Serve Wherever God Places You
Exodus 2:2-3 (NKJV)
“…the woman conceived and bore a son….when she could no longer hide him…she laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.” – Exodus 2:2-3 (NKJV)
A Jewish midwife in Egypt refused to carry out the order given by Pharaoh to kill all the male babies because it was against her spiritual beliefs and moral code of conduct (Exodus 1:17). She determined that the male children should live, thereby honouring and serving God in a hostile environment.
Jochebed, a mother during this same period, gave birth to Moses, a boy child, and also decided not to report him and have him thrown in the river to drown. She planned to save him. She made a basket, placed the child inside it, and put it into the Nile River for someone to find. Jochebed took a risk, but her heart was in the right place, and importantly, she had faith in God. She also sent her daughter, Miriam, to see what would happen to the basket and what would be the fate of the baby boy. The basket was eventually found by the daughter of Pharaoh, who rescued the child and gave him the name “Moses” since she drew him out of the water.
Jochebed had courage in the face of calamity, and she ended up serving in Pharaoh’s palace as a nurse to her son. Thus, she had a direct influence on his growth and development during the most crucial years of his life. She taught him the religious beliefs and values of his ancestors. At the appointed time, he stood up for what was right and eventually became the person who was instrumental in the exodus of the Israelites from the land of Egypt, where they were in bondage.
This account reminds us that while we serve wherever God places us, we really need to be discerning and focused because we do not know who we have in our sphere of influence. Thus, our daily prayer must be: God, open my eyes to see clearly so that I can act wisely and judge correctly. Help me to see who and what You want me to see. Amen.
We must also serve faithfully, knowing that in the face of disaster, there is always a ‘God idea’ to tap into, which leads to a positive outcome and the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
Read: Galatians 6:10; Titus 3:8
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 84:8-12; Romans 1:18-32; 2 Kings 24:8-20; 2 Kings 25
