Providential Deliverance

Pharaoh’s plans to hinder the growth of Israel, was halted by the great faith of two Hebrew midwives named Shiphrah and Puah. These great women of faith chose to fear GOD rather than man. (Exodus 1:15-21) However, being resolute regarding his evil desire, Pharaoh commanded his people, saying, “Every son that is born, ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” (Exodus 1:22) Although several died, an infant male named Moses, providentially slipped through the cruel monarch’s grasp. (Exodus 2:10) Jochebed, the mother of Moses, (Exodus 6:20) followed in the footsteps of Shiphrah and Puah, refusing to yield her son to the death sentence levied by Egypt’s ruler. If discovered, the consequences would most likely have been deadly. Nevertheless, she hid him for three months. (Exodus 2:2) When the time came that he could no longer be hidden, she built a basket of river reeds, put the child in, and placed him along the edge of the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter found the infant, had compassion on him, and sought a Hebrew woman to nurse him. The one chosen was none other than Jochebed, his mother. Not only was she blessed with the privilege of nursing her own child, but she was also given wages to do so. Jochebed risked her life and was willing to give up her child in order to save him. GOD saw her faith and blessed her to be a mother to her child, who would be the future deliverer of Israel.