Moses believed God.” Each time Moses saw God act—at the burning bush, in the plagues, at the Red Sea—his faith grew stronger. Hebrews 11 does not present us with people who “never had problems or never sinned,” but those who “never traded in their faith.” Moses “never shrank back” in his confidence toward God.

The call to persevere is not to be sinless or fearless, but to refuse to abandon faith, regardless of the cost. Moses chose “to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” He preferred the “reproach of Christ” over Egypt’s treasures, because he trusted in a better reward.

This perseverance is what keeps us anchored when storms rage—when persecution comes, when following God is costly, when the way is unclear. Faith that holds tight, that does not give in, is the faith God honors. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, these heroes are commended not for perfection, but for their unwavering loyalty.

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Point 4: Bearing the “Reproach of Christ” and Looking to the Reward

Hebrews 11:26 states, “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” Scholars note that “reproach of Christ” is an anachronism—Moses lived centuries before the Messiah—but the writer deliberately uses this phrase to connect Moses’ suffering to the suffering of Jesus and, by extension, to His followers.

The unity of God’s people across history is in focus here. Moses’ experience of rejection, pain, and persecution is linked to the Messiah, because the Messiah is intimately connected with God’s people. When Moses chose to align himself with his people and bear their burdens, he was, in effect, choosing the path that Christ himself would later walk—a path of suffering for the sake of a greater promise.

For the original readers of Hebrews, under pressure and persecution, this was a word of encouragement: You are not alone. When you bear hardship for the sake of Christ, you stand in the company of Moses and all who have gone before. The reproach of Christ is not shameful; it is a mark of loyalty and points us to an incomparable reward.

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Conclusion: Imitate the Faith That Endures

Moses is not a hero because he was perfect, or fearless, or always faithful. He is a hero because, despite all his doubts, failures, and suffering, he held fast to God’s promises. He believed God, persevered through hardship, and chose loyalty to God over the empty treasures of this world.

The message for us is clear: Faith is not the absence of struggle, but the refusal to let go of God. Like Moses, we are called to press on, trusting in the reward that outshines anything this world can offer.

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Closing Prayer

Faithful God,

We thank You for the testimony of Moses—imperfect, troubled, and yet enduring in faith. May his example inspire us to hold fast to You, to persevere through our doubts, and to count the reproach of Christ as greater riches than anything else. Strengthen us to live with tenacious faith, trusting Your promises even when the journey is long and hard. Fill us now with Your Spirit, that we might follow You boldly, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.