As we continue to celebrate women in the Bible for Women’s History month, each week I will be featuring women from the Bible that, although they may not be well known or highlighted often, we can learn how they made an eternal impact in the Kingdom. May we, too, be encouraged by their stories to do the same, right now, even while waiting.
What (or who) has God has called you to birth is special, beautiful, and a part of God’s plan. Do you know that? Knowing this truth, does that cause you to pause and consider how you are protecting what you are carrying? I certainly hope so. What lengths would you be willing to go to care for what God has allowed you to birth in this season? What about when He calls you to release it? How will you respond?
Today, we are highlighting a woman who not only risked a lot like Shiphrah and Puah did, the two women we learned about last week, but she also knew that what and who she was carrying was special enough and worth the risk. We are introduced to Moses’ mother in Exodus 2, whose name we later find out is Jochebed (Exodus 6:20). Referred to as a Levite woman (v.1) and living during the time that a king’s edict was issued to murder all the Hebrew baby boys. she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
You must throw every son born to the Hebrews into the Nile, but let every daughter live.
Exodus 1:22, CSB
Unbeknownst to Jochebed, she was carrying the next one God had chosen to deliver His people. Yet, she knew that who she was carrying was special and beautiful (Exodus 2:2), so much so that she took a risk and kept the baby in hiding for 3 months. We later find out that this special child is Moses, named by Pharaoh’s daughter. She went to great lengths to protect who she had birthed hidden. However, when she could no longer hide him, she made a decision to release him and put him in the same river the king had commanded for every Hebrew baby boy to be thrown in. Yet, she was still fiercely protective of who she had birthed and therefore, she was strategic when she released him, something so very precious to her. She didn’t just place him in the river.
She got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with asphalt and pitch. She placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.
Exodus 2:3, CSB
The material she chose–asphalt, dries and hardens with the sun while papyrus soaks up moisture. This would most likely allow him to float on top of the river since the basket was now weightier as opposed to it being carried away by the current. Not only was she purposeful in what she placed her precious baby in, but she hid among the reeds. Someone was already in position, at the right place and the right time to further carry out God’s plan and to receive what she had been brave enough to release.
Then his sister stood at a distance in order to see what would happen to him.
Exodus 2:4, CSB
This same sister who happened to be in the right place made the suggestion to Pharaoh’s daughter about calling one of the Hebrew women to come and nurse the baby. Now Pharaoh’s daughter could have carried out her father’s orders and thrown the baby away. But she didn’t. God set it up in such a way that the woman who was called to nurse the baby boy was his mother…and she got paid! In Jochebed’s one decision, which involved great risk and where she eventually had to release something she birthed that was very precious to her, we see the hand of God move and His sovereignty. As a result of her willingness to release this baby, the return was far greater not only for her, but for God’s people at large. Moses went on to become the next deliverer God had chosen as His leader to lead the people of God out of Egypt and out of slavery.
So I ask you again, sis:
Do you know what you are carrying, and how special it is, as a part of God’s plan?
What lengths are you willing to go to protect it?
When the time comes for you to release it, will you trust God with the outcome?
Trust that the rewards and returns of releasing what He has caused you to birth in the earth are far greater than what He is calling you to release in this season.
But before you go…
***Tomorrow is not promised. Today is all we have. If you are reading this and haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior, would you consider doing so right now? Jesus died so He could have a personal relationship with you and so that one day, when you leave this earth, you can spend eternity with Him. You can say a prayer similar to this:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. You showed Your great love for me, while I was in my sinful state, by sending Jesus Christ to die for me. Today, right now, I declare that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. Please enter into my heart, Lord Jesus, forgive me of all of my sins, and seal me with Your Holy Spirit. I choose this day to live for You, all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you said this prayer (or something similar) and you truly meant it, welcome to the family of God! Angels in heaven are rejoicing with you on the best decision you will ever make in life, and so am I! Please send me an email (ladyinwaiting222@gmail.com) or respond to this post so I can celebrate with you!
Genesis 2:22, NLT
Scripture references: The Holy Bible (NLT, CSB)
References: Blueletterbible.org
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Lady In Waiting 222 