Editor’s note: The Book of Hebrews reminds New Testament Christians of Moses, who lived a life on the run and in the wilderness. While most humans try to improve their lives by seeking better circumstances, Moses consciously chose a downward trajectory, associating himself with God’s people instead of the palace life in which he was raised. Moses decided to live in the wilderness, and in this choice he gives us a picture of Christ, who would surrender heaven to live in earthly wilderness. Hebrews was written to encourage Christians living in the wilderness, which is an apt description for the way many Chinese Christians feel these days. But every Christian, no matter where or when they live, can experience heavenly life even in the wilderness of earthly struggle.

This is the second of a three-part series based on the story of Moses in the Book of Hebrews. Part One appeared last week, and we will run Part Three next week.

“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.” (Heb. 11:23-28)

Moses’s Decision

According to historian Josephus, Moses might have been the only prince in Pharaoh’s court. It is said that Moses once conquered the Ethiopian army for Pharaoh, then returned to Egypt receiving the people’s glory and cheers. The Book of Acts describes him like this: “And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.”

Moses was well-versed in Egypt’s wisdom, and skilled in combat and military strategy. His career in the Egyptian palace was illustrious, and he had a promising future. But Moses’s deepest identity was not an Egyptian prince: it was that of an Israelite slave.

Moses decided to “run” down. He settled on a downward path in life, choosing “rather to be mistreated with the people of God.”

A slave spent a lifetime of hopelessness carrying bricks for Pharaoh. But a prince could achieve great things and make a name for himself. He might even be able to help the Israelites from within the palace. If you had this choice, how would you decide?

Moses made his choice: he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The saying goes, “People climb up, water flows down.”[1] Humans naturally want to constantly move up to better circumstances. Yet Moses decided to “run” down. He settled on a downward path in life, choosing “rather to be mistreated with the people of God.”

Moses went from the palace to the wilderness; from a prince to a shepherd. His life was re-set and stripped bare. In the wilderness of Midian, all Moses’s training and knowledge amounted to nothing.

Moses’s Downward Life

Have you ever experienced a re-set? Many people want to run away from this, because they are afraid to have everything they have accumulated liquidated. They are afraid to start over. But the Bible tells us “Moses was content to dwell with the man.”

Our problem is we are often discontent. Yet whether he was a prince or a shepherd, Moses was content. Moses did not remain in the wilderness for just a year or two. He spent 40 years tending sheep. Why was Moses able to face the wilderness in his life with contentment? The author of Hebrews summarizes: “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead 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.”

Moses was content because he saw things differently. When facing the choice between treasure and reproach, Moses thought the reproach of Christ was more valuable. The secret was seeing Christ.

In the original text of Hebrews, the word for “Christ” is actually “anointed one.” Moses did not directly see Jesus; he saw the anointed one in God’s promise. In the glory of the palace, Moses saw Christ’s humiliation as precious. It was so precious that Moses was willing to give up power and glory so he could draw near to the humiliated Christ.

The Secret of Faith

What subversive faith! Why would anyone consider disgrace more valuable than a palace’s glory and power? Because Moses saw the way of Christ, a way that led through the wilderness. Seeing the humiliation of Christ is seeing Christ in the wilderness. This Christ suffered for his people, was rejected by the world, and was stripped bare and devoid of glory on the cross.

Moses’s life was marked by unconventional choices. Because he possessed an unconventional faith, he ran down, not up. Because he saw the invisible God, he considered disgrace for Christ more valuable than Egypt’s treasures.

We are not sure when Moses saw the humiliation of Christ, but it might have been in his vision of the burning bush. The bush represented God’s vulnerable people who lived in the fiery furnace of Egypt. Although they were engulfed in flames, they were not consumed, for God was with them. Christ, too, became that vulnerable bush, for he also endured searing flames yet remained unconsumed.

Perhaps, in the burning bush, Moses saw Christ endure humiliation for the sake of God’s people. Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God, would suffer alongside his people and endure the anguish of the wilderness.

Faith that Sees the Unseen

Moses’s life was marked by unconventional choices. Because he possessed an unconventional faith, he “ran” down, not up. Because he saw the invisible God, he considered disgrace for Christ more valuable than Egypt’s treasures.

Faith is a gaze, a constant beholding. Moses saw and embraced the invisible and priceless Christ as reality. Acting on this confidence, Moses refused to be known as the prince of Egypt. Instead, he chose to leave the palace and identify with the Israelites, suffering with them and journeying into the wilderness by their side.

Christ in Hebrews

Moses’s wilderness journey is a gospel narrative. His story reflects Christ, for Jesus entered the wilderness when he descended from heaven to earth.

Jesus did not leave behind the glory of an Egyptian palace; he left behind heaven’s majesty, holiness, and glory. The Son of God entered the wilderness on our behalf, facing death for us. He went outside the camp to suffer for us, becoming the scapegoat who was sent into the wilderness on the Day of Atonement.

Moses’s wilderness journey is a gospel narrative. His story reflects Christ, for Jesus entered the wilderness when he descended from heaven to earth.

The Book of Hebrews was written to encourage God’s people as they endured wilderness hardship. Hebrews urges them to fix their eyes on Christ, who died for them, rose again, and ascended into heaven. Jesus has already traversed the desolate path of our wilderness and ascended to heaven. He is the Way; the merciful, faithful High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses and gives his church the power of the age to come.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, that age has already dawned. Even while they are in the wilderness, the Holy Spirit’s life-giving power has already been poured out on God’s people.

Again and again, Hebrews shows us that Jesus is our minister, our High Priest in the true heavenly tabernacle. He knows our struggles and weaknesses; he understands our folly and wanderings. Jesus has brought his people into heaven and has ushered us into the Most Holy Place.

[1] This Chinese proverb reads, “人往高处走，水往低处流” or “Rén wǎng gāo chù zǒu, shuǐ wǎng dī chù liú.”It means that people should never give up trying to improve themselves.

Pastor Yang Xu (a pseudonym) and his wife live in Beijing, and have two children.

Pray for Chinese Christians to see Christ as more precious than the treasures of this world. Pray they will have strength to run “down” and give up worldly goods for the riches of Christ.