Life Lessons from Jochebed
- manojiype831
- Apr 2
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 2
Faith
Introduction and Background
Ex 1: 70 people of house of Israel came to Egypt at time of Joseph and settled in Goshen. Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, it is close to 350 years since then, the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. He was afraid of the Israelites and chose to deal shrewdly with them. Hard severe, Bitter, rigor, Bondage slavery.
Tough life. Background when Moses was born. Israel’s Suffering in Egypt.
Plan | Blessings |
Taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens | The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And Egyptians were in dread of the children of Israel. |
Mid wives instructed to kill all Hebrew newborn males | God was kind to the midwives; He gave them families of their own. |
Pharoah commanded every newborn male Hebrew should be cast into the Nile | God steps in to introduce the birth of God’s chosen deliverer, Moses. |
Was this a pleasant place? No, it was a dark place. The enemy is always against the children of God.
Focus on Ex 2: 1-10 & Jochebed as a mother and woman of faith.
Chapter 2 starts with the marriage of a Levite couple in the tough time and the birth of their youngest child. Who are these people? Jochebed was a daughter of Levi (Ex 2:1), and the mother of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (Ex 6:20; Num 26:59). Jochebed was married to Amram.
Look at the repeated use of "then" and "when" from v2 – v10. Finally, we see in verse 10, "When the child grew older..." It all started with a single moment, a decision that led to a series of events. Our lives, too, are made up of choices that determine our destiny. Jochebed was unnoticed, even in this passage, where her name is not mentioned. Nameless, faceless, generation. Because of her faith and choices, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam turned history around.
Let us look at Key Lessons from Jochebed’s Life.
Lesson 1: God Uses the Mundane to Produce the Miraculous.
A man met a woman, they married, and she had a child. Simple, everyday life events. From these ordinary moments, God brought forth something miraculous. God did not strike Pharaoh dead for his decree. He did not miraculously transport Moses to safety.
God cares for you and every small detail of your life. Matt 10:30 - And even the very hairs of our head are all numbered. Many of us live ordinary lives, but God works through the mundane to accomplish His purpose. Instead of dreading tomorrow and the week ahead, anticipate that God might do something miraculous through your daily routine when you make the right choices.
V2: She conceived and bore a son and hid him for 3 months. Fruit of womb is His reward (Ps 127:3).
Imagine Jochebed’s dilemma. She already had two children, Miriam (around 6 years) and Aaron (around 4 years). Now, she gives birth to a son under Pharaoh’s decree. If you were in her place, how would you have reacted? Would you have been filled with fear and sorrow, asking, "Why, God? Why give me a son in such a time?"
Instead, Jochebed trusted God. When she saw Moses, she recognized that he was a "fine child"—not just physically beautiful, but special in God's plan (divine favor). Her faith enabled her to see beyond her immediate circumstances and trust that God had a purpose for her son. This was a terrifying situation; Moses would grow, and she would not be able to hide him for long.
Do you have expectations of how God should answer your prayers? When He answers differently than you anticipated, how do you react: Complaining or trusting?
Lesson 2: Genuine Faith takes risks.
V3: When Jochebed could no longer hide Moses, she prepared a papyrus basket for him. Faith is not blind; it involves using common sense. She put an ark between Moses and the river Nile. She took careful measures to ensure Moses' safety while trusting God with the outcome.
The Hebrew word for Moses’ basket, tebah, the same word used for Noah’s ark. Both instances represent God’s salvation during death. Just as Noah’s ark preserved life during the flood, Moses’ ark preserved him in the Nile. This serves as a picture of Christ—when we place our trust in Him, we find protection and life amidst trials. “Let us throw off everything that hinders (weight) and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance/endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
True faith is not reckless it is stepping out without a backup plan, fully trusting God’s provision. Are we willing to step out in faith, without clinging to our own security plans? Pro 3:5-6 - Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Was Jochebed afraid? She was a woman of faith, feared the God of heaven more than the king.
What are things about which you are afraid? Take it to the Lord and ask Him to give you faith constantly to believe and rise. Ask with the right motives. Fresh Belief, remove Unbelief.
Mark 11:22-24. Have faith in God [constantly]. Do not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believe what He says will happen, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will]. No doubts Jas 1:6 - one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Lesson 3: Look at Eyes of Faith and Expectancy
V4: They did not just leave the baby at the river and say, "God, we've done our job, now it's up to you." No, they were watching, they were waiting. That is what faith is all about—looking with the eyes of faith to see what God is going to do. It is only when we see with the eyes of faith that we recognize God's hand at work. Pharaoh’s daughter arrives—right on time. Miriam saw what God was going to do. How often do we miss seeing God's hand in our daily lives?
Be like Miriam. Stand, watch, and wait. Do not give up on the impossible. Give it to God, pray, and watch what He can do. Look back on yesterday. What did God do in your life? Was it just an assumption that He was with you, or can you identify specific moments where He stepped in? When you see God's specific interventions, your faith is built up. Isa 40:31 - Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.
God steps in when we release our situation to Him. The princess arrives, sees the baby, recognizes he is Hebrew, and yet decides to adopt him. That was unheard of! Her father was cruel, ordering the deaths of Hebrew boys. Yet she was different. Who changed her heart? Only God. This is what we call the providence of God.
The word providence comes from two words: pro (before) and video (to see). God's providence is His ability to see beforehand and put everything into place. God had a plan for Moses, and His providence led Pharaoh’s daughter to the right place at the right time.
Even though the basket was well hidden among the reeds, God caused her to see it. Look at the details in verse 6: "When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying." Notice, she saw the child before she heard him cry. God opened her eyes first. Then, she had compassion. How does a cruel Pharaoh’s daughter suddenly develop compassion for a Hebrew child? God put that compassion in her heart. God has a plan for our lives. If we trust God and take steps of faith, He will change the hearts of even the most unlikely people.
When our ways are pleasing to the Lord – He makes even our enemies to be at peace with us. Prov 16:7, without faith it is impossible to please God. Ask Him to search and examine your heart.
Lesson 4: Faith exercised is faith in action, acknowledge God's sovereignty.
Many times, we stand in faith but hesitate to take the next step. If Miriam had doubted and thought, "How can I speak to Pharaoh’s daughter?" she would have missed this opportunity. But she trusted God, spoke up, and God led Pharaoh’s daughter to say yes.
Not only was Moses’ life spared, but he was given back to his mother to be raised under Pharaoh’s provision. When we give something to God, He honors our faith and often gives it back in greater ways. See the sovereignty of God. Pharaoh’s daughter said, "Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will give you wages." Imagine that! She was paid to raise her own son. God's plans always exceed our expectations.
Lesson 5: Be faithful stewards of what God has given you.
Jochebed nursed Moses for about 5/6 years. She loved Moses enough to let him go to Pharoah’s palace and let Pharoah’s daughter be his mother – Pagan palace but equipped with God’s foundation for that brief time. It was as if Moses was loaned to the princess as ruler of Egypt while in fact, he was the deliverer of Israel brought up in Egyptian royal palace.
She knew that Moses belonged first to God. Before our children/ anything God has entrusted to us, belong to us – they belong to God – let us be like Jochebed and see our children/assignments as ‘beautiful’ to the Lord. Release ‘your children’ and all that God has asked you to steward to Him. Let us be good stewards, we must give account to God for what we do with them. God made a wise choice to make Jochebed mother of Moses – He made a wise choice in making you as mother and father for your children.
She left a legacy of three children that God used to deliver Israel into a nation, Miriam the prophetess, Aaron – the first High Priest and Moses the deliverer.
Do not give up on your children/ those God has placed in your life: Jochebed was devoted to God and her children. Speak scriptures and life over your children. Raise them in the way of the Lord. Eph 6:4 - but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Bring them up (love them), nurture them.
Correct them lovingly (discipline),
Admonition (teach and instruct).
Outcome: Was Jochebed’s faith forgotten or rewarded?
Heb 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Closing Thoughts & Prayer
The Israelites at that time were poor slaves living in a dark place – they lived and modelled faith. Make this a model for our homes. No just saying but in action. Rise people of faith, Fight the good fight of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. In Eph 6:16, we read, “Above all, (put on) the shield of faith, (by which you) shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” The “shield of faith” is the piece of armor which we are to use to quench the flaming arrows of the evil one! We are to “Walk by Faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).
Faith is about watching and expecting God to act. Be like Miriam—stand, wait, and watch.
God steps in when we release our burdens to Him. What seems like coincidence is divine providence.
God’s plan is always greater than ours. Jochebed gave Moses up, and God returned him to her for a season—along with provision.
Trust God with your children and your future. The early years are crucial. Jochebed used them wisely to prepare Moses for his calling.
Acknowledge God's sovereignty. When we surrender, God works behind the scenes, orchestrating everything for His glory.
God brings different situations into our lives, and our responses to them determine whether we will be used to create history or simply become part of history. Do you want to be a history maker? God wants to author His story through our lives—if we respond in obedience and faith.
The name "Jochebed" means "Yahweh is glory." If we are willing to make the right choices, God's glory will be revealed through our lives.
Another Hebrew word that sounds like Jochebed is Ichabod, (1 Sam 4:21) which means "the glory has departed." The choice is ours: will we reflect God's glory, or will His presence leave us?
Addendum
Names in Hebrew & their meanings
Name | Meaning |
Amram | People Of Exaltation, A People Exalted |
Jochebed | Yah Gives Weight, Yah Is Impressive, Yahweh Is Glory |
Miriam | Drop of Sea, bitter, beloved |
Aaron | Bright, Accumulation, Centre of Cheer |
Moses | Child, Rescued from Drowning in Water, Extracted, Loan, Hidden, Covered |
Icabod | The Glory has departed. |
Parallels between Noah’s ark and Moses’ ark (same Hebrew word TEVA)
Both Noah and Moses are saved from destructive waters
Noah’s ark saved a righteous family from God’s judgment on humanity
Moses’ ark saved the man who would lead a nation to safety after God’s judgment on Egypt
Both arks are about salvation, saving those God loves. They were life preservers for everyone on board, leading the world to the ultimate ark, the cross.
Jesus is the “ark” of salvation, the one in whom we must trust to be saved from the judgment of God (John 10:9).
