Jochebed-A love that Conquers.

Exodus 2:1–10 KJV 1900

And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

The story of Moses birth is really a story of three women. Two mothers and two daughters. Pharaoh’s daughter acted as both daughter and mother, Moses mother Jochebed, and sister Miriam. The plot is the journey for the preservation of a young baby boy.

One point that must be made, is that just because the father is not mentioned in the preservation of Moses does not mean that He was absent or that he was uncaring.

The reality is that Moses’s father was a slave and probably had to spend his time working. Therefore the job of concealing and protecting Moses fell upon Jochebed.

Another thought that we should consider is that although Jochebed is the only mother mentioned that sparred her son, it is not to say that she was the only one who attempted it or succeeded at it. Merely it is her story that fits into the Biblical narrative,

In verse 3 we see that she placed Moses in an Ark made of bullrush. The only other time this word “Tebah” is used is in genesis 6-8 with Noah’s ark. There is some significance to the fact that Moses and Noah were both deliverers used by God and both were saved by an ark.

The ark, of Moses, was made of Papyrus, as were may household items in Egypt. The papyrus grew along the banks of the Nile. God used papyrus to carry his messenger and deliverer.

Often the story is told as if Jochebed had Miriam send Moses down the river. However, the truth is that they would hide Moses often in the river as to not be discovered by the Egyptians.

He was discovered hid among the flags of Papyrus, and what was surely ment to bring him death, acted as the means by which he would be delivered. Pharaoh’s daughter acted on Moses’ behalf and his life was sparred.

I want to look at Jochebed for a few moments.

I. A Mothers Devotion.

Jochebed as we find her name to be in Exodus 6:20. was willing to risk her own life and that of her family to save her youngest son.

Exodus 6:20 NKJV

Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.

A. Displayed wisdom.

She constructed an ark and used it to hide Moses when the Egyptians would come by for inspections.

maybe there was a warning system among the Israel slaves but somehow she knew when to hide him.

There were probably no inspections at night but during the day there was much caution needed.

She also did this while tending to a daughter and an older son. Aaron was three years older than Moses, we have no age for Miriam but probably 6-12.

There is great wisdom needed to raise a child in this world.

Satan desires to destroy them and the only hope for our children is for mothers and fathers to utilize Godly wisdom.

B. Displayed worry.

Jochebed hid Moses because she was fearful for his life.

Her worry was not unfounded or without merit.

The fact that she was more willing to place him in a crocodile infested river than keep him at home shows the gravity of the situation.

She had to make a tough decision and she did not know how the outcome would end.

I can only imagine the fear that flooded her soul as she sent him to the waters edge and turned and left him with her young daughter.

II. Miriam’s Discernement.

Numbers 26:59 NKJV

The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.

A. She had proven herself.

For Jochebed to trust Miriam with the oversight on Moses, ho was in a basket in the nile, shows that she had the trust of her mother.

Trust is hard to gain and easy to loose, I would encourage each of us to work endlessly to maintain that testimony.

B. She was attentive.

When Pharaoh’s daughter had the baby retrieved from the river Miriam jumped into action. v. 7

She saw the gravity of the situation and refused to sit idly by while her brother suffered. Even at a young age she displayed a motherly instinct.

Had Miriam not been attentive Moses may have ever known his mother, her God, or God’s people.

III. A Monarchs Daring.

Lastly we see the testimony of Pharaoh’s daughter.

She remains nameless, yet her significance to Israel is great.

A. A heart of compassion.

She was moved with compassion. v.6

Even thought the baby was not of her own people she had a heart that was soft and kind. We need more people that can look beyond the color of skin, the social status, and whatever divisive categories we use, and instead be filled with the love of God and His compassion.

Americas problem is not skin it is sin, it is not prejudice it is perversion of Gods Word.

We need Mothers who can look on a child and have a heart of compassion.

B. A heart of courage.

She was willing to do the right think, o matter the consequences.

Only a heart of compassion could cause her to go against the desires of Pharaoh. But she was willing to do right, even when it caused her to go against the standard.

We will never make a difference if we act the same.

As long as we are consumed with fitting in and being accepted, we will never stand out among the crowd.

These ladies made an difference because they went against the norm. In a society of loss they dared to do what was right.

Lets quit tryingt o be like the world and start living like Jesus.