The Faith of Jochebed

When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:10

If you asked 100 Christians to name the mother of Moses, what percentage do you think would know the answer? Jochebed is a remarkable woman who displayed courage and faith in dire circumstances. Her child’s life was threatened from the moment he was born and the fear that she must have felt is unimaginable. For three months she hid him at home and, I’m guessing, that every whimper, every cry would send her heart thumping. Her vigilance would have been on high alert and deep in her heart she would know that hiding this precious gift for a prolonged period of time, just wasn’t possible.

When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. Exodus 2:3

Jochebed exercised her faith in Yahweh by trusting Him completely. The life of her child was in His hands – her own powers of protection were severely limited, but she believed in a God whose power was limitless.

Often, we don’t realise how strong our faith is until it’s tested. When faced with challenging or maybe even impossible situations, our fear can produce a courage we didn’t even know we had. Instead of sitting back and giving into the fear, we trust the promises of God and surrender it all to Him.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. Isaiah 41:10

Read the story in Exodus 2 of the faith of Jochebed, for there is much that we can learn from her about trusting God for the outcome in every situation.

Don’t be afraid of letting go of your fears. Surrender them all, and let the Lord strengthen you, help you, and uphold in His hands.