Jochebed
A man and woman (Jochebed) from the tribe of Levi got married. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. Exodus 2:1a-2
There are so many extraordinary women in the Bible. While we are familiar with many of them, there are a lesser-known women who made a bold impact as well. These women weaved throughout scripture revealing the truth of who God says we are – unique and designed to live intentionally and purposefully.
Jochebed was one of these women. We meet this brave and faithful woman in the book of Exodus. Jochebed was the mother of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses. Jochebed’s family lived in a trying time of a paranoid pharaoh, who feared the Israelites. He saw their growing number as a threat to his kingdom, so he sent out an order to have all the baby boys thrown into the Nile River.
Moses was born during this brutal time. But Jochebed was successfully able to hide her precious son for three months. However, as he grew and got a little harder to “hide,” a plan was devised to protect him. As the story goes, Moses was sent off into the river in a tar basket, with his sister, Miriam, standing by to watch over him. When Pharaoh’s daughter spots the basket, and sees Moses, she immediately loves him and decides to raise him. Miriam rushes in to help and tells the princess she knows of someone that could nurse him.
Miriam’s boldness and willingness to keep watch over her brother denotes her bravery as well. She must have taken after her mother. We also see how both women placed their faith in God over their fear of “what if’s.” They trusted God to care for their baby and family during trying and frighting times.
Like Jochebed and Miriam we can trust God to lead us in the most difficult situations. We can entrust our family to Him. We can ask for help when needed because we aren’t meant to do life alone. Jochebed had her daughter play a vital role in saving her brother’s life.
Dear LORD God, strengthen our faith and trust in You so we can live out the purpose You have for each of us. Amen.