A Mother's Love

             “Jochebed” is a name most of us won’t recognize.  However, the decisions that she made as a mother are well known.

            Jochebed gave birth to an Israelite son at a time when the Israelites had become slaves in Egypt.  As they grew in number, Pharoah decreed that every male Israelite baby be put to death.  When Jochebed’s son was born, she saw that he was “a fine child” (Exodus 2:2), and she was determined to save his life.

            You probably know the rest of the story.  She placed baby Moses in a basket in the Nile River and sent his big sister to stand watch.  Ultimately, Pharoah’s daughter found the baby, took him into the Palace, and raised him as her son.  Jochebed became the nursemaid for him.

            So, what can we learn from this story?

            First, we must have the courage to stand strong when we face ungodly rulers and laws.  Jochebed knew she was breaking the law when she hid her son, but the greater sin would have been putting him to death.  As the persecution of Christians rises around the world, we must have the faith of Jochebed.  We must stand firm against sin and evil.  We must also trust God even when there seems to be no hope.  That’s what Jochebed did.

            Secondly, we must remember that God’s plans are always superior to ours.  None of us would have voluntarily chosen to raise Moses in Pharoah’s Palace.  However, in doing so, God made sure that he received the best training possible for his future leadership of the Israelites.  As Pharoah’s grandson, he would have been well-educated and taught basic leadership principles that would serve him well in the years to come.  By allowing Jochebed to serve as his nursemaid, God also ensured that Moses would be taught about Yahweh and his Hebrew heritage.  God prepared him well!

            Finally, we need to be looking for ways that God is working even when the future seems bleak.  We don’t know what was on Jochebed’s mind when she placed her baby in that basket in crocodile-infested waters.  Surely, she must have thought that God would work it out.  We don’t know why Pharoah’s daughter didn’t order her servants to kill the baby but rather chose to raise him as her own son.  I like to think that God was working on her heart as well.

            In the grand scheme of things, Jochebed’s role in Moses’ story seems miniscule.  However, God’s plans will not be thwarted.  Our role is to trust Him, just as Jochebed did.  His ways may not always seem logical to us, but He will make His plans known in His timing.  We just need to trust and obey.  That’s what Jochebed did!

Exodus 1: 15 – 22; 2: 1 – 10; & 6: 20