Hall of Faith: Amram and Jochebed, they Trusted
Moses parents were listed in the Hall of Faith. “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid
three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” {Hebrews 11:23}
Moses mother was named Jochebed, which means God is glory. She is described as a daughter of Levi, who was the third son of Jacob, and the tribe of priest. She is both the aunt and wife of Amram, meaning friend of the most high and the people are exalted.
Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Miriam and Aaron.
They were living in Egypt, when Pharoah issued a decree that all baby boys were thrown into the Nile. Jochebed was expecting her third child, so her heart must have hurt, not knowing if she were carrying a male or female child.
When she gave birth to a son, named Moses, Jochebed had a decision to make. A mother’s heart knows you want no harm for your children, so it must have been an easy decision, yet the family must have been terrified. What would happen if they were discovered?
They hid the child away for three months,but the time had come when they could no
longer hide baby Moses. So, they had to come up with a plan.
Jochebed lovingly made a wooden chest that would float and hold the child. Imagine how she must have cradled Moses in her arms before placing him in the chest.
Miriam was given the task of placing the chest holding the infant Moses in the Nile. More than likely they knew that Pharoah’s daughter came to the Nile to bathe and placed him there when she would be coming along.
Pharaoh’s daughter found the child and Miriam came forward and suggested a nurse maid. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed and Jochebed was appointed to care for her own son. She nursed him until he was old enough to be weaned and then took him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who raised him as her own.
So, what can we learn from Amram and Jochebed?
1. They were not afraid to defy the law for their religious beliefs
2. They loved their children
3. They trusted God
4. They planned for the care of their son
5. They trusted God to watch over them and their son
Just as Amram and Jochebed, trusted God to provide when the world was telling them otherwise, we also have to make that same decision. We have to decide who we will trust.
Who do you trust?