The river Nile, into which the infant Hebrew boys were to be thrown at the command of Pharaoh, the cruel Egyptian king, speaks of the sentence of death that has “passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” But the ark, in which Moses rode in safety, points to Christ, the true Ark and refuge for one confronted with the terrors of death. All who rest in Christ are safe and secure, not just for time but for eternity as well. The infant Moses was safe within his covert, for the waters could not reach him. The ark stood between that which spoke of death and the one hiding securely within it. Christ has stood between the sinner and a righteous God, Himself enduring “all the waves and billows” of God’s judgment against sin. By His death He has prevailed and brought salvation to all who trust in Him.
“And his (Moses’) sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.” verse 4. Miriam’s young heart had not yet proved the confidence in God shown by her mother. No doubt concerned about the welfare of her little brother, she stood off at a safe distance to see what would take place. Although her faith was not very great, it is refreshing to think of her devotion to the one she loved and, as it turned out, God used her presence to bring about His purposes for the little babe, as well as on behalf of the whole nation of Israel.
“And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side: and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” vv. 5,6.
The ways of God are so often opposite to the ways of man, as it is recorded: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:88For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8). Surely the most hopeful thought of Amram and Jochebed would never imagine that God would preserve their little boy by means of one out of the household of the very king who sought to kill him; nor that the river, where so many other infants met death, would be the place from which his deliverance would come! But God is able to employ even His enemies to work for His purposes and such was to prove the case in our narrative.
In spite of the fact that the Egyptian princess recognized the babe as a Hebrew, whom she knew her father hated, she had compassion on him and determined to befriend him. Miriam, the sister, hearing the exclamations of Pharaoh’s daughter and her maidens, had courage to step forward and ask, “Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?” verse 7.
ML 05/05/1968