Exodus 2 Hidden Treasure
Pharaoh has ordered all the Hebrew male babies killed. There is a hidden treasure waiting in the bulrushes. This treasure is hidden from death and hides a future for Israel.
Moses was one of at least three children. He had an older brother and sister. Apparently, the edict for killing male children wasn’t in effect when Aaron was born. I’m curious to know what it was about Moses that had his mother defy the law and hide him away. I’m certain that he wasn’t the only baby boy hidden away. How many others were found out? How many others were saved? And how many others met the fate Pharaoh had in store for them? These are questions that I know won’t be answered this side of Heaven, but I have to ask them anyway. While our hearts weep for the children who weren’t saved, let’s join the story of one special on who was saved.
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Amram and Jochebed were of the family of Levi. As they were both of the lineage of Levi, their children were true Levites. As only two generations separated Amram from Levi himself, finding a wife of the line of Levi presented a hurdle for them. To solve this, Amram married one of his Abba’s sisters; his aunt. Their love was true and pure. And, little did they know, God was building each of the sons of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel by God, their own tribe. The sons of Israel would be fruitful and become a nation, composed of tribes named after Israel’s sons.
Jochebed knows well the edict of Pharaoh. She is worried, for she is carrying her third child. “Will this child be in danger” she wonders. “What will I do if it is a boy?” Jochebed’s heart is in true turmoil. She has nowhere else to turn but to the Lord. So, she prays daily for God’s wisdom with this baby. “Maybe it will be a girl and all this worry is for nothing” she thinks.
Jochebed masks her pregnancy from view. Her clothing hides her protruding stomach. When it can no longer be hidden, she simply doesn’t leave her home during the daytime. Her older children, Miriam and Aaron, help with as many of the chores outside of the house as possible, but drawing water from the well is not one they can do. Amram is as pressed into work as all the other men. He has no time to draw for their family. Jochebed goes out before dawn each day to draw water. She wears a cloak that hides her condition well. She hopes that no one has noticed and that none will be the wiser when she finally delivers her baby.
The day has arrived. The women are afraid to call for the midwives any more. They know the midwives won’t report them or kill their babies, but it is just one more person who can expose the gender of their babies. Jochebed labors in seclusion. She bites down on strips of cloth to prevent her screams. She is determined that no one outside her house find out that she has birthed this child. Eyes are everywhere in Egypt.
The baby emerges onto the pallet Jochebed has carefully laid to cushion its entrance. Immediately, Jochebed knows that her child is in danger. Not from complications or a physical ailment, but because it is a boy. Her heart breaks and tears begin to fall freely from her face. Yet, no sound issues forth from her lips.
Once the birth process is complete, Jochebed cradles her son in her arms. “You are perfect! And so beautiful” Jochebed whispers to her son. Looking into his eyes, she KNOWS that she will do anything to protect him from death.
Aaron and Miriam have been making sure that no one approaches their home while their Ima gave birth. Jochebed made certain that they understood the importance of keeping this secret. They wait quietly for their Ima’s call.
“Children” Jochebed calls out from within the house. Both children quickly come to their Ima’s side.
“Is it a boy, Ima” Miriam asks.
“He is” Jochebed replies.
“What are we going to do” asks a distressed Aaron. “Are you going to kill him for being a boy?”
“No, my son. I cannot do that. I WILL NOT do that!”
“Then what will you do” asks Miriam.
“We have kept this secret for so long; let’s keep him a secret a while longer” replies Jochebed.
“For how long Ima” asks Aaron.
“For as long as we can. For as long as God will allow it.”
The children’s heads nod. They will do everything they can to help their Ima keep their brother a secret. They know what will happen if they are found out. It would mean their brother’s life and possibly their Ima’s, for defying the law.
Jochebed secretly nurses the baby at every opportunity. She has to keep him quiet. Miriam watches him whenever her Ima has work to do outside the house. Aaron helps in any way he can. Hiding a baby is not easy work. Even the cloths used for diapering the baby have to be kept from view. One slip and their precious male baby will be exposed.
When the baby is three months old, Jochebed is forced to work in one of the nearby Egyptian homes. She can no longer nurse her baby on demand. His cries are sure to be heard by those nearby. If discovered, he will be killed.
Jochebed had three days before she was due to report for duty. During those days, she has to find a way to keep her baby safe. She is not sure where the idea comes from, but she has a plan. Jochebed has a tightly woven basket that she carries laundry in to the river. It is very strong and has a well-fitting lid. This basket will hold her baby. But it is not water tight. She goes by night to the place where bitumen is pulled from the ground. She also takes pitch from this place. Together they are used in making mortar for the bricks the men of Israel are forced to make and carry. Jochebed conceals the small jars containing these materials under her cloak. She hurries home. The second day is spent in coating the basket, both inside and out with the two substances. It must be water tight for the purpose she has for it. The basket is dry and ready on the third day.
“This is the day Miriam” Jochebed tells her daughter as she wakes her early that morning. The two of them went over it in detail the previous two days.
Miriam quickly dresses. Jochebed makes a quick breakfast for them, nurses the baby until he drops off to sleep again, and packs food for Miriam for her wait by the river. Then, Miriam carrying the basket and Jochebed the baby, they make their way to the river.
Jochebed finds a spot in the reeds where the current is slow. “Bring me the basket” she whispers to Miriam.
Miriam watches as her Ima carefully lays the baby in the basket. “Sleep well my little one” Jochebed coos to him and brushes his forehead lightly with a kiss. “Let the Lord God of Israel attend you.” With this, she places the basket in among the reeds and puts the cover on it.
Jochebed finds a comfortable place with a good view of the basket for Miriam to keep watch. “You keep watch from here. Let me know what happens” Jochebed tells Miriam.
“What if he cries Ima?”
“If there is no one around, you can try and sooth him. But if anyone is watching, you stay where you are. He is in God’s hands now.”
“Yes Ima” Miriam says with tears gathering in her eyes.
“Don’t cry. Our God loves His children. He will make a way. Hold fast to faith.” Jochebed hugs Miriam, places the food in her hands, and casts one loving look at the basket before hurrying back to their home.
Miriam is on station. She is determined not to take her eyes off the basket. She hears voices that cause her to shrink deeper into her hiding place. She looks in their direction, afraid that they might discover her brother. “Don’t come any closer” she whispers as if her words could change the path of the women.
The voices are those of three Egyptian women. One woman is gliding through the water, splashing about. It appears as if she is bathing herself. Two other women are walking along the banks of the river, probably for protection. As they come closer to the place where the basket is hidden, Miriam swears that she sees the one in the water looking at it.
She did see it! Miriam holds her breath, wondering what is going to happen. They are Egyptians and they are supposed to kill boy babies. Will they kill her brother?
The woman in the water moves over to the basket. She raises the lid and sees the baby. He is crying. Her heart melts. She reaches in and picks him up. “This is one of the Hebrews’ children” (Exodus 2:6b). She begins gently rocking him, trying to soothe him.
Miriam sees that the woman is moved with love toward her brother and quickly leaves her hiding place. She approaches the women by the river. Now that she is closer, she recognizes that the woman in the water wears the armbands of royalty. “She must be important” Miriam thinks as she boldly walks up to them. They are distracted with the baby.
“Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” (Exodus 2:7).
The three women look up at Miriam. “Where did you come from girl” asks one of the women who was walking by the river.
Miriam points in the direction of her hiding place. “I was resting over there” she says. She does not reveal that she was watching the basket or that the baby within is her own brother.
The woman in the water speaks with a commanding presence. “Go.”
Miriam isn’t certain if she is telling her to get a nurse for the baby or to leave. Her question is answered when the woman continues on.
“Do as you have said” instructs the woman.
Miriam bows deeply to the woman then hurries off to her house. As soon as she enters the door she runs up and hugs her Ima.
“Aren’t you supposed to be watching the baby” asks Jochebed with a worried look on her face.
“God has answered your prayers, Ima! A lady with royal armbands found the baby. He was crying and she started hugging him. She told the ladies with her that he was a Hebrew baby. And I asked her if she wanted me to get a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for her. She told me to go get one! So, I got YOU!”
Jochebed is smiling from ear to ear! God has indeed heard her prayer. Ima and daughter hurry back to the river. When they get close, Jochebed’s mouth drops open. She knows who this woman is. She is the daughter of Pharaoh. “Does she also know that the baby is a boy” Jochebed wonders. She composes herself quickly as they take the final steps to stand before the daughter of Pharaoh.
“My mistress” Jochebed says as she bows low.
“Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages” (Exodus 2:9a).
“It will be done as you command” Jochebed replied. Jochebed reached out and took the baby from Pharaoh’s daughter’s hands. Jochebed, as discretely as possible puts the baby to her breast and he begins to nurse.
Pharaoh’s daughter laughs. “He is hungry. You will care for him well. His name is to be Moses. ‘Because I drew him out of the water’ (Exodus 2:10b).”
Jochebed nodded her acceptance of her son’s name. She would also be spared of having to work in the Egyptian home, as she has just been commissioned by Pharaoh’s daughter to do the job her heart already longed to do.
One of women accompanying Pharaoh’s daughter went with Jochebed and Miriam back to their home. She would bring Pharaoh’s daughter word of where the woman lived so she could send her wages and check on the child if she desired.
As Jochebed, Miriam and the attendant leave, Pharaoh’s daughter watches on from the bank of the river. Little did those carrying her child know how deeply she desired a child of her own. The gods had not seen fit to grant her this blessing. She would grab onto this joy; however it came to her. She would love this child as if it were her own. And she would see to it that he received the best that Egypt had to offer. He would lack for nothing; including education.
(to be continued)
Once again, we see the fingerprints of God. It could have been any Egyptian that discovered the baby in the basket. But God chose the one who had the power to keep the baby safe, to prepare him for his future role in God’s plan, and to love him with all her heart. God certainly put the plan into Jochebed’s mind and showed her where and when to place him. And God gave Miriam boldness to approach the women and make her offer. No one knew what was set into motion that morning but God! But it would touch the lives of everyone in the region; when the time was right.
Father God, You AMAZE me with Your planning! Only YOU knew what would happen that day. YOU orchestrated it. And You STILL orchestrate events in our lives today. I have had SO MANY times where Your fingerprints have shown through in my life. I know there are MANY more to come too.
Lead me to the place where You have already prepared for me to share Your stories. I want them to honor You and bring others closer to You. To touch hearts and minds. And to make others dive deeper into Your word. To be building blocks for true relationship growth.
