October 9, 2023 — What IF…?

What if Jochebed Wasn’t Clever and Didn’t Hide Moses?

“The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.” Numbers 26:59

“Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. Then she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:1-10

To Amram and Jochebed were born three children each of whom became renowned. There was Moses, who became one of the greatest national leaders for the Israelites—he was the Prophet’s prophet. There was Aaron, who became Israel’s first high priest and the founder of the Aaronic priesthood – and the mouthpiece for Moses. And there was Miriam, the gifted poetess and musician, who was intimately associated with her two brothers in the history of Israel. It could have been a much more difficult beginning for this young family if not for the cleverness of their mother Jochebed. If it were not for her quick thinking, Moses would have been killed. Because the Hebrews living as slaves in Egypt were becoming so numerous, Pharaoh had decreed to all the people that “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.” (Exodus 1:22) Jochebed is able to hide their first-born son, Moses, for three months. In desperation, she built a papyrus basket and sealed it with pitch (sounds a lot like a miniature ark of Noah) and sets him in the Nile. In her quick thinking she saves her son from certain death, and he becomes one of the greatest prophets in Israel.

Sometimes our faith calls us to think quickly: in times of danger, in times of urgency, and to cleverness when we face difficult challenges. When we pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us, these decisions become more faith centered – but not always less challenging.

Pastor Dave