Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today - Commentary

Chapter 5 - Jochebed: The Greatest Sacrifice It's probably important to say here that I was impressed by the author providing some contextual information that's meaningful to getting everything possible out of Jochebed's story. The first is that she was from the house of Levi, a Levite. They are the "priestly" clan of Israel. And although the history of the Levites in relationship to the temple in Jerusalem will eventually have its ups and downs, the temple doesn't exist yet. So during this period of time the Levites are devout in their faith and carry the responsibility for performing ritual sacrifice and carrying forward Hebrew tradition and law. This role will become even more important as Moses eventually leads the people out of Egypt into the wilderness during the Exodus. You may be familiar with the book of Leviticus in the bible... This book is essentially dedicated to the Levites and their role as caretakers of the faith. The second helpful piece of information the author provides is the back story as to why Jochebed had to hide Moses and eventually find a way for him to have a chance at life. Pharaoh and the Egyptians had become fearful of the growing Israelite population; they feared a revolt that sooner than later might be so large it would be impossible to stop. So Pharaoh ordered all the male children under a certain age to be killed. All of this information helps us understand more about both who Jochebed was and what her motivation was for her actions. It also helps us to understand the depth of the challenge she would face as she becomes wet nurse to her own son after she gives him up to the river. pg.83 ...the quick and easy "solution" offered by the world today... the author mentions abortion, but I would pose another option. There is an alarming increase in the number of unplanned pregnancies and subsequent births, especially to young single mothers, who are in situations where they are not equipped to raise a child - financially, emotionally, etc. - and they make the decision to keep the child largely for selfish reasons rather than sincerely considering the child's welfare and future. It is an unfortunate reality of both the human condition and today's culture that many people think and act into their own desires and needs rather than considering the consequences to people around them. If ever there was a generation that needed God... To read more on the ELCA's "official" position on abortion see the following web page: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/Abortion.aspx I found it interesting to think about how the Egyptian midwives, and even Pharaoh's daughter, show compassion to the "enemy", even to the point of defying Pharaoh's orders. What circumstances might have you showing compassion to someone you either fear or consider an "enemy"? The author poses the idea that Jochebed probably had to make the ultimate decision to give Moses up at the spur of the moment without the benefit of her husband's presence. There will be times in all of our lives when we have to make difficult decisions for people we care about without the benefit of the immediate council of a significant other. For those of you who have husbands in the military or in occupations where they travel on a regular basis, or who are separated or divorced, you know what Rev. Susan S. Jones 1

Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today - Commentary

that feels like. It's important for us as women to have support networks of people that we love and trust, who also love and trust us, so that they can help us carry the burdens of those decisions, especially in helping to support us after the fact. I found myself thinking about when Jochebed was removed from being part of Moses' life. How much of an influence was she in his life and for how long? How much time did she spend with him beyond simply the required feedings? Chances are good not much but the bible doesn't tell us so we can only speculate. We are left to wonder how much of who Moses would become is nature vs. nurture and how much is God directed as part of his larger plan. One has to believe that Moses carries himself very differently from the rest of his people who have been in slavery for hundreds of years. After all, he is raised as royalty and with privilege. I can imagine him walking tall and proud where the rest of his people probably scurry from place to place or hunch over trying not to be noticed and singled out for work or even punishment by one of Pharaoh's guards. God could not have found a better candidate for what he eventually had planned, and Jochebed's sacrifice set the stage to make all of that possible; for the child she gave up to have a courage and a bearing that had long since been stolen from the rest of his people that enabled him to go toe-to-toe with Pharaoh and ultimately enable the freedom of his people. As a member of the priestly class, Jochebed, her husband and family, would have keenly understood and trusted what it meant to be in a close relationship with God. She trusted God to make a difference for Moses and for her no matter where life and circumstances would lead them both. She trusted that God would care for both her and her son even in the midst of a horribly difficult decision. How can our ability to trust God to care for us and for our children in all things help us in raising our own children and/or being an influence on other children we may have relationships with in our families, neighborhoods, jobs, etc.? pg. 88 "...pray for the fulfillment of God's purpose in their lives..." Please note... pray for God's purpose in their lives, NOT OURS! This is much harder to do than we realize. Ever listened to your own prayers and thought about who's will you are asking to be fulfilled? Hmmm.... This is a toughie for mom's and dad's, because all of us have dreams for our kids and for kids we're close to... but in the end they are people too with minds of their own and they will go their own way no matter what we tell them. So our only hope, really, is to pray for God's purpose to be fulfilled in them. But that's probably not our normal prayer mode. pg. 89 Isn't it interesting that Moses, on the lam, finds himself welcomed into the home of a priest of Midian? And yet even though this circumstance seems tailor made for Moses to fall into the family calling it takes another 40 years before God really comes knocking. Sometimes, even though we are marked/called/gifted for a particular thing, God knows that we need time to grow, mature, change, into a person who is truly ready to be used by God. Took me a 25 year career as something else before I felt compelled to enter seminary even though I had ideas of working in the church when I was a child. God needed that time to help me become what he needed me to be in order to serve his purpose. Has God ever challenged you to wait until the appropriate time? Rev. Susan S. Jones 2

Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today - Commentary

Another question that came to mind in this chapter is this: Do you have the ability to recognize that sometimes others can offer something important to your children that you can't? Do you welcome their influence or become jealous or resentful of it? Worst case scenario would probably be something like one or more of your kids "worshipping" the one person in your family who drives you absolutely nuts. Do you have the ability to discern whether or not that person can actually provide them with something positive and important that maybe you can't? Do you consider that maybe God has plopped that person in your midst to not only be a resource and influence on your child but also to help you temper your possibly "bad" attitude. What might Pharaoh's daughter have had to offer Moses that would eventually become important in the grand plan God had for his life?

Rev. Susan S. Jones