29/02/2024
Our March Devotion: We pray it is a blessing.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MOSES (PART ONE)
“A goodly child” – Exodus 2:2
AFTER JOSEPH
Joseph left his descendants in good standing. They lived in the best part of Egypt, a growing and prosperous people (Exodus 1:6-7). However, things changed when a new king, who did not know what Joseph had done for the Egyptians, came to power (Exodus 1:8). He saw the Hebrews as a potential threat, possibly joining their enemies at some point (Exodus 1:9-10).
PHARAOH’S PLAN
He convinced his people of this and began to implement a plan against the Jews. This plan included:
• Enslaving them and working them to death, using cruel taskmasters to control them – Exodus 1:11, 13-14
• Ordering the Hebrew midwives to kill all the newborn male Jewish children at birth – Exodus 1:15-16
PHARAOH’S PLAN FAILED
The Egyptian king's plan failed. It completely backfired: "The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. (Exodus 1:12). Also, the midwives "Did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive" (Exodus 1:17). The reason they did not comply was they "Feared God” (Exodus 1:17). As he did not get his desired result, he commanded all Egyptians to join his efforts and throw any newborn male Hebrew child into the river (Exodus 1:22).
GOD’S PLAN
That is what should have happened to Moses. But God had another plan for this, “Goodly child” (Exodus 2:2). Instead of the river being his place of death, it was the place where he was gifted new life. Once she could no longer hide him, his mother placed her three-month baby into a bulrush ark, laid him in the river's waters, and ultimately into God's hands (Exodus 2:3). While his sister watched, Pharaoh's daughter rescued him, and agreed with his sister that he would need a Hebrew nursemaid to nourish the child (Exodus 2:4-8). Of course, his sister ran and got his and her mom, who raised him till he was weaned, all the while being paid out of Pharaoh's treasury to do so (Exodus 2:8-9). When the time came, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter, where he was raised as her son: a son she named Moses, meaning drawn out of the water: the water that was meant to be his death chamber (Exodus 2:10). God had well-positioned him for his destiny. God's plan had prevailed. Though he was blissfully unaware of what was happening that day, this was a great day in Moses' life.
I sometimes wonder about all the times God has kept me from harm I was unaware of at the time. Perhaps you do as well. Why not take a moment to thank Him for those gifts He has given you? And while you're at it, thank Him for His plan, Child of God. His plan will prevail
