Lay It On The Basket, Throw It On The Hand Of God

LAY IT ON THE BASKET, THROW IT ON THE HAND OF GOD

(Exodus 2:1-10)

Pressured by the possibility of losing a dear child! Threat for their lives! Injustice and discrimination! Grinding poverty and hard labor! Those were among the great challenges that Moses’ family are facing. They found the answer through the basket. The basket carried by God’s hand, the basket of God’s intervention.

Let us find lessons from Moses family as we find answer to our own challenges of life.

The following biblical narrative describes their situation:

Exo 1:6 In time, Joseph and each of his brothers died, ending that generation.

Exo 1:8 Then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.

Exo 1:9 He told his people, "These Israelites are becoming a threat to us because there are so many of them.

Exo 1:15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah:

Exo 1:16 "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, kill all the boys as soon as they are born. Allow only the baby girls to live."

Exo 1:17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king and allowed the boys to live, too.

Exo 1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Throw all the newborn Israelite boys into the Nile River. But you may spare the baby girls."

REASONS TO LAY OUR TRUST ON GOD’S HAND

I – TIMES AND SEASON IS UNPREDICTABLE

Exo 1:8 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

Exo 1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.

Exo 2:1 During this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married.

The Jews probably did not anticipate this particular time when the Pharaoh who respect Joseph had passed away and new Pharaoh who doesn’t know Joseph’s contribution to Egypt took over the country.

The ever changing political and economic situations should remind us to trust God rather than men, for He alone is unchangeable.

II- HUMAN POWER AND ABILITY HAS LIMITATIONS

Exo 2:2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw what a beautiful baby he was and kept him hidden for three months.

Exo 2:3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a little basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile River.

For three months, Moses’ parent manages to hide the child from the soldiers who are out to implement the Pharaoh’s decree to kill the Jewish boy children. But they know that sooner or later, they are going to discover the child. This time they have to entrust the child to the hand of God.

Many times, people can only discover the ways of God when they arrived at the edge. We discover God’s strength at the end of our own power.

III – GOD CAN USE ORDINARY THINGS AND PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PLAN

Exo 2:4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.

Exo 2:5 Soon after this, one of Pharaoh’s daughters came down to bathe in the river, and her servant girls walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the little basket among the reeds, she told one of her servant girls to get it for her.

With God, any impossible things can happen:

The basket of trash can be the basket of trust!

The river of fatality can be a river of opportunity

The innocent little girl can be a wise adviser!

The enemies’ daughter can be a big supporter!

IV – ONLY GOD CAN TOUCH THE HEART

Exo 2:6 As the princess opened it, she found the baby boy. His helpless cries touched her heart. "He must be one of the Hebrew children," she said.

When God touch the heart, the irritating baby’s cry can be a sweet music to one’s heart. There no need to ask for human’s mercy when you found the mercy of God. When we found God’s favor, we can also found the favor of even the enemy.

V – GOD CAN GIVE WISDOM TO UNLEARNED

Exo 2:7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. "Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" she asked.

The girl doesn’t need to be educated to read and grab the opportunity written by the hand of God. No doubt, God is the director of this real life drama. He let every situation to work for those who love God and called according to His purpose. God knows beforehand that the baby Moses will be thrown to the river by their parent. Hence He sends the party to save the baby even before they thrown him there. Truly God is Jehovah Jireh. The Lord provides.