The Mother’s of Moses

Day 1
The Mother’s of Moses

Jochebed-

Her name means “The Lord is Glory”

Her Character: Her fierce love for her son, coupled with her faith, enabled her to act heroically in the midst of great oppression

Her Sorrow: To live in bondage as a slave.

Her Joy: That God not only preserved the son she surrendered to him but that he restored her child to her.

Key Scriptures Exodus 2:1 - 10; Hebrews 11:23

Pharaoh’s Daughter

Her Character: The Jewish people honor men and women whom they designate as “righteous Gentiles.”

Those are people who have assisted the Jewish people in some significant way. Surely Pharaoh’s daughter should top the list of righteous Gentiles, courageously and compassionately delivering a child from death, a child who would one day act as Israel’s great deliverer.

Her Sorrow: That her adopted son eventually had to flee his home in Egypt in order to escape Pharaoh’s wrath.

Exodus 2:1 - 10

Moses Is Born

1 And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

Day 2
Joy and Fear.

Oftentimes I think of how lucky I am to live in America and be amongst the most wealthy of the world. There are times when I have had to fear for my children. High fevers, illnesses, when they’ve run out into the street, fallen or been hurt. To bring new life into an environment where that life was not welcome would be very hard. To fear every time you hear a footstep to the door. To tremble when you hear nearby neighbors wailing at the loss of their child. I could not imagine such a fear. Jochebed believed in the promises, she trusted God. Although she was a slave, she was also a Levite. She belonged to a line of those who received a promise. She belonged to the God of Abraham. How amazing that the midwives feared God as well. That they did not join with the evil of Pharaoh. To trust fully that his life would be spared once placed in the basket. That fear must have dissolved the moment her daughter returned with news that she were to be the nursemaid for her own son. What joy to know that her son had been spared. That a small and insignificant thing (a basket) saved his life. Her ingenuity, strength, courage, faith and praise should inspire all of us. As two women, a slave and a princess were used to save the life of a future deliverer of his people.

A basket, made from the simplest of things, was used to save a life. You will find several uses for such a simple thing in the scriptures. The priests used baskets to carry bread and wafers for their time of worship at the tabernacle, the disciples used 12 of them to gather up all the leftovers of the feeding of five thousand. Paul escaped out a window in Damascus using a tall basket.

God uses the ordinary in times when the ordinary is the only thing available. God is a miracle maker. He doesn’t need the best of the best, he needs a servant that is willing to use whatever it takes.


Day 3
Exodus 2:1-10 (see day 1)

In your own words, try to describe the events in verses 1 and 2. Think about things that are not readily obvious. How did they keep the baby quiet? If neighbors heard the cries, what do you think they would have done? What if a neighbor heard the cries that had just lost a newborn to Pharaohs decrees? Why could Jochebed “hide him no longer” after 3 months?

How do you think you would have reacted in these circumstances? Like Jochebed or like the other mothers that were mourning the death of their newborn sons?

How do you think Jochebed felt as she walked away from the river? Think about her faith, to carefully prepare the basket for travel on the river, was her faith what carried her through?

What is most obvious about Pharaohs daughter in verses 5 and 6?

Why do you suppose she was allowed to disobey her fathers harsh edict?

Comparing verses 9 and 10, what conflicting emotions do you think Jochebed must have felt?

“he [Moses] became her son”, what is the significance of these words?

What purpose of God was at work here?

Dear Lord,
We have been given a piece of history that moves our hearts, it causes us to reach deep with in and wrestle with faith and flesh. Most of us mothers, aunts, grandparents, some of us fathers, it has given us a new outlook on how fragile life is under the rule of one who does not follow you. We are so blessed. It makes me wonder why I was born an American, what purpose do you have for me here instead of a part of the world where these type of things still happen. I praise you that my worries for my children are minor compared to a daily fear of losing my child to death. This week, I was especially sensitive to your word as you healed my daughters mysterious lump in her cheek. I am in awe of you and pray that I can work out your purpose in my life. I am thanking you especially today for the life of Jamison and how he has beaten all the odds and how you have strengthened faith through his life. You are amazing, I could go on all day praising you. Amen

Today, if you have the time, respond with a praise that has come to mind while reading this devotional.

Day 4

Hebrews 11:23
By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

This verse says Moses’ mother and gather acted “by faith.” Their one goal was to protect and save their child. Fear for our children’s safety - for their spiritual and physical lives - seems an inescapable part of parenting (or being an aunt, uncle or grandparent). What part does faith play in child rearing? What is your greatest fear for your child? How can you “by faith” respond to your fears?

If you do not yet have children, think of another special person you may be fearing for, maybe a sibling, friend, co-worker.

Dear Lord, we are all your children and I pray we have enough faith to know you truly are in control and that we must be willing to lay it all down at your feet. If we are parenting how you guide us, our children should have the truth in them no matter what happens in their life. Lord we pray that you become such a major relationship in our life, that we care so much to make sure you are happy with all we do. That you will be their when fear sets in and say, “hey, I’m here, I’ll take care of it.”

Day 5
Legacy of Prayer

Exodus 2:3
But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.

Reflect on Exodus 2:1-10

Praise God that even the worst enemies we encounter are weak compared to him.

Offer thanks for God’s power to save.

Confess any failure to trust God with the lives of our children

Ask God to help you be an encouragement to another mother who is concerned about her children’s well-being.