Exodus 2:1-4 (Moments of Moses)

Puah and Shiprah, the Hebrew midwives, were in a difficult place. They sought out how to honor God through their actions, but also how to respect the king. They remained nonviolent, but stood firm by their convictions. They respected the king, but they honored the greater King--the Lord, God Almighty. Honoring God instead of man does not mean becoming violent or argumentative with others even when it is hard to do. It is important to display the ability to "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Mt 10:16). They were entrusting themselves to the Father's care! Their obedience led to God using one man for His mighty purposes!

Read Exodus 2:1-4
 

Moses' parents (Amram and Jochebed) were both were from the tribe of Levi. Levi was a significant tribe of Israel. The Levites become the priestly tribe, because of God's grace and their loyalty to God... Jochebed knew she could not hide Moses for long. She was able to hide Moses for three months. But the time came to walk by faith, trusting God to protect her son was her only option. She hid Moses in the reed's where the pharaoh's daughter would find him. Hebrew 11:23 reminds us that Moses' parents were not afraid of the king. They saw that Moses was not an ordinary child. They saw that something was very different in him. The text says that Moses was a beautiful child (Ex 2:1-4). I wonder what they saw that would be different than a parent's joy. What did God show them during this time?

While Jochebed is planning and preparing for leaving Moses in a basket along the Nile, his sister, Miriam, is watching the entire thing. She is sent to keep an eye on her baby brother, Moses, when he is put in the river bank to see what would happen. She witnessed her parents' faith, and how God would provide for them. Miriam must of felt very terrified, not knowing what would happen to her brother. Wonder how she felt years later when he would lead them out of Egypt? I wonder if she just saw her brother or a godly leader?

"Every parent believes his or her child is beautiful--but there was something supernatural about Moses." Hebrews 11 says faith was Moses' parents' motivation. Not just their love for Moses, but FAITH. Faith calls us to action, answering the call, and obeying God rather than man!

Lesson for us: God can do incredible things when we replace our fears with faith in Him. We need to ask ourselves what we are afraid of... Giving it to God is essential, and God can turn that fear into an opportunity for faith!