Faith Under Fire: Moses' Mother's Courageous Choice
When Evil Decrees Target the Innocent
In ancient Egypt, a terrifying decree went forth: all Hebrew baby boys were to be thrown into the Nile to drown. This ruthless population control was designed to suppress the growing Israelite community that Pharaoh viewed as a threat.
Into this dark reality, a son was born to a Levite woman named Jochebed. Seeing her beautiful child, she hid him for three months. But when she could conceal him no longer, she made a crucial decision that would alter history.
A Mother's Extraordinary Faith
Instead of surrendering to hopelessness, Jochebed waterproofed a small basket, placed her baby inside, and set it among the reeds of the Nile—the very river meant to be her child's grave. Her daughter Miriam watched from a distance to see what would happen.
This wasn't reckless abandonment but an act of profound faith. Hebrews 11:23 tells us, "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, ...and they were not afraid of the king's commandment."
God honored this faith in remarkable ways. Pharaoh's own daughter discovered the child, was moved with compassion, and decided to adopt him. Through Miriam's quick thinking, Jochebed was even hired as the baby's nurse, allowing her to raise her son during his formative years.
Lessons for Today's Challenges
What can we learn from Jochebed's example?
- Fear God above earthly rulers. Like the Hebrew midwives before her, Jochebed prioritized obedience to God over fear of Pharaoh.
- Trust God with what's most precious. Sometimes protecting what we love most means releasing it into God's care.
- Make the most of limited influence. Jochebed couldn't raise Moses to adulthood in her home, but she maximized the time she had, instilling values that would later lead him to choose "to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25).
- Remember, God works behind the scenes. What appeared to be a death sentence became the very means of Moses' preparation to deliver Israel.
The God Who Sees
None of us face exactly what Jochebed faced, but many today feel caught between competing influences over their children—whether through difficult family circumstances, cultural pressures, or systems that oppose biblical values.
Like Jochebed, we must use whatever influence we have to instill God's truth in the next generation, trusting that His hand remains on their lives even when they're beyond our direct care.
🔥 Dive deeper into this powerful story through our verse-by-verse Bible teaching. Our expository preaching helps you understand and apply God's Word to your daily life. Click here to listen to the full sermon on Jochebed's faith 📚