There are times in our lives that we hear stories, even true events from the Bible, and we don't think twice about them. They are truth. I have read and heard them most of my life. The different events seem small and some so insignificant compared to the bigger picture. But now... as a mom some of those "small" events have so much more sacrifice and meaning.
I was sitting in an AWANA story time for K-2nd grade; mostly just watching to make sure they are paying attention to teaching. Then I heard it. The leader said the most simple words but yet it cut to my very being. "Do you remember Moses? Remember how his mom had to wrap him up and put him in a basket in the river?" Wow. I have read over that 2nd passage in Exodus numerous times. I love the story of the man that was Moses. The first record of an adoption. The one who led the Israelite people to freedom. The one who spoke to a burning bush. But I never thought twice about the woman who had to wrap her baby up, coated the basket with tar and pitch so that it wouldn't sink, and placed him in the river along the bank. That is it 4 short verses.
Instead of bringing harm to him she hid him for the first 3 months and then put him in a basket in the Nile. First of all I think about how loud they cried and how much they needed the first 3 months. How could you have hid that? But yet for the safety of her baby's life she made sure to meet his needs before he cried out too loudly. The constant needing of milk, love, sleep, and what about a sickness? I remember about how much they needed me during this early time of their life. God provided! He helped her to help baby Moses so that he could be hidden.
Next, she took so much care with the basket. She made sure it was perfect to keep him safe and comfortable. She did this all while knowing she had to place him in it possibly to never see him again. The thought of separation from the blessings God has given me is too heavy for my heart to handle. She did it. The 4 short verses don't say she doubted. They don't say she argued with what was needing to happen. They simply say she did these things. God blessed her after when Pharaoh's daughter found Moses and she needed a Hebrew woman (Moses' mother) to nurse him. I can't help but cry for that mother. I know there are times I wonder why? Why have you called me to this God? Why must I sacrifice in this way God? Sometimes it isn't a why but a flat no! (God is always ready for my hard headed stubborn behavior and He takes care of that.) It is my hard headed behavior that is floored by the 4 short verses and the fact that she did it. She gave up that helpless baby. Not only gave him up but she put him in a basket in the river! Am I the only one or does this sound crazy! God had a plan... and it was huge! This baby that was hidden for 3 months, place in the river, adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, he became the one God used to free the Israelites from slavery.
Isn't this true in our lives? Doesn't God have a plan for us? It will be huge. God can use you to start a church, lead a church, help out, bring a smile to someone who needs it, or just be there for someone else. It will be huge! You may not know it now but He does and He can't wait!
No comments:
Post a Comment