Be A Part of the Plan

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." - Proverbs 31:30

In life, it's not always the star players that make the biggest impact. Many times it's the lesser-knowns who can breakout and leave lasting impressions, too.

This applies to the numerous characters in the Bible who although not "major" names, nevertheless make big, long-lasting impacts on their own. Interestingly, many of these "minor" characters just happen to be women.

Jochebed was one such woman. We can read about her in Exodus 1; 2:1-10; and Numbers 26:59. As is common with characters like hers, not a whole of information is given. But what little we do know about Jochebed I will share here with you.

She was an Israelite, in other words, one of God's chosen people. She was also the daughter of a Levite. If you recall, the tribe of Levi was that from which came the priests and those who took care of the duties of the Tabernacle, and then of the Temple after it was built.

Jochebed was married to Amram, another Levite (Exodus 2:1). We can safely assume that they must have been very dedicated and religious people.  An interesting sidenote is that  Amram was her nephew; which basically made her Amram’s aunt as well as his wife (Exodus 6:20).

However, these types of marriages were prohibited later on (Leviticus 18:12). But this is just one of those little juicy tidbits that make the Bible such a great read! Now getting back on track, Jochebed probably led the quiet, nondescript life that was among most married women at that time.

Yet, Jochebed's mark in history was not due to any remarkable thing that she did on her own, but rather as a result of her marriage. You see, she was the mother of three children whose names must certainly ring a bell: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

At the time of Moses' birth, the Israelites, were an enslaved minority. Their numbers were gradually increasing which greatly worried the Egyptian Pharaoh. His main concern was that they would increase and join forces against Egypt with their enemies.

The Pharaoh, however, had a plan up his sleeve. He ordered all of the midwives to kill any Hebrew boys when they were born, but to spare the girls (Exodus 1:8–16). Human plans, however, have no bearing on God's master plan, as we shall see.

Not everyone was thrilled with Pharaoh's murderous decree. The Hebrew midwives chose not to participate in this infanticide; fearing God, they disobeyed his order. Instead, they told the Pharoah that the Hebrew women were giving birth faster than they could get to them. (Exodus 1:19).

When this plan didn't work out, Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the newborn male children of the Hebrews (Exodus 1:22). This was the hateful environment unto which Moses was born. Thus, for three months Moses was hidden by his mother Jochebed (Exodus 2:2).

By her loving actions to save her baby Jochebed, a "minor" player in the Bible, was about to become a "major" star in God's eternal plan. Moses was growing and it was getting more difficult to keep him hidden from Pharaoh's warrant of death.

One day, Jochebed made a decision to coat a papyrus basket with tar and pitch, set the baby Moses inside, and hide it in the thick reeds that grew along the bank of the Nile (Exodus 2:3). His sister Miriam watched from a distance to see what would happen.

By the guiding hand of God, Moses was discovered there by the Pharaoh's daughter who secretly arranged for him to be cared for until such time when she would adopt him as her own son. Little did Pharaoh's daughter know that the woman who raised Moses for her was his actual mother (Exodus 2:9-10).

I will not go any further into Moses' life from this point on because that's another story altogether, and any more information about Jochedbed is not to be found. But I think we can all agree that Jochebed's fear of God, along with her loving, motherly instincts played an integral part in God's plans.

Her story illustrates how God can use each one of us. By our love, devotion, and obedience to Him we can make just as big an impact as any of the major characters in Scripture. As Philippians 2:13 says, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

Scripture: Psalm 32:8;1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 3:20;  Isaiah 14:24; Psalm 138:8

Prayer: Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do, and I will obey you faithfully; teach me to serve you with complete devotion. I will praise you with all my heart, O Lord my God; I will proclaim your greatness forever, amen.  - Psalm 86:11-12 (GNT)

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey