"Faith was a telescope to Moses. It made him seet he goodly land afar off-rest, peace, and victory, when dim-sighted reason could only see trial, barreness, storm andt empst, weariness and pain.
Faith was an interpreter to Moses. It made him pick out a comfortable meaning in the dark commands 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, emty thign, 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 to sin, they were ruinous to the soul, and displeasing to God. It would be small comfort to have pleasure while God was against him. Better suffer and obey God, than be at ease and sin.
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 the glory; the medicines which are needful to purify our corrupt wills; the furnace which must burn away our dross; the knife which must cut the ties that bind us to the world.
Marvel not that he refused greatness, riches, and pleasure. He looked far forward. he saw with the eye of faith kingdoms crumbling into dust, riches making to themselves wings and fleeing away... and only Christ and his little flock enduring forever.
Wonder not that he chose affliction, a despised people and reproach. He beheld thigns below the surface. he saw with the eye of faith affliction lasting but for a moment, reproach rolled away, and ending in everlasting honor, and the despised people of God reigning as kings with Christ in glory.
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 it extremely doubtful. The city where Pharaoh reigned is not known. The treasures of Egypt are gone. But the name of Moses is known wherever the Bible is read, and is still standing a witness that "whoso liveth by faith, happy is he." " - J.C. Ryle's chapter: "Moses" in Holiness
So what is Ryle trying to tell us by looking to Moses' example? He goes on to say...
"For one thing, if you would ever be saved, you must make the choice that Moses made- you must choose God before the world."
Noooo, he's not saying that in the anti-electionary statement! The theme of this book is holiness. God has not called us to impurity but holiness, says Paul in the 1st letter to the Thessalonians: "For this is the will of God, your sanctifcation...For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you." (1Thess. 4:3,7-8)
What then?
So, where does this leave me as a woman, a wife, and a mother? It leaves me to meditate on God's Word and examine my own life, my own heart, to see the parts of the world in which remain in my grasp. I have to seek out where society has warped my worldview, and bend it back towards the Scriptures. I must look at my heart and see if it is inclined to any evil, any worldiness, any thing that would set my affections away from Christ, and strip them away to be able to fully follow Him. I must examine my thoughts and goals and let them go if they are not honoring to my Lord, honoring to my husband, and beneficial to my family, and food for my soul. I must look to the unseen by faith as Moses did to behold the true prize and the true beauty and the true King of my life.
May you read this excerpt from Ryle today and strive to live by faith in obedience as Moses did. Amen.
My next post will be another excerpt from Ryle's book and it is a look at Lot and the fact that "he lingered".
