Jochebed: Faith from the Nile River to the Red Sea

Exodus 2:1-10; Numbers 26:59; Micah 6:4; Hebrews 11:23-29

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,

because they saw he was a proper child;

and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. - Hebrews 11:23 

Jochabed was an amazing woman. Her name means, “God’s Glory” which is very interesting concerning how God is revealed in her life story. She was the wife of Amram. They were both of the tribe of Levi. There were twelve tribes or groups that divided the Israelite people. The Levite tribe was in charge of the Temple and leading the people spiritually. Being from this tribe might have been why she was able to make the brave decision she did to trust God with that which was the most precious to her.

Jochebed and Amram had three children: a girl and two boys. Things were tough but most all was well until her third baby was born. This is when she found out terrible things were ahead for her new child. Imagine just giving birth and the government mandating he be put to death. This is what happened. The Israelite people were in bondage in the land of Egypt. The Pharoah had heard the Hebrews were growing great in number. There were too many births. He feared they would overtake his kingdom so he ordered every male child under the age of two to be slain.

Does this remind you of anyone else’s birth? There was another mother who faced the same thing in the New Testament. Her name was Mary. This is a picture of what was to come with the birth of Jesus. Just like Mary, Jochebed in the Old Testament had to make a decision to flee the hands of wicked rulers.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:

but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. - Proverbs 29:2

This was definitely true in Bible days as it is today. Our country is seeing the effects of those who rule outside of the freedom we find in God’s Word. They have one standard for the righteous and another for their social agenda. While we are not facing as dramatic government interference as Jochebed did, we as Christians are facing discrimination. In many states, governors are not allowing church services to be conducted even when they are outside. Church members have been fined and some pastors have faced the possibility of being arrested and sentenced to prison for preaching the Gospel. Some churches have been threatened with closure indefinitely just for singing and quoting Scripture aloud together during church services. This is so heartbreaking when we see large groups being encouraged to assemble while shouting in close proximity to others without wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the current virus. Even worse, violent protestors are being allowed to control our streets. Like Jochebed we must react with wisdom. We must trust the Lord and continue to worship Him safely and lawfully for He is in control and will take care of us.

Jochebed exhibited strong faith to carry her baby to full term knowing he would likely be killed. Even though she did not know what God had in store, she knew He could be trusted. When God sees that kind of faith, He always blesses it. Through Jochebed, God was birthing deliverance for His people who were being oppressed. Just like in those days, God is looking for faith among His people today. Will you be a Christian lady who exhibits strong faith that God blesses to change circumstances in your life and in the life of others?

The Bible goes on to say Jochebed immediately hid her baby from the Egyptian army “when she saw him that he was a goodly child.” This worked until he was three months. Three times in Scripture we see how this child was described: “a goodly child, exceeding fair, and a proper child.” (Exodus 2:2; Acts 7:20; Hebrews 11:23)

And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes,

and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein;

and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. - Exodus 2:3

Wow! I do not know if I would have thought to do that but it sure did trump watching the Egyptians kill her child before her very eyes. Jochebed taught us through this leap of faith that we must do all that is humanly possible and then leave the rest with God. She literally had to push that little ark which was holding her precious baby into the water and right out into the arms of God’s will. She no longer had control. She released her child to God and trusted that He would do the rest. What a lesson in “letting go.” But this is not just about letting go of our children but also about letting go of our circumstances and allowing God to do what is best. This is what we call God’s will. It is not always easy but it is always right and always works out for our good.

“So what happened?” you may ask. The Bible says that his sister, Miriam, stood afar off to see what would be done to him. It is so sweet to watch a sister “mother” her sibling. They literally had no idea where the Nile River would take him. They did know, however, that he was protected in that basket. The pitch that Jochebed put on the inside of the ark was used as a protective covering from the water and the elements. It pictures the very blood of Jesus which covers our sin and saves us from death and Hell. God was using this story to reveal Himself. They knew God would see their faith. Jochebed and her family also knew how God had done great things for Joseph when he was sold into slavery to the Egyptians. God turned that situation around for the good and they must have remembered his story.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,

to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. - Genesis 50:20

It was no accident that this ark came to rest at the feet of the Pharaoh’s daughter as she was bathing in the river with her maidens. She noticed the ark, opened it, and knew immediately that the baby was a Hebrew. But would not that also have meant he was supposed to be slain by order of her father? Yet, the Bible tells us when the baby cried, she had compassion on him. It is amazing how God orchestrated every aspect of this story.

From her vantage point in the bulrushes, Miriam took her cue to approach the ruler’s daughter with a proposition. She asked if she could find a Hebrew woman to nurse the child and the woman agreed. Jochebed would have her son back and he would live without fear of being slain by the Egyptians in the very home where the decree was issued. On top of all that, Jochebed would be paid to nurse and care for her own child!

I have waited until now to talk about the name of Jochebed’s third child. The Bible says that Pharaoh’s daughter gave him a Hebrew name which was “Moses” which means “to draw out.” This name also meant in Egyptian “from a god.” We would correct that to “from a God” because we know Moses was the deliverer. He was sent by our God to deliver the Israelites out of bondage and he did just that even though he grew up in the Egyptian palace as the son of Pharoah’s daughter. God certainly has quite a sense of humor to orchestrate Pharaoh’s “grandson” to become the deliverer who would overthrow this bondage and set Pharaoh’s slaves free. Moses was definitely blessed and destined to do great things. But so were Jochebed’s other two children. Her daughter, Miriam, would become a poet, a songwriter and a prophetess. Her oldest son, Aaron, would take up the family’s mantle and lead God’s people towards the Promised Land when Moses passed away.

I believe God looked down from Heaven and saw the faith of Jochebed and honored it through her children. The type of Christian woman and mother she was is pictured in the product of her children. All three of them were used greatly and were remembered together as being sent directly by God to deliver and lead His people to victory!

For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house

of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. - Micah 6:4

Jochebed was such a godly woman. We never hear of what she named Moses herself. It was as if she was content to accept God’s plans because they were better than her own. I am so convicted when I see how selfless she was in giving of her child to God. She knew that if her children would choose to follow the Lord, they would be happy and so would she as a result. Am I this kind of a woman? I sure hope I am striving to become like her. The following Bible verse is definitely my prayer.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. - 3 John verse 4

Jochebed’s sacrifices were worth it in the end and yours will be too. This mother not only taught all three of her children of God, she also lived it at home in front of them. She was what I call, “the real deal.” She told them what God had done in her life. She used the time she had with Moses as a baby and young child to teach him the ways of God. We know this because of what the book of Hebrews says about the choices he made when he became an adult. Hebrews 11 is known as the “Christian Hall of Faith.” It retells the stories of great Christians who did amazing things for God. This is what it says about Moses.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,

because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years,

refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,

than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt;

for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. - Hebrews 11:23-26

Each time I read this passage, I get goose bumps. Moses saw all that the world had to offer while he grew up in the palace. He was in line to inherit every bit of it, yet he refused to be “her” daughter. And why? I have tears in my eyes as I write this. It was because of that precious mother who loved him and showed him the riches he could have in Christ. He chose her and her ways over the wealth of the world. Jochebed possessed “greater” riches and he wanted what she had.

The rest of that passage of Scripture says,

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured,

as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover,

and the sprinkling of the blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land:

which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. - Hebrews 11:27-29

I believe the reason Moses was not afraid of the king during the plagues upon Egypt was because his mother was not afraid of the ruler and his proclamation either. Jochebed cared more about what God wanted, and all her children grew up to feel the same. They saw great miracles and led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. This mother was a partaker in all of those victories because she chose to follow the Lord. Are you showing Jesus to your children or to others with whom you have influence? Do they want what you have? Or are you living in defeat? Are you afraid? Is that fear holding you back from being used of God and allowing Him to get the glory from your life? Jochebed taught her children that the reward was greater than the sacrifice! That did not mean the decisions would be easy. Moses had to suffer affliction with his people, but God was with him each step of the way...and it was totally worth it!

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;

but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. - Hebrews 12:10

The same can be true of you, sweet Christian woman and mother. God will bless you if you seek to rear your child to love and follow Him. The best part of “letting go” of our children is that they are delivered safely into the arms of God. Let us examine our own experiences to help us relate more with the wonderful stories like this one found in God’s Word.