Jochebed & Pharoh's Daughter

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.

~Exodus 2:1-2

In your own words describe the events of these two verses.  Look behind the scenes.  How do you think the family kept the baby quite?  If a close neighbor heard the newborn's cries, what do you think he or she woudl have done?  What if that neighbor herself just lost a newborn to Pharoh's decrees?  Why at three months could Jochebed "hide him no longer"? 

• Basically, Jochebed met a man from her own tribe, a Levite, they got married, assuming out of love, then, soon enough, conceived a child.  They probably hid the child because he was a helathy infant.
• I'm not sure if they would have used any material things to keep the baby quiet, however, I do kind of wonder if music could have been a big part of that family's life whenthe child was first born.  I am thinking of lullabyes.  Generally, a soft soothing sound, particular of a mother, or father's voice, would keep an infant pretty calm I believe
• I think this depends on whether the neighbor would be an Isrealite, or an Egyptian.  If their neighbor was Egyptian, and heard the baby cry, they would probably find it in their best interest to follow Pharoh's decres.  If they were Isrealite, they would probably have sympathy for the family and pray that the family would find a way to quiet the child, unless that neighbor lost a child to Pharoh, they might want to take the child for themselves and find their own way to hush the child.
• I am not totally sure as to when Infants start to walk but if the infant was able to do so at this age, this would probably be a possibility as to why Jochebed couldn't hide the child anymore.

How do you think you would have reacted in these circumstances?  Like Jochebed?  Like the other mothers?

• I probably would have done the same thing as Jochebed had done.  But also, who's to know that other mothers didn't do the exact same thing so that they could keep their children for as long as they could?

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.  His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

~Exodus 2:3-4

The events here go straight to a mother's heart.  How do you think Jochebed felt as she walked away from teh river?

• She was probably pretty worried that her baby would not make it somewhere safely

Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it.  She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

~Exodus 2:5-6

Pharoh's daughter, a member of the royal family, part of the race that was oppressing the Isrealites, now enters the picture.  What is most obvious about her from these verses?

• She is an independent and compassionate woman that doesn't want to hurt a small child

Why do you suppose she was allowed to disobey her father's harsh edict?

• she probably promised him that she would bring him up as a good man for Egypt.

Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

  “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother.  Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.  When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

~Exodus 2:7-10

Compare verses 9 and 10.  What conflicting emotions do you think Jochebed must have felt?

• First glad that she could take care of her own son to a point, but then sad when the child was weaned and had the learn the ways of the Egyptian people

When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

~Exodus 2:10

What is the significance of the words "he [Moses] became her son"?

• he was going to be a prince of Egypt

What purpose of God was at work here?

• Moses would learn how to become a leader of the people he actually belonged to

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

~Hebrews 11:23

This verse says that Moses' mother and father acted "by faith."  Their one goal was to protect and save their child.  Fear for our children's safetey -- for their spiritual and physical lives -- seems to be an inescapable part of parenting.  What part does faith play in child rearing?  What is your greatest fear for your child?  How can you "by faith" respond to your fears?

• Well, I don't have any children of my own so I'll have to go on the fly here I guess.  I woudl say that having patience is a part of having faith in child rearing. 
• If I had a child, I think my first fear would be how good a decision they would be in makig friends
• Probably the best way to respond by faith is through prayer