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Joseph and Moses given in Heb. 11: 22-26, for Joseph not only remained in Egypt, but
sat on the throne and received high honour, whereas Moses refused the riches of Egypt
and would not stay in the land. Superficially, therefore, the two examples are not
comparable, but basically they are one, for in their different lines of action both men of
God were actuated "by faith". In Joseph's day, it was a part of the outworking of the
divine plan that a protector should be raised up for Israel who would provide for them an
asylum while they grew in numbers preparatory to their entry into the land. Moses,
however, was born when the close of that preparatory dispensation was imminent. His
office was to lead the prepared people out of Egypt into their inheritance. What therefore
was good and fitting for one would, owing to dispensational purposes, be evil for the
other. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that Joseph appears to have been whole-heartedly
absorbed with the affairs of Egypt, we have it recorded as his great act of faith that
"He made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment
concerning his bones" (Heb. 11: 22).
It is manifest therefore that Joseph, though surrounded with the riches of Egypt, had
his mind on the things that belonged to God and His people, and though he apparently
denied himself nothing, he as surely esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than
the treasures of Egypt, as did Moses after him.
The giving up by the Lord of the glory that was His, and His condescension to human
form and earthly conditions, was the manifestation of that spirit which, in its turn, will
renounce many legitimate pleasures and rights of earthly citizenship, and set its mind on
things above.
We have accomplished little more than indicate the importance of the occurrences of
"mind" in Philippians as a divine comment on Col. 3: 1, 2. But we write for those who
will make these things their own and who do not wish to be deprived of opportunity for
independent search. Accordingly we leave the matter there, trusting that out of the study
of these passages there will come abundant illumination of the exhortation for those
desire it is to "set their mind on things above, not on things on the earth".