“The Prayer of Jochebed”
Introduction: Jochebed is the mother of Moses. Moses is the author of the Book of Exodus. He is giving us an account of his birth and the account of his praying Mother. As you read this story in Exodus Chapter two, you can envision this to be the unfolding prayer of Jochebed.
“Lord, I can hide no longer…”
(Exo 2:3 KJV) And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
Is there anything in your life that you can no longer hide? Jochedbed was afraid for the life of her child. Pharaoh had commanded that all of the male baby boys were to be killed. Jochebed hid the baby for three months. She could hide him no longer.
Again, let me ask you the question, “Is there anything in your life that you can no longer hide?”
Do you need to find a hiding place? Let me urge you to come to Christ and make of him your place of refuge.
“My very life is on the Altar…”
(Exo 2:3 KJV) And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
Jochebed made a little ark of slime and pitch and twigs. We need to come before the altar of the Lord. We too, are but slime and pitch and twigs. But, by the grace of God, we can find in him an ark of safety.
She placed her son, her very life, her future into the hands of God, when she placed Moses into the river before the Lord.
“I am waiting upon you for a miracle…”
(Exo 2:4 KJV) And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
The hardest thing there is to do is to wait.
Miriam was told to wait by the river’s side. No doubt Jochebed returned to her prayer closet. She was waiting on the Lord for a miracle.
“Lord, please, here my cry…”
(Exo 2:6 KJV) And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
The cry of Moses was the also the cry of Jochebed. May we cry unto the Lord to have compassion on us!
“And grant to thy servant abundantly above all that which I could ask or think.”
(Exo 2:9 KJV) And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
(Exo 2:10 KJV) And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Only God could accomplish such a plan. The God of grace answered the prayer of Jochebed. Not only was she able to care for her precious baby, but she would be paid wages for doing so!
God can change the heart of a wicked pharaoh through the tenderness of his own daughter!
Moses would grow up in the palace of the King! God does abundantly above all that which we could ever ask or think!
God answers prayer!
