“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:26-27)

As long as we are in the flesh (in a human body), we are not completely beyond being deceived by the sin that dwells in our flesh (in our soul). (See Romans 7:17-18.) That is, as long as we walk upon this earth, the old man (even though he has been crucified and has no authority over the new man) is still around and is always trying to trip up the new man and have the new man yield to unrighteousness.

This apparent weakness in our flesh (our soul; see Romans 7:15-24) is manifested most acutely in the face of severe persecution, even persecution unto death. When it appears that we may receive great bodily suffering by or through persecution of the enemy for our faith; then true commitment comes to light in the one being tested, if he possesses true commitment. We have an innate desire in our flesh to live and protect self above all things. Therefore, when bodily harm is detected because of persecution for the testimony of Christ; then the old man tries his best to lead the new man to recant the Faith to avoid great suffering in the flesh, even to avoid death. It is what is called “a natural response.”

The old man is very deceptive in a child of God’s life. He puts forth many excuses to avoid resistance. We see an example of this in Moses. As God commanded him to go back to Egypt and face Pharaoh to let Israel go out of bondage, and to bring them to the Promise Land, Moses’ first objection was “…Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh…?” (Exodus 3:11).

Forty years before this, Moses had killed an Egyptian trying to defend an Israelite and had to flee Egypt from the wrath of the Pharaoh. Moses had been raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter in the house of Pharaoh. Now he had spent the last 40 years as a shepherd in the desert. Moses was saying: God, who am I? I am a nobody now. I have no power, no army, no money, nothing. God met his objection in verse 12 by telling Moses, “I will be with thee.” Who better to have with you than the God of the Universe (the Creator, Controller, and Consummator of all things)?

Moses’ second objection was: Who shall I tell the Israelites has sent me? “…What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” (verse 13). God met this objection by telling Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” (verse 14). I am God, and there is none else, I am Jehovah, Joshua, Jesus, the Deliverer.

The third excuse Moses had was, “…But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee” (Exodus 4:1). The Lord met this objection by giving Moses three great signs to prove that He would be with Moses. First, his rod became a serpent, and then was turned back into a rod. Second, his hand turned leprous, and then was healed. Third, the river water shall turn to blood.

Moses’ fourth objection is found in 4:10, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent… I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” Then in verse 11, God reminded Moses. “…Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” And in verse 12, God says, “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

Moses’ fifth objection is in verse 13, “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.” Then God showed Moses it would be Aaron, Moses’ brother, who would go with him and speak for him.

Moses did go to Egypt and God used him to deliver the Nation of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. In the course of the next forty years of Moses’ life, as deliverer of Israel, his flesh suffered greatly from without and even from within, as Israel rebelled and rebelled against him and finally caused him to sin against God. That kept Moses from going over to the Promise Land.

These objections that Moses’ old man placed before God, and then God’s answers, and Moses’ submission and obedience to God’s Command, and Moses fulfilling the Purpose of God and delivering the Children of Israel out of bondage; these tell the story of Victory in God.

The actions and results prove that God had worked true commitment in Moses, prior to Moses’ submission and obedience to God’s Command.

However, as you read the life of Moses from birth to death, the old man attempted to stop the Purpose of God from coming about. But true commitment, which has its roots in the Sovereign Plan and Power of God, cannot be stopped.

True commitment always leads to submission to God and obedience, even in the midst of the objections of the flesh, even in the midst of imminent danger, even sure death.

The truth of the matter is that the objections of the flesh only prove to be a darkness that reveal the Beauty of Grace (of Christ living in you).

(Hebrews 11:26)  “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

(Hebrews 11:27)  “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

True commitment allows you to see (by faith) what are true riches; the reward of Christ, the Inheritance, the New Birth, being brought into God’s Presence to behold His Glory and to be made one in Him (John 14:3; 17:21-24; Galatians 3:13-18).

When the Reproach of Christ (tribulations, persecutions, or the sufferings for His Name’s sake) is revealed to you to be “greater riches” that the treasures of Egypt (or of this world); then submission and obedience to Christ will be the result. Then true commitment will have its reward. That is, Victory in the midst of the Valley of Baca (tears), Victory over the fiery furnace, and victory over the lions’ mouths.

Reader, do you have true commitment in your spirit? Are you living Victory in Christ? If not, examine yourself. Read 2 Corinthians 13:3-6, as Paul commends himself to the Corinthians; see especially verse 5:

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Look at your attitude, your actions, and your attire. Look at your walk, your words, and your works. Are you running from God’s Will and Commands? Or are you running in His Will and Commands, depending upon Him for the Victory?

Are you in the state of objecting or making excuses to God today? Or are you saying: “Yes, yes, here am I. Send me”?

Which is it? Only you can answer this question.

If you find, after examination, that you are not in persecution, that there is no resistance from the wicked ones of this world to your walk and witness of Christ; if you know you are not submitted and obeying God wherein He has called you – then stop. Fall on your knees and cry out to God for wisdom, mercy, and power to perform.

If after examination, you find you are being persecuted, tried by the fire; and yet you have no Victory, as Daniel and other of God’s people have had and do have in tribulation; then it could be you have gone up on your own and God is not with you. If this is the case, fall on your knees and cry out to God for mercy (Luke 18:13). Ask God to reveal the problem.

Moses said, “…If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence” (Exodus 33:15).

This is what happened to Israel when they went up against Ai and were defeated. It was because of sin in the camp. (Read Joshua 6 and 7.) So, you may be regenerated, doing what God said to do; and yet you have no victory. It may be because sin is in the camp. Therefore, carry out 1 John 1:7-9. Confess your faults before God; turn from your wicked way; and then Victory will be yours again.

Reader, only you can answer: Do you possess True Commitment?

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.