I have been reading about the life of Moses.  Starting prior to his birth.  It is surreal to me that even before he was born, his destiny was in the hands of God and those who feared Him. The hope of restoration and reconciliation rested in the birth of an unwanted child.  The Hebrew  people endured the threat of death and destruction everyday.  The bondage of slavery was real.    They were not in control of anything  including the well being of their own children.  Children born into a life of turmoil if they were given life at all.  The fate of the male children rested in the hands of the midwives.  The king had commanded that all Hebrew male children were to be put to death upon delivery.  Exodus 1:17- But the midwives  feared  God and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.  When questioned by the King, the midwives responded that Hebrew women are not like Egyptian woman, for they are vigorous , and they give birth before the midwife can get to them.  So God was good to the midwives and the people multiplied, and became very mighty.  And it came about because the midwives feared God, that He established households for them.

 It wasn’t like the threat of death and destruction ended there.  Good job midwives, here are families of your own to care for, now you are blessed.  No the adversity just intensified.  They were still being asked to do kill and destroy innocent lives. Yet they held strong to their faith and fear of God above all else.    What quiet and intense strength  they must have had.   It seems like God had  abandoned his people and left them to die a slow and painful existence yet you see his provincial hand upon these lives. How do you see beyond the years of slavery?  These midwives had faith to believe that God would not abandon them.  They had an inner drive that enabled them to think beyond themselves to future generations.  The face of adversity brought strength in numbers. 

This sets the stage for the birth of Moses.   A man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.  The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.  Jochebed, the birth Mother of Moses is a hero.  To become pregnant with the understanding that if this child is a male, he will die unless she does something.  I love that it says when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for 3 months.  3 excruciating months.   I honestly question where my sanity would be. 

A few years ago I  watched a Mother give up a child whom she brought into this world.  It was a painful and difficult journey but she came to the place where she wanted to give this child something more.  She knew that because of her own circumstances she could not parent this little one, yet she still brought her into this world.  She will always be this child’s mother and forever this child will remember her.  Life had been so hard on this young Mom, she was scarred both physically and emotionally.  She just wanted someone to love her and be proud of her.  She gave the ultimate gift, she gave someone else an opportunity to love and parent her child. 

When I read the story of Moses I see a woman who bravely gave away a child so that He could have life. One that she hid for 3 months before releasing him into a basket to a new home and a new future.  My dear friends are awaiting adopting a beautiful little girl from China.  They are eagerly anticipating her arrival.  They long to give her a home where she can have a different life.  I am contending in prayer with them for her arrival, yet my heart can’t help but grieve for this mother who brought this beautiful little girl into the world.  No less significant or important in this little ones life.  One could not happen without the other.