Twenty-two people in the Bible who had to be more patient than you: Jochebed - 15 August 2023
By Xanthe Hancox
Bible text(s)
Hebrews 11
The story of Jochebed, the mother of Moses, is a testament to a mother’s unwavering love and sacrificial heart. In the face of Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew baby boys, Jochebed faced an unimaginable decision – to protect her newborn son or surrender him to certain death.
Faced with this heart-wrenching choice, Jochebed displayed extraordinary patience, strength, and sacrificial love. For three months, she concealed Moses, refusing to be paralysed by fear and defying the king’s edict. Jochebed recognised that her child was no ordinary boy; he was a child with a divine purpose.
Driven by her profound love for Moses and her unwavering faith in God’s plan, Jochebed made a courageous decision. She fashioned a basket, coated it with tar and pitch, and gently placed her precious baby inside. Then, she released the basket into the Nile River, trusting God to protect her child and preserve his life.
Her faith and patience were rewarded when Moses was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter, who was moved with compassion upon seeing the crying child in the basket. Despite the painful sacrifice of letting her son go, Jochebed’s love and bravery allowed Moses to be raised in the very household that issued the decree of death.
Jochebed’s selfless act of releasing Moses into the unknown, trusting God’s providence, holds a powerful lesson for us today. In our own lives, we may face challenging situations where we must let go and entrust our loved ones or circumstances to God’s care.
As we face difficult choices or times of waiting, may we hold fast to our faith, knowing that God’s providence is at work. Through our sacrifices and acts of love, God’s divine purposes may unfold in ways beyond our comprehension.
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for the powerful example of Jochebed’s sacrificial love, patience, and unwavering faith. Help us to embrace sacrificial love for others, knowing that you hold their lives and futures in your hands. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
