We marvel when we read of the boldness and wisdom of Miriam, the little daughter of Am-ram and Jochebed, as she walked into the presence of Pharaoh’s daughter and suggested that she could secure a Hebrew nurse for the baby Moses that had just been drawn from the river. But God was working through her to bring about His own purposes.
“And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.” verse 8. How those young feet must have skipped homeward that she might quickly tell her parents this wonderful news! Scripture says, “How beautiful... are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.” Isaiah 52:77How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:7). And the mother wasted no time in returning with Miriam to the river’s edge and in presenting herself to the ruler’s daughter. Neither mother nor daughter would release any information to indicate their relationship to the little babe and the princess gave no indication that she suspected in the least that the infant belonged to them.
“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.” verse 9. An answer of surpassing wonder and delight to her faith was the experience of this Hebrew mother. How they must have lifted up their hearts in thankfulness to God for this unexpected and wondrous joy. Hereafter Moses required no hiding. God had ordered events so that he became one of the most protected children in the whole land. Restored to her own bosom, he was safe and secure from the wrath of the king. Pharaoh, through God’s overruling providence, would not interfere with the pleasure of his own daughter.
Not only was the child restored to his mother, but Jochebed was paid wages out of the liberality of the king’s purse for this service to the king’s daughter. Joy would not be confined to the immediate household of Amram, for near friends, no doubt, must have been brought into the secret and rejoiced with them to see God’s wonderful ways in answering the faith of this couple. We are told that “No man liveth unto himself,” and it is happy if the testimony of the Lord’s people is an encouragement to others to strengthen their faith too. May we be reminded that God is always pleased to reward faith, for “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:66But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6). Moreover, He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Does it not cheer our hearts to think of that happy household in the land of Goshen where their faith in God received so great a compensation?
May we, too, learn to trust Him with fullness of heart and rest in the quietness of faith that knows assuredly that “He doeth all things well.”
ML 05/12/1968