We will notice several aspects of Jochebeds faith-walk. Joseph had saved the country from a famine, but eventually, he was forgotten by the Egyptian rulers, the Pharaohs. Thats a significant fact. Exodus 2:1 A man from the household of Levi married a woman who was a descendant of Levi. With tears running down his cheek, he appealed to an older brother for help, and the brother picked up big stones and threw them out toward the boat. Tellings of the birth of Moses story often overlook Jochebed's role in the story from beginning to end. At any rate, Pharaohs daughter was determined to give protection to the baby. Like Jochebed, they trust God to find a loving home for their child. She is praised for her faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews. He said: Master of the Universe! I have called Thee Abba Father; Why to Trust? Act out Pharaoh's daughter finding Moses. According to tradition, Moses' parents, Amram and Jochebed (whose other children were Aaron and Miriam), hid him for three months and then set him afloat on the Nile in a reed basket daubed with pitch. D. J. Wiseman (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973) 57. Why did she do this? Epstein-Melamed], p. 6; BT Sotah 12a; Pesikta Rabbati 43). Jochebed, his biological mother, loved her son and kept him as long as she could after he was born. Exodus 2:1-2 A man from the household of Levi married a woman who was a descendant of Levi. The Pharaoh had decreed that all their baby boys were to be thrown into the Nile, because he feared that they might become too powerful. A resolute faith and holy background were the foundation for her remarkable strength and trust in the promises of God. She was told to do that. Job had some low points in his experience, but repeatedly he expressed his confidence in Gods faithfulness. "teaching," "study," or "learning." Deep in unfathomable mines (NIV). Can you see the Providence of God in this story? The time of darkness is planned by our Heavenly Father to bring praise and glory to Him in the great day when Jesus returns. Beginning at verse 4 in Exodus 2, we see how God, in response to the faith of this mother who dared to trust in His Wordsets in motion a whole chain of wonderful events to accomplish His purposes and to honor her faith. Since Jochebed was the daughter of Levi, and Moses was her son (as shown above), then to complete the 430 years, Jochebed had to be 48 years or older when she gave birth to Moses. About 1486, the reigning Pharaoh tried to kill Moses when he sought identity with his people Israel, but Moses escaped to Midian. The gay analogy must include a marriage relationship not universally accepted in scripture. Waiting for Breakthrough - Elizabeth's story. Hebrews 11:23 and Exodus 2:1-2 and 6:20. 26:59). Ofra sang the lullaby in 18 languages for the film's dubbing (including her native Hebrew). Conservative scholars date the "Exodus," a landmark in Israel's history, at 1446 B.C. She was born at the very moment when Jacob and his entire household, Levi and his wife among them, had just entered the gates of Egypt. God blessed Jochebed's obedience by making her Moses' nursemaid. Amram married Jochebed who was also from the tribe of Levi, one of Jacobs 12 sons. On the foundation of Gods promise not to destroy Israel, and on the basis of a four hundred year servitudethe parents of Moses believed that God would preserve him and use him for His purpose. Not only was Moses spared, but his older sister (later identified as Miriam in Exodus 15:20), who was standing somewhere within sight, offered the Egyptian princess her services. For others, health deteriorates, death takes a loved one, and plans for the future are shattered. Can you imagine what it would be like to give away your 3-month-old baby, not knowing what would happen to him? I have stayed my heart on Thee. Why did Terah died in Haran? Jacob, his sons, and their families had gone into Egypt to live because there was a severe famine in their land, and they were able to find food in Egypt. According to the masoretic text, Jochebed's family tree is as follows: According to the Septuagint however, Jochebed would be a cousin of Amram or Kohath: Along with the parting of the Red Sea, the burning bush and the Ten Commandments: The Quran relates the story of Moses with some added details and slight differences. We don't know but we hope that she too was alive to see the Exodus. Exodus 1; 2. It was at this time that Moses was born to Amram and Jochebed. The next day the Egyptian women would say that I nursed the one who speaks with the Shekhinah [the Divine Presence] (Ex. An Impossible Problem Solver. When Jacob went to stay with his uncle Laban, he met one of his daughters, Rachel, and loved her. His wonders to perform; The wording she placed it among the reeds (ibid.) 1 Clearly one of the Bible's most outstanding figures, she served ancient Israel as a prophet, 2 judge, military leader, songwriter, and minstrel (Judges 4-5). They may have desired a happy marriage, a successful career, developing their talent, or some other worthwhile goal, yet circumstances prevented it. Jochebed took baby Moses and placed him in an ark of bulrushes. After Moses was born, Yocheved hid him at home for three months. Devorah and her husband Maurice Sklar ran Maurice Sklar Ministries, founded by Maurice Sklar, which has about 10,000 followers online. Jochebed is most known as the mother of Moses. 2:7, BT Sotah 12b). The baby was discovered by Bithiah, Pharaoh's daughter. 4041). Pursuing her life passion to teach the Word of God, train leaders and connect people in community, Dianne Miller has dedicated years as a teaching leader in Bible Study Fellowship as well as directing Womens Ministries at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia and Northwest Bible Church, More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. The narrative of her pregnancy with Moses is amusingly incorporated in an exegesis relating to the time of the Rabbis. Thus Jochebed nursed her son until he was old enough and brought him to the Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her son. What some call fate or luck or it just happened is really Gods providential care. Soon, Moses got word that Pharaoh knew what he had done and was going to kill him, so he fled from Egypt to the land of Midian to avoid prosecution. At just this moment, Miriam steps forward and approaches the daughter and volunteers her service to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the child, and whom did she bring back? According to Exodus 6:20, Jochebed married her nephew; thus, she was Amram's aunt as well as his wife. But among all the poor Hebrew slaves, there was one couple who did not despair. One of the explanations of this discrepancy is that Jochebed completed the number seventy; she was not included in the list because she was still in her mothers womb (Gen. Rabbah 94:9). Just like today, true faith was mixed with pagan beliefs. If you want to read the first two Bible studies check out: Zarephath Widow Bible Study - A lesson in courage and surrender. When Moses was born, Jochebed saw (Ex. Amram was the Levite man who was Moses father. [6] In the Apocryphal Testament of Levi, it is stated that Jochebed was born, as a daughter of Levi, when Levi was 64 years old. For some, there is a lack of the assurance of the forgiveness of past sins. She put the child in it and set it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile. 78). The God of Israel was more real to Amram and Jochebed than was the king of Egypt. As she raised her children, she implanted the seeds of hope in their hearts. The outcome of this brave action of defying the King of Egypt is now known to all. According to another midrash, Moses rejected the breasts of the Egyptian women because he said: God will speak with me. Jesus reminds us that there will be those who are last which shall be first and first which shall be last (Luke 13:30). (NET), Exodus 6:20 Amram married his fathers sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. This is a huge part of the story Jewish Study Bible, The verb could be given a more colloquial translation such as she felt sorry for him. But the verb is stronger than that; it means to have compassion, to pity, to spare. What she felt for the baby was strong enough to prompt her to spare the child from the fate decreed for Hebrew boys. Another midrash has Jochebed building a little canopy for Moses inside the ark, for she said to herself: Perhaps I will not see him under his wedding canopy (BT Sotah 12ab). What are some areas of your life you need to stop holding on to and start trusting God? The conditions described in the first two chapters of Exodus indicate that indeed those were dark days for the Children of Israel. Exodus 2, which describes the birth of Moses, does not name her, or, for that matter, the father or sister of Moses. If the Pharaoh here is Rameses (RAM uh sees) II, he had over 60 daughters.3 We dont know, but whoever she was, she had enough influence to kill Moses or keep him alive. All her choices were difficult. Learn Religions. 1:21), which the Rabbis understand as priestly and Levitical households, or as royal households. She didnt just let him go, she was a woman of faith, and she let him go and trusted her God. In the Rabbinic retelling, when Amram returned his wife, Jochebed was a hundred and thirty years of age, but signs of youth appeared on her: her body became smoother, her wrinkles were straightened out, and her former beauty was restored. Maurice is a Messianic Jew who frequently channels God. V. 1 begins with the marriage of Jochebed and Amram, and then the reader is immediately told of Mosess birth, concealment and rescue. She brought him to all the Egyptian women, but Moses was not willing to nurse from any of them. She took leave of her baby with a heavy heart, and tried with all her might to protect him and ensure that he remain alive. Rather, this verse teaches that Jochebeds pregnancy was without suffering, just as she gave birth without pain. So when Jochebed gave birth to Moses. She loved all of her children dearly and proved this when she risked her life to save her youngest child, Moses, from Pharaoh Seti I's soldiers. Moses, in the wilderness, instructed them to put away pagan gods. Answering:, "Jochebed couldn't have gone to the Holy land because God killed off the entire generation that left Egypt except for Caleb and Joshua as punishment. I would have wondered if he would be safe? The afflictions of life are like driving through a tunnel. Answer: As the verse doesn't state what Jochebed's intentions were, the matter is open to speculation. Then she put the baby in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. Although she is mentioned only twice in the Bible, Jochebed has a lasting place as one of the immortal mothers of Israel. She breathed air just like you and I do. What if she kept the baby at home until eventually the authorities came? Lesson two Handout (Click Here). THE BIRTH OF THE DELIVERER. There arc three arks mentioned in Scripture. Moses, in the wilderness, instructed them to put away pagan gods. "the written Torah." She sent one of her attendants, took it. Jochebed: Levi's daughter and Amram's wife. If so, then why does Ex. Hebrews 11:23 and Exodus 2:1-2 and 6:20. He became afraid that if an enemy of Egypt waged war against them, the Israelites would side with the enemy against Egypt. Cain the first human murderer recorded in the Bible, Jephthah the Gileadite the tenth Judge of Israel, Samuel 15th Judge of Israel and also a Prophet, Background Information: For Hebrews Chapter 11. [15], Some rabbinic literature attempts to resolve the textual discrepancy in which the Torah lists 34 children of Leah born in Mesopotamia, stating that two were dead, and then immediately states that there were 33 in total,[16] by arguing that the figure referred only to the surviving children, and that Jochebed was the 33rd;[17][18] however, since the Book of Numbers describes Jochebed's birth as occurring in Egypt,[1] this necessitated the further rabbinic argument that Jochebed was born exactly on the border of Egypt, in the gateway of the city. [27], Stories of unusual events during the pregnancy of Aminah, mother of the Islamic prophet Muhammad,[28] are compared with the similar experiences of Jochebed when she was carrying Moses. Hebrews11:23 they were not afraid of the kings edict. Think of her alterative choices. Exodus 6: 20 The Apostle Paul exhorts in Ephesians 6 that the Christian should have on the belt of truth and the coat of righteousness; our feet should be shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Israel (Jacob) and his family had gone into Egypt to escape the famine in Palestine. Amram and Jochebed committed Moses to the ark, and the ark would come between Moses and death. Here then, we have Moses' own parents, living in a relationship clearly condemned as abomination under the Law of Moses. Yes, Miriam is watching from a distant place on the shore, but she, his mother had to let him go. When she saw that he was a "fine" child, she hid him for three months and when she could do so no longer, she made a basket out of bulrushes and put him among the reeds by the river bank. Jochebed is identified by some rabbis in the Talmud with Shiphrah, one of the midwives described by the book of Exodus as being ordered by Pharaoh to kill the new-born male children. Growing up, we wanted him to have all the normal experiences of childhood, sleepovers, soccer, basketball, baseball, and football, field trips, then dates, eventually college and marriage: without me. Nile was considered emanation (em uh ney shun) THE SOURCE of the pagan god Osiris( O sigh rus) and the waters had magical properties. Each was a prophet, and each served Israel (provided them physical succor): by merit of Moses, the Israelites were given the manna; by merit of Aaron, clouds of glory surrounded the Israelites and protected them during their journeying in the wilderness; and by merit of Miriam, the well accompanied them wherever they went. Here there would be less danger from crocodiles than if she just put him down on the beach. Lit. I wonder if she picked him up, cuddled him to stop his cries; did he smile at her and melt her heart? Thus it was easy for Amram and Jochebed to add up the years of Israels stay in Egypt, and see that the time of deliverance which God had promised had almost come. He turned to his three friends, and said in essence, Although I dont know why I am called upon to face this trial, I do know the joy of fellowship with God, and though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15). The Nile was home to alligators, snakes and all other manner of dangerous animals. 2:2). One of the most stimulating accounts in the Bible, pointing to great faith during trial, is that of Job. Like Jochebed, we won't always foresee God's purpose in letting go, but we can trust that his plan is even better. https://www.learnreligions.com/jochebed-mother-of-moses-701165 (accessed March 2, 2023). The sage, who wanted to awaken them, said: A single woman in Egypt gave birth to sixty myriads from a single stomach. There was a pupil there named R. Ishmael son of R. Yose, who asked him: Was this really so? He [Rabbi] replied: This is Jochebed, who bore Moses, who is deemed the equivalent of sixty myriads of Israel (Song of Songs Rabbah 1:15:3). Jochebed just happened to put Moses in the right spot on the Nile? Moses would become God's servant who would lead Israel out of Egypt. In the film, she sings a lullaby to baby Moses as she sets the basket carrying him adrift in the river, also pleading the river to deliver Moses "somewhere he can live free". A little boy spent many hours making a small boat and then he took it to the lake. JOCHEBED: THE MOTHER OF MOSES. PO Box 391 Rabbah 1:13). Jochebed made a decision, and she made a plan. Doing nothing would have condemned Moses to death at the hands of the Egyptian death squads. Hebrews 11:23 BY FAITH they hid MosesThey saw life through the eyes of faith. She chose bulrushes, a soft and flexible material that is capable of withstanding contact with both soft and hard objects. Jochebed was Amram's aunt, strangely enough; she was his father's sister. The midrash portrays Jochebed as a wise woman who was righteous and God-fearing. We can only get through that kind of disappointment by turning it over to God like Jochebed put her child in his care. She lived in Egypt, where the descendants of Israel were being oppressed. Then verse 18 shows that Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. In the New Testament, she is praised for her faith in God.[3]. After many hardships, Moses was used by God as his servant to free the Hebrew people from slavery and lead them to the edge of the promised land. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Or would it be wise to just distance herself from this baby and let someone else throw him in the Nile? She was curious, what could be in it? Jochebed knew as long as she trusted Jehovah, she had nothing to fear. What to do? 1:17 relates that the midwives, fearing God, let the boys live; their reward for fearing God, according to the midrash, is Torah: because Jochebed feared the Lord, she gave birth to Moses, through whom the Torah was given (Ex. Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years. But this couple worshipped Jehovah God. Let us know. According to Jewish legend, she is buried in the Tomb of the Matriarchs, in Tiberias. Yocheved was the youngest member of the seventy souls who made up Jacob's household. Their lives were made bitter with hard service in mortar and brick, and in many kinds of field labor. But soon he noticed that the stones were going beyond the boat and forming huge circular waves in the waterand those waves were bringing his boat toward the shore. They had faith that God had made promises to them through Abraham that they would be a nation, a people with land, their land. You can never get them all quiet at the same time. Moses fled to Midian, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The smaller lad began to cry even more, because he thought his brother was trying to sink the boat. Although her jealously later in life led to . Joseph, Jacob's son, was a ruler in Egypt at that time and the children of Jacob (Israel) were treated kindly. Hold on to things and people with open hands, like Jochebed they know when to release and. A number of miracles were performed for Jochebed in connection with the birth of Moses: she bore him at the age of one hundred and thirty, and God restored her youth and her beauty. 4. This is a clear example of how God gives, provides, and answers more abundantly than we can even ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Jochebed hid Moses because he was in danger of being killed since he was a Hebrew boy. She felt a firm unity with her Creator and was exhilarated by this bond. To save her son's life, she waterproofed a basket and put the child in it. His older sister, Miriam (15 years his senior), and his brother 3-year old Aaron were safe from Pharaoh's edict since they were born before it was enacted. The story of his birth ( Exodus 2:1-10) is followed by an account of his killing of an Egyptian and the flight to Midian ( Exodus 2:11-16 ). 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