Today I share with you the biblical story of Jochebed: a brave mother who saves her son’s life. She lived at the time of the slavery of the Hebrew people, in Egypt.
This happened at the time when a pharaoh ruled who was afraid that the Hebrew people would turn against Egypt. Therefore, he displayed all his cruelty against them, ordering the midwives to kill every male child that was born.
You can find this story in Exodus 2:1-10, although her name is revealed in Exodus 6:20.
Five examples that a brave mother can imitate from Jochebed:
Personally, I have always admired this woman because her love for her son made her a brave mother in difficult times. But I have also seen some other virtues that God gave her to fulfill her purpose for her chosen people.
Moses, the son of this woman became the great leader who freed his people from the slavery of Pharaoh. Of course, he allowed himself to be directed and used by God, so much so that he performed supernatural deeds before the king of Egypt.
1.- He had revelation from God
When her son was born she saw that her son was not a baby like any other. She saw that her son was different, exceptional and unusual (Exodus 2:2 and Hebrews 11:23).
All of us mothers see our children as beautiful; the beautiful thing is when God reveals to us that he has a great plan for them.
2.- She was a woman of faith
She believed that if her baby had a great purpose, God would fulfill it. The Bible says that her faith made her see how special her baby was. She also by faith she hid him for three months (Exodus 2:2 and Hebrews 11:23).
Faith in God is the main characteristic of a courageous mother.
3.- He was not afraid of the pharaoh
Jochebed risked being punished. She knew that if she was found out, she would have to face the pharaoh’s wrath. However, she decided to preserve the life of her baby so that she would fulfill God’s purpose.
4.- He gave up his son, trusting in God
He couldn’t hide it anymore, so he took a basket made of papyrus reeds, coated it with pitch to make it waterproof. She accommodated the baby there and put the basket among some reeds on the banks of the Nile River.
Maria, the baby’s older sister, stayed at a distance to see what would happen to her little brother.
I believe that Jochebed knew that this was the place and time that Pharaoh’s daughter went to bathe every day. Let us remember that this mother was a woman of faith, she was sure that the princess would do something for her baby.
Sure enough, Princess Bitya discovers him and decides to stay with him. Maria quickly approached and offered to find someone to breastfeed the child. Who do you think she went looking for? Of course! His own mother.
So the baby returns to its mother’s arms, to be returned to the princess a few years later. Pharaoh’s daughter named this baby Moses, which means “drawn from the waters.” (Exodus 2:3-10).
Moses’ mother knew that he was no longer her son, even though she had given birth to him. She was just the wet nurse nursing him.
Every Christian mother has to entrust her children to God. You don’t exactly have to throw them into the river like Jochebed, but hand them over to the Lord, so that He can take care of them. She was a brave mother who wisely took action, believing that God would do what was necessary to save her baby’s life.
You and I friend, we have to make wise decisions for our children, but knowing that they belong to God, because all human beings belong to Him (Psalm 24:1). He has given them to us so that we can take care of them and educate them.
5.- He instructed his son in the faith
The Bible lets us see in Hebrews 11:24-28 that Moses inherited his mother’s faith. Jochebed taught his son faith in God, so Moses knew he was a Hebrew. I can almost imagine this brave mother declaring to her son each day the special purpose he had:
“Look son, you are Hebrew like us, I am your mother, Aaron and Mary are your brothers. But the circumstances brought you to the pharaoh’s palace for a purpose of God. From there you can liberate our people from this slavery in which we live”.
Jochebed took advantage of the years she had her son with her to awaken and nurture Moses’ faith. We know that she did very well, because years later, God used him to free his people from slavery.
Ideally, we take advantage of our children’s early years to teach them about Jesus, as the mother of this great leader did. But maybe your kids are all grown up and now you think it’s too late to start.
Don’t worry, you can still be a brave mother, who saves her children.
Friend, do not feed guilt if you did not do it in your time (like me), because God will always give you the opportunity and the wisdom to do what corresponds. It is never too late to teach our children about God’s love and forgiveness.
Conclusion:
We can only reach the levels of Jochebed by living a life of total dependence on Christ.
I encourage you to cultivate a more intimate relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading and meditation, praise and worship, seeking communion with the Holy Spirit.
I assure you that God will reveal to you that each of your children has a divine purpose. He will increase your faith so that you will not be discouraged when you see your children make decisions that take them away from that purpose (Moses began his ministry at the age of 80). You will not be afraid of what the world or the enemy can do against you or your children; because your faith will make you overcome fear.
Another benefit of walking with God is that it will give you the courage to give up your children, handing them over to Him to keep, protect and direct them towards the fulfillment of those divine plans for them.
And finally you will have wisdom and authority to educate them in your same faith. You will declare to them every day the truths of the Word of God for their life and you will encourage them to walk towards the purposes of God.
If your children are already making personal decisions and are not under your authority, ask God to be the one who provides the opportunities to get closer to them. He will show you the strategies to do it the right way.
May God give you the courage of Jochebed and surely soon we will be reading testimonies of children who fulfill God’s purposes, just because you have decided to be a brave mother.
May our Father be with you until the next time we read each other, your friend,
Lydia E. Cames
Follow us on twitter: @RainbowPromise