Amram and Jochabed were both direct descendants of Levi, later to become the priestly family. As believers they were both characterised by a strong faith. Their marriage was so obviously ‘in the Lord’, 1 Cor. 7. 39. They are included in God’s picture gallery of faith as a result, ‘By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment’, Heb. 11. 23. This was done at considerable risk to themselves, particularly as the babe in arms was likely at times to make a considerable noise. Their faith may have been based on some specific promise concerning the child, but in any case they trusted the Lord to deliver him through the terrible circumstances surrounding his birth. Jochabed, particularly, seems to have noticed in the child something special for ‘… she saw him that he was a goodly child, …’, v. 2. Stephen later states before the elders of Israel that they saw ‘he was exceeding fair’, or ‘fair to God’, Acts 7. 20.
Eventually the situation became so acute that it was impossible to hide Moses in the house any longer. Jochabed is the one who devises a further means of his concealment in a small ark in the river, and arranges for Miriam his sister to watch over him. When all seemed at its darkest, God in His sovereignty now intervenes and Moses comes under the protection of Pharaoh’s daughter. Under the providence of God, too, Jochabed is appointed the nurse of Moses. How wonderful is God’s overruling for not only was Moses now protected but also provided for.
Jochabed must have been one of the all-time great spiritual mothers of Israel for she was responsible for bringing up three of the great leaders of Israel. We are sure that she would have prayed with each of them and led them all to faith in Jehovah. As a result of his godly mother’s counselling, nothing that came later in Moses’ experience, e.g. his high position in and the luxury of the palace or, indeed, any of the teachings and superstitions of Egypt, could ever shake this faith.
How important then is the role of a godly mother in bringing up her children in the admonition and nurture of the Lord.
