E. L. Frazier asks an explanation of the remark that "Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt" (Heb. 11:26). His question is, "How could he at that time choose between Christ and the treasures of Egypt?" [332]

      Among the many attempts to explain this clause, I think that the following is the best. Moses knew that if he should acknowledge himself a Hebrew, thus renouncing his supposed relationship to Pharaoh's daughter, and should he espouse the cause of his oppressed countrymen, he would incur extreme reproach at the hand of all his former friends and admirers; but when he looked to the final "recompense of reward" he accounted that reproach greater riches--that is, a greater source of enjoyment--than the treasures of Egypt. He did not have Christ in his mind; but the writer of the Epistle, seeing the identity in principle of this self-sacrifice with that which Christ had undergone, styles it, from his own point of view, and not from that of Moses, the reproach of Christ. The voluntary acceptance of reproach instead of great riches was so pre-eminently characteristic of Christ, that any similar choice might be styled the reproach of Christ. Moses stands pre-eminent among men for this most Christlike choice.

[SEBC 332-333]