Copyright (c) 2008 Jon Straumfjord

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. (Hebrews 11:23, Exodus 1:1-2:10, NKJV)

But when [his mother, Jochebed] could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank. And his sister {Miriam} stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.

Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river.... and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. And when she opened it, she saw the child, and ... had compassion on him, ...

Then his sister {Miriam} said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?"

And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So [Miriam] went and called the child's mother. 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. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water." (Exodus 2:4-10, NKJV)

350 years before Moses was born, the family of Israel had come into Egypt as honored guests of Pharaoh, but that history had become lost to the current king of Egypt. The former guests of the state were now slaves of that very same state, suffering forced hard labor under cruel Egyptian task masters. But in spite of their continual trials, the descendants of Israel kept increasing in number.

Pharaoh had become alarmed at the ever-increasing numbers of Israelite slaves, and feared an insurrection that would leave both him and his nation subservient to Israel. In an effort to prevent the toppling of his kingdom, Pharaoh instituted a plan of genocide: the killing of all new-born male children. If that wasn't bad enough, Pharaoh ordered the midwives, whose occupation was to deliver new-born Israelite children, to perform the unceremonious executions immediately upon birth.

During this period of state-instituted genocide, Moses was born. He was kept hidden by his parents for about three months, but by that time it was virtually impossible to keep him hidden from the continually patrolling executioners whose job was to ensure that Pharaoh's orders were carried out in spite of the efforts of fearful parents.

Amram, Moses' father, and Jochebed, his mother, were faced with an impossible situation: they couldn't continue hiding him, but if they did nothing, their child would have been discovered and cast into the river and died. So, even though they were very much afraid, they made a small boat for the child, set him in the river, which would have been his grave, and waited in faith to see what the Lord would do.

Moses was rescued by the daughter of the very man who commanded his death, was nursed by his own mother at Pharaoh's expense, and raised as a prince in the household of Pharaoh himself. This was the ultimate paradox: Pharaoh, Moses, greatest enemy, had become his savior and ultimate benefactor. God is good! And since children are the immediate benefactors of their parents faith, it is little wonder that Moses became the man of faith that he did.

There are several lessons we can learn from the situation: first, faith is a conscious choice made in spite of circumstances. Second, true faith overcomes fear. Third, God responds to genine faith with generosity, love, and power. Fourth, true faith enables and empowers the hand of God Himself. Fifth, true faith, enables us to hear the Lord speaking, even though initially it may only seem like our own good idea.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)