John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 11:24

"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh`s daughter;" — Hebrews 11:24 (ASV)

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, etc. The example of Moses ought to have been remembered by the Jews more than that of any other, for through him they were delivered from bondage, and the covenant of God was renewed with them, and the constitution of the Church established by the publication of the Law. But if faith is to be considered as the main thing in Moses, it would be very strange and unreasonable that he should draw them away to anything else. From this it follows that all who are not guided by the Law to faith show little proficiency in it.

Let us now see what the things are for which he commends the faith of Moses. The first excellence he mentions is that when he was grown up, he disregarded his adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter. He refers to his age, for if he had done this as a boy, it might have been attributed to his frivolity or his ignorance. Since understanding and reason are not strong in children, they heedlessly rush headlong into any course of life; young people also are often carried here and there by thoughtless enthusiasm. So that we may then know that he did nothing thoughtlessly or without long deliberation, the Apostle says that he was of mature age, which is also evident from history.

But he is said to have disregarded his adoption; for when he visited his kinsmen, when he tried to relieve them, when he avenged their wrongs, he fully proved that he preferred to return to his own nation rather than to remain in the king’s court: it was then the same as a voluntary rejection of it. This the Apostle ascribes to faith, for it would have been much better for him to remain in Egypt if he had not been persuaded of the blessing promised to the race of Abraham. Of this blessing, the only witness was God’s promise, for he could see nothing of the kind with his eyes. From this it appears that he beheld by faith what was far removed from his sight.