“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman... bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.” During the tragic and sorrowful days of slavery and cruelty, God was pleased to introduce an outstanding example of simple faith and trust in Him in the parents, Amram and Jochebed. At the time of this son’s birth there were already two other children in the family — a daughter, Miriam, the eldest, and a son, Aaron, who was three years of age. Now their third child was born at the precise time that Pharaoh had ordered the death of every infant son.
How dreadful it must have been to know that every newborn son was to be taken and cast into the river! God, however, had instilled in the hearts of this godly couple a trust that marked them apart from so many of their neighbors. God had given them that little son, and they counted upon Him that He would somehow keep their little one from the wicked purpose of the king. They were not confounded for He never forsakes those who put their trust in Him.
Looking upon their little babe, they found him not only a goodly child, but “exceeding fair” (Acts 7:2020In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: (Acts 7:20)), and were sure that God had some purpose for him. This trust in God and belief in His providence lifted them above all fear of the king’s commandment. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 11:2323By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. (Hebrews 11:23): “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” Was not this a remarkable evidence of full assurance in God?
Pharaoh was the tool of Satan, indeed a type of that evil one himself, and his greatest efforts were turned toward opposing God’s people. But God is mightier than Satan and will ever show Himself strong on behalf of His own. “The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught; He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.” Psalms 33:1010The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. (Psalm 33:10). Many were the trials that would beset the Israelites bore they would be free from their persecutors, but the birth of Moses was the promise of an eventual reward for the faith of this man and wife, and of a deliverer for all of God’s chosen people.
The believer will often meet with trials and difficulties, and experience persecution from the world and from the enemy of our souls. Immersed in his sorrows he may fail to remember that God’s eye is always looking down upon His own. In these circumstances he may forget God’s word which tells us “the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3,43Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3‑4). The world may oppose, but God will never forsake His own. Trials and patience will only work for good. Fear of the enemy will disappear when the believer is found “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
ML 04/21/1968