Pharaoh king of Egypt had given commandment that all baby boys among the children of Israel were to be thrown into the waters of the Nile, but Amram and Jochebed were not afraid of the king's commandment. Their little son was too precious to be given up to the king's cruelty, and they were willing to risk their own lives for his sake. For three months, the boy was hidden, because they had faith in the God who had given him to them.
At last his mother could no longer hide him. Carefully she made for him a little ark of bulrushes, daubed with pitch so that it would not leak, and hid their treasure among the flags by the banks of the very river which was supposed to take his life. His older sister Miliaria watched to see what would become of him.
Do you know who found him? Pharaoh's daughter came down to wash herself at the river, and there she found the strange little boat. When one her servants had lifted, the cover, there was the baby, crying probably with hunger. The princess had nothing to give him, but Miriam sped away and brought back the most willing nurse in the world—the child's own mother!
So he was rescued from death, and given the name of Moses because he was drawn out of the water. When he was still a boy, he went to live in the court of Pharaoh and was honored as the grandson of the king, but when he came to manhood he had to choose as young men must, what he would do in life. What a choice he made! He chase to leave behind him all the glories of Egypt, although he knew this would displease the king very much. He was not, however, afraid of the king's anger, because he wanted to please God.
Both Moses and his parents showed that they were not afraid of the king, although his power was greater and more cruel than that of any man you know. That was courage, wasn't it?. They feared the God of Israel, but they were not afraid of the king of Egypt. God blessed them for this and He will. also bless you if you know the Lord as your Saviour and act in such courage and obedience to His Word, whether in refusing a kingdom, or minding a baby! God takes notice and rewards us if we are faithful, even in that which is least.
But the time came when it was Pharaoh's turn to be afraid; nor could all his idols give him the courage he needed to endure then. He was plagued with flies and frogs and boils and hail. and darkness, until he cried out with fear, but God could not bless a faithless man like that. Finally, the Lord killed his oldest son, and then soon after he and all his army were drowned in the Red Sea while Moses and the redeemed Israelites were delivered and sang joyfully on the other side of the water.
The time will soon come for this thoughtless world to be afraid of the judgments of God too, but the Lord. Jesus in whom we trust, will have taken us out of it before that time, and we will then he safe in heaven singing His praises. Will. you be there, dear reader? Which are you choosing: Christ; or the world and its pleasures?
Are you afraid of displeasing some friend, or do you fear God and have you, like Moses, chosen to confess the Lord as your Saviour even if your friends laugh at you for it?
Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1949