Exodus 2:1-10; 6:20; Numbers 26:59; Hebrews 11:6, 23, NKJV
In Exodus 1:8-17 after Joseph’s death, there was a new Egyptian king. He didn’t know about Joseph, his divine blessings, and how God had raised him up to rule over all Egypt, second only in command to Pharaoh. The new king only knew that these foreigners were progressing and had become numerous; he saw them as a threat to the Egyptians. He put taskmasters over the Hebrews, who enslaved them and severely oppressed them. Then he issued an order to the midwives to kill every Hebrew baby boy at birth. They were so numerous that Pharaoh feared they might rise up against him. The midwives, however, feared God and disobeyed Pharaoh’s order, refusing to kill innocent babies.
This passage began with an unidentified man from the house of Levi taking an unidentified daughter of Levi as his wife (v.1). She conceived and had a son. When she saw how beautiful her son was; she was defiant of the Pharaoh’s command and hid him three months (v.2). When she could no longer hide her son, Jochebed (6:20) took him and put him in an ark made of bulrushes and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank (v.3). His big sister stood afar off, keeping watch to know what would be done to him (v.4). Jochebed’s response to her son’s birth was love and hope for a better tomorrow for him. She wanted to keep him alive; therefore, by faith she hid him. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Perhaps she didn’t know what tomorrow held for him, but she did know who held tomorrow.
Watch how God rewarded the mother’s faithfulness. After Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby, Jochebed, who was his mother, became his nurse and received pay for her service. She taught him to love God and be loyal to his own people. That’s what mother’s should do. Jochebed is listed as a hero of the faith (Hebrews 11:23). God’s script was perfectly designed; He stirred Jochebed’s heart to do what she felt was right. He’ll do the same for you. Give God glory and happy mothers’ day.