Devotional Series: The Crown Within The Cross
Lessons from the life of Jochebed- Could this really be the way of escape?
God promises us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that He does not give us more than we can bear, that every trial had been weighed before they are permitted to disturb our lives to ensure we are not given more than we are presently equipped to handle. Not only that, but even in that trial God has a way of escape prepared for us to make it manageable. That is what God says and if there is one thing our Omnipotent God will NOT and can NOT do, is lie (Titus 1:2). Since that is the case, even when it does not appear to be so in our present physical and mental reality, it is. Part of our Christian growth and maturity is found in us believing the Word of God for what is says, more than we believe what we see right in front of us. That is faith and faith is the vehicle that moves us along in our Christian journey.If there is one thing that is common to mankind, believer or not believer, rich or poor, is the fact that we all go through trials, problems. Some of us will go through apparently more trying trials but even that is subjective and would look different for everyone depending on their perspective. However, for a mother I imagine the threat of losing a child or losing a child must be one of the hardest, heart wrenching unimaginable pain they could experience. In the bible we often read about this sort of sorrow. The more I read these accounts, the more I place myself in that woman’s shoes and my heart is touched. Jochebed was one of these women and her unique experience with loss and suffering is one all women can learn from. Yet, even in her time of trial God was in control of her story. God had with this trial, a planned way of escape that Jochebed recognised and acted upon that enabled her to grow and go through this extremely testing situation. The question I now ask to you and myself is, how do you know what is God’s way of escape? How can you detect the way of escape God has provided during your trials? How do you stay faithful?
God had with this trial, a planned way of escape that Jochebed recognised and acted upon that enabled her to grow and go through this extremely testing situation.
Let's start with context because context is everything. Following the death of Joseph, the respect and regard for his growing posterity in Egypt steadily declined. His selfless service that effectively saved the Egyptians from being destroyed, was no longer remembered by the new King of Egypt. His attention was drawn to this growing, fruitful people not out of admiration but out of jealously and contempt. As is the case with jealously and indeed all sins, once cherished in the heart it is only a matter of time before drastic steps are taken. A death decree was issued against all males born of Israelite women to stamp out the threat he perceived they posed. Jochebed, a godly woman of the tribe of the Levites, no doubt was conscious of this degree and the impending danger she, her children and family were in.
Exodus 2: 1-2And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
Jochebed knew her son was a “goodly” child a child favoured of Heaven given to her for a specific reason and purpose. Despite the challenging and scary circumstances, she was living in for three months her faith was in God, in His plan and for His way of escape. Imagine hiding a newborn baby! If you have any experience with new-borns their routine consists of eating, sleeping and diaper changing AND usually a whole lot of crying as that is their only means of communication. Now imagine the pressure and psychological trauma of trying to hide what is usually celebrated and doing that secretly to go undetected. Additionally, in so doing Jochebed probably was in hiding herself because it would not have been safe to leave the child with anyone. She was not free to just go out, to see her friends and go for play dates, no doubt her absence was felt amongst her friends and acquaintances. I can just imagine the things that could have been said, “Where is Jochebed, Is the baby still alive?”. Perhaps some were jealous of her and the fact that her son was alive whilst theirs perhaps had been cruelly murdered by the Egyptians. What, faith, courage and hope she displayed. Her faith was one that could face and bear trial. The hope she possessed, one that could be put under the fire and not be consumed. She knew the prophecies in the Torah, the promise of a deliverer to free the Israelites was alive in her heart and she believed in its soon coming fulfilment. Whilst there can be found many hooks to keep our doubts afloat, there are even more hooks to tie our faith to.
It was Jochebed, the Hebrew mother, who, strong in faith, was “not afraid of the king’s commandment,” of whom was born Moses, the deliverer of Israel. -AH 24.3
Exodus 1:3
3 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.
The inevitable soon transpired, the hiding could no longer continue. Whilst the decree of the King was still in full force, God’s promises were still as true as ever. Instead of focusing on what she could not change, Jochebed worked on what was under her control. She did what was in her power to do to keep Moses alive. Here lies the principle of faith and works. Faith believes and acts upon its conviction. Faith believes and works with the resources and evidence of Gods providences. Faith does not require a clear picture to move forward instead, faith makes the picture clear. The way of escape God had prepared for Moses and indeed Jochebed, was not independent of Jochebed. Jochebed built that basket suitable for the river. She did not make a hot air balloon to place Moses in, or a box or any other container type structure designed to work on land because that would not have been practical or sensible given her situation. God is practical. Whilst His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), we can be sure that all that He reveals to us He also enables us to understand (Matthew 11:29, Amos 3:7, Proverbs 4:7). Ultimately, it was God who would provide the ultimate protection as she placed her bundle of joy into that basket and watched through tears, the silhouette fading as it bobbed down the river. God did not change her circumstances but used her circumstances to change her.
Faith believes and acts upon its conviction. Faith believes and works with the resources and evidence of Gods providences. Faith does not require a clear picture to move forward instead, faith makes the picture clear.
In seeking to know God’s way of escape during our time of trial we can be sure it will require an exercise of faith and work on our part. The way of escape requires us to work and cooperate with God, some exertion, a sacrifice, a cross. Jochebed sacrificed what she wanted and envisioned in order to allow God to give her the best vision. No doubt she would have loved to care for Moses in the typical way, but what she wanted more was the safety of her child. Imagine if she was not willing to give up her vision and ideal for her life and for the life of Moses. Imagine if she said, “Moses will not be parted for me, he is my child”, he probably would have been detected and slaughtered mercilessly. Jochebed’s cross enabled Moses to live a life that resulted in His crown and multitudes of those he physically and spiritually led to the Lord. She was entrusted with preserving the life of one of the world’s greatest men.
Jochebed was a woman and a slave. Her lot in life was humble, her burden heavy. But through no other woman, save Mary of Nazareth, has the world received greater blessing.- DG 32.1
Despite her ordinary life, she was called to live in an extraordinary way and God made a way of escape for her. Whilst she was called to sacrifice much, she was not completely severed from her son. God worked things out for Jochebed to still play a key role in shaping Moses growing mind in the Egyptian court. Was this the life she envisioned or wanted? Perhaps not. Did God provide a way of escape? Yes. Was God’s way of escape one that enabled Jochebed to bear her cross? Surely. Can God do this for me and you in our trails great or small? He can and He will.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
