#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 16 #Jochebed An unsung #Hero

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. Exodus 2:9,10

Whenever we read about the exodus of the Israelites, the story of Moses takes precedent. However, as I was listening to a message today, it was his mother, Jochebed who dropped into my spirit. What an incredible mother, she saved the life of one of the most significant people in the history of the Israelites. An unsung hero indeed.

Jochebed gave birth to her son at the time Pharaoh had issued a decree to cast all newborn male child of the Israelites into the river.  She was able to hide him for three months after his birth. Eventually she gave up, put him in an ark and set him adrift on the river where the babies were meant to be dumped. I cannot imagine what an agony it would have been for her. A short while later, Pharaoh’s’ daughter went to take her bath, saw the ark and the baby in it.

Fortunately, Miriam who had followed her mother was hiding nearby to see what would happen to her brother. She was wise to suggest calling a Hebrew nurse to take care of the baby - the baby’s mother.

After nursing the baby, Jochebed returned him to Pharaoh’s daughter. This is the baffling thing. Why did she do that? One would think she would have kept the baby, testifying about how God returned her baby, how he made it that she was the one to nurse the baby and all the incredible things that had happened. Most of us would have made one excuse or the other to hold unto the child but she did not.

Why did she give up Moses easily after nursing him? What gave her the intuition to leave him in the Ark on the river in the first place?

I want to believe that Jochebed was a God fearing woman of faith. She had a relationship with God, who would have inspired her on what to do. She did not put the baby under a bushel, under a tree, by the roadside but specifically in an ark on the river. Maybe she knew that Pharaoh’s daughter usually has her bath in that particular stretch of the river and that she was a nice woman. It takes a nice person to want to take an abandoned baby boy despite the decree and look after him as a son.

What made Jochebed give back Moses? I want to believe as a God fearing woman, she knew He had a purpose for Moses that was beyond her or her immediate household. Maybe God revealed to her that Moses must grow up in the household of the people that he was going to fight in the future. He needed to learn their way; culture; practices and all things only those close to them would know. He needed that knowledge to fulfil the purpose for which he was born.

Jochebed was a courageous woman. It takes courage for a woman to let go of her baby, knowing he might die. She was also a woman of integrity. She kept her word because she knew she had a specific task and responsibility for this child. The bible recorded that she was the one that went to give the child back to Pharaoh’s daughter after the nursing period. She did it voluntarily at the right time. She gave up her son for adoption to save the nation of Israel. How did she feel watching her son grow up as an Egyptian with Hebraic heritage?

Jochebed inspires us, although not much was written about her but her legacy continues. She was the mother of three incredible children - two prophets (Moses and Miriam) and a high priest of the Lord. What a reward for a mother.

Her character helps us to understand that we should trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance or our own fleshly desire. Trusting in the Lord is the right thing to do for those who belong to Him. The destiny of Moses as we now know it might not have happened if she had taken an alternative step.

#prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of the womb. Give me the wisdom to parent my children in Your way oh Lord. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity