The Mother of Moses

Limited Edition Reproduction, 7.5" x 14"

Exodus 2:1-10

The Pharaoh of Egypt orders all newborn Hebrew males to be thrown in the Nile, for fear that they would someday outnumber the Egyptians. Moses’ mother hides him for three months until she can hide him no longer. She then places him in a papyrus basket and sends him down the Nile.

The emphasis of this story is often put on the actual baby in the Nile who is later found by Pharaoh’s daughter. Yet what stands out to me is the incredible anguish and hollow emptiness the mother must have experienced to make such a decision. As a father, it is hard to comprehend that emotional turmoil. The butterflies represent new life and hope, but they are behind Moses’ mother and she can’t see them at that present moment. Even though we may only see the difficult, impossible situation in front of us, God is doing work behind the scenes.

I smile at the end result. This Hebrew mother not only gets her baby back, but is also paid by Pharaoh’s daughter to nurse him.