But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
Exodus 2:3
In verses 1-2 of Exodus chapter 2, we were introduced to the faith of Moses’s parents, but it wasn’t until we consulted with Hebrews 11 that the implication of what they did became clearer. In the face of a King’s edict that means death for the entire family, the parents of Moses kept him because they were persuaded that God had a plan for that child.
Three months later, the child has grown! His voice is probably louder when he cries now, maybe eats more frequently. He has probably also realised at this time that crying is a tool for getting attention so he cries more. Having a month-old baby myself at the time of this writing made me realise how hard it must have been for Moses’s parents to keep the child against the King’s will.
However, something interesting happened. “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.” (Exodus 2:3).
Earlier, the parents of Moses demonstrated their faith in God by holding on to the child. However, they had reached a point now where they had to let go of the child, and trust that if God truly had a plan as they believed, He would intervene. Sometimes, faith requires holding onto hope even when it seems impossible, while other times it demands the courage to let go and trust God to take charge.
Moses’s parents didn’t let go of the child because they resigned to fate out of fear. Rather, the Bible tells us that they were not afraid of the king’s edict; they were sensitive enough to understand when the demand of faith shifted from holding on to letting go. We must also learn from this couple that the demands of faith can change and only those who are spiritually sensitive will be able to glide with the move.
PRAYER
Lord, please help me to know when to hold on and when to let go in faith. Help me to be sensitive to your move in my generation.
