Jochebed holds her baby close. As this boy grows, the chance that Egyptian soldiers will hear him increases. He seldom cries loudly and nursing him quickly quiets any noise. But his babbling proves harder to contain. He smiles and makes such sweet noises that Jochebed cannot bear to silence him every time. But when his chattering gets louder, his older sister Miriam looks at her mother with fear.
Jochebed remembers the basket she’s been making. She imagines the sturdy basket as a boat and sees a solution. Well, perhaps not a solution, but at least a chance for his survival. While the boy sleeps, Jochebed quickly finishes the basket, then coats it with sticky tar to make it waterproof. She lets it dry, then puts her fed, sleeping baby boy inside and carries the basket to the river.
Miriam follows her mother to the water’s edge. When Jochebed tells Miriam to watch the floating basket that holds her little brother, she backs away in fear. Her mother tells her just to watch, then report back what she sees. Hot tears fill Miriam’s eyes as her mother walks away.
Jochebed hatched a plan that will produce a man who will save his people from slavery. Most certainly, she was afraid. Yet she acted in spite of her fear. The courage of a slave woman saves the Hebrew nation.
REMEMBER: The next time we’re afraid, let’s remember Jochebed. We never know what God has planned, and our small act of bravery might be just what’s needed for the next step.
