Read:
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
~Exodus 2:1-10
Consider:
I’m the queen of throwing away anything that doesn’t have all its pieces. Ask my kids… puzzles, board games, bowl sets, bedding… if it’s not complete… I donate or chuck without a second thought.
Last April, we moved across town and we were extremely careful to keep our puzzles together and complete. We took drastic measures, even Saran wrapping them before neatly stacking each puzzle into boxes and taping every corner so a tiny piece couldn’t make it’s way out. When we began unpacking, however, we were not as careful and unfortunately lost a very important piece to our wooden USA puzzle (which of course also happens to be my children’s favorite).
When you lose the state of Maine, it’s not the USA anymore. It’s the USA minus Maine. My kids know me well and begged me not to throw it out. I agreed to their request but I knew that puzzle’s time in our home was almost up because friends, I can’t deal with missing pieces and the likelihood that Maine was going to show back up was unlikely.
This morning as I sat down to read Exodus 2, my youngest son had been taking apart and putting together that very puzzle while my daughter was across the room crafting and digging through every last supply bin we own. Seeing that puzzle was almost making me twitch because I knew it was missing a piece. About 5 verses in, my daughter started screaming and jumping up and down… she had found Maine! After almost 5 months of being incomplete, our USA puzzle was once again with all its pieces and I must admit, it feels so right… so perfect!!
After doing the happy dance with my kids about our puzzle, I went back to reading Exodus. I almost immediately had an “aha moment” between our puzzle situation and the lives of the Mothers of Moses.
Both women, Jochebed (his birth mom) and Pharaoh’s Daughter (the woman that raised him), were just living their lives each day the best they knew how. I’m sure they had hopes of their own but I highly doubt they could’ve dreamt up the amazing plans God had for each of them. There were so many missing pieces to their “life puzzles,” so to speak, especially for Jochebed. She had no clue what would come of her sweet baby boy.
It’s easy for us to read these women’s stories and think, “Wow, it’s so amazing how it worked out for them,” but we already have all the pieces to their stories. It makes sense to us and inspires us because we can read their story from beginning to end. I cannot even begin to imagine the emotions that each of them felt as they lived through the uncertainty of what would come.
One mother had done all she could to protect her sweet baby but knew she had no other choice but to send him down the river. She must have been broken inside, confused at how this could really be happening and terrified at what might happen to her baby. The other mother was a daughter of Pharaoh, the same Pharaoh that had ordered all the Egyptian babies be killed. She must have wondered what her father, the Pharaoh, would think of her bringing an Egyptian baby into his home. Would he be angry and have the baby killed anyway? Neither knew what the future would hold. There were so many missing pieces to both of their stories and yet they played an invaluable part in raising a man who would be used in mighty ways by God. Jochebed must have been in awe as her life continued to unfold before her. Not only was her baby safe and protected by a member of Pharaoh’s family, but she got to nurse him and take care of him (and bonus, even get paid to do so).
Like these women, we don’t have all of the pieces to our stories and it’s hard to know what path to take or which piece to pick or how it’s all going to fit together in the end, but the lives of these women should remind us that God does. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Isaiah 55 verses 8 and 9 read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God doesn’t cause bad things to happen to us, but he allows them to because he is just. When sin entered the world so did consequences and pain and suffering. Understanding this might not make your situation any easier, but it should help to know that God is in control and can use the worst of situations for good. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
The next time you’re scared, lost or facing a huge decision remember these women, The Mothers of Moses and remember the God of Heaven who is working to fit all of the beautiful pieces of your puzzle together for your good and his glory.
Pray:
Lord, thank you for saving me and for loving me no matter what. Thank you also for your Word that allows us to read about women who have gone before us, like The Mothers of Moses. It’s hard sometimes to not see the complete puzzle of our lives and/or our loved one’s lives. It’s also hard to understand how all of the pieces are going to fit together or how some of the pieces we have even belong to us in the first place. I pray that I would remember that you are in control. I pray that I would remember that the best thing I can do each day is to trust you, obey you and praise you no matter what. I pray this day I would rest in the comfort that you know my complete story and exactly how it’s all going to fit together to be part of yours. Give me peace in times of uncertainty and wisdom to make wise choices. Amen.
Today’s post was written by Amanda Sanders.
Amanda has been married to her high school sweetheart Matt for 12 years. Together they have three kids ages 10, 8 and 5. In this season of life, Amanda spends most of her time drinking coffee, teaching children, doing laundry and repeating herself. Occasionally, she has some time for working out, reading for leisure and writing. You can find her on Sunday mornings worshiping at our Real Life Kaley campus.