“And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months.”- Exodus 2:1-2
I wonder if we as women are influencing our families, our generations, the next generations, and history. Are we surrendering what we treasure the most to the will of God, or are we selfishly holding on?
There is a great woman in the Bible whose faith was unbelievable. We know her by the name of Jochebed, the mother of Moses. She influenced history by surrendering what she adored most to the will of God. She made such a huge sacrifice to save her son that most of us probably overlook.
In the Bible, the meaning of someone’s name tells something of significance about their character. Jochebed is no exception. Her name means ‘Jehovah glorified’. What an awesome thing! Her name suggests that God used her to save the child who eventually became the man He also used to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage.
Despite the meaning of the name and her role as Moses’ mother, most people do not think of Jochebed when they think about the champions of faith since the two main references to her, on the surface, seem insignificant. They are found in Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:59.
Why would God want us to know what seems to be a wedding announcement? But, looking closer, we see that Jochebed lived in Egypt, and she had two children – a daughter and a son. When Jochebed had her first two children, there was no need to hide them. Then we read the account of Moses’ birth in Exodus 2, where Jochebed became pregnant a third time; the situation had changed.
The Pharaoh of Egypt decreed that all male children of the Israelites should be killed since they were becoming too numerous, and he was worried they would ally with his enemies. But by faith, Jochebed concealed her son for three months. Then, she made an ark of bulrushes and sealed it with asphalt and pitch, laid her son in it, and set it adrift on the Nile River, trusting in her faith.
Friends, the Pharaoh’s daughter, found baby Moses floating in the basket of bulrushes and had compassion for him. She adopted him as her own son even though she knew he was one of the Hebrew’s children. God, in all His awesomeness, arranged it in such a way that Jochebed was chosen to be the baby’s nurse, assisting in feeding and raising him. What an awesome God we serve. Jochebed’s faith was rewarded in an unimaginable way. What about yours? What reward are you trusting Him for?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive us for losing love, faith, and self-control when faced with fears. We want to be bold in Your purpose for us and not panic but pray and trust You. As we nurture our relationship with You, Lord, we know that we will be equipped to go forward in all situations in faith. We totally rely on You, knowing that we can do all through Christ who strengthens us. We continually delight in Your presence, strength, and Word, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Read: Exodus 2:8-10; Hebrews 11:23
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 13:10-19; John 18:1-24; 1 Samuel 21; 1 Samuel 22; 1 Samuel 23
