Spring is a time to blossom and it will be here soon!
“Yeah, right.” I hear you saying: “I am just trying to make it through the day and blossoming is the last thing on my mind.”
We’ve all been there. The bills are piling up, the children’s schedule is unmanageable, and a casserole for the church dinner needs prepared. Of course, there may be a job rejection letter, a disappointment, plans derailed, or a frustration you can’t solve. Perhaps it’s something more serious: the dreaded call, a layoff at the worst time, the last breath, a scary medical diagnosis, an unexpected divorce, a gut wrenching betrayal, or the prodigal that makes a bad choice again. I could go on, but you get it.
YOU FEEL BURIED BENEATH THE BURDEN, DOUBT, & ANGUISH
However…
“Sometimes when you think you’ve been buried, you have actually been planted.” Christine Caine
As spring is on the horizon, we begin a series that focuses on blossoming. We look at women of the Bible who may have thought they were buried, but in reality were planted to fulfill their purpose. We begin with…
JOCHEBED
In the heart of ancient Egypt, the Hebrews were slaves under the oppressive rule of a Pharaoh who sought to decrease the thriving Hebrew population. After all, he couldn’t allow a revolt to begin. His solution: drown all Hebrew newborn sons in the Nile.
It was during this time that Jochebed gave birth to a son, who later is named Moses. Destined for death under the Pharaoh’s cruel decree, surely she felt buried under the devastating and life-threatening circumstances. Unquestionably, it was dark under all that dirt; nevertheless, what felt like burial was really planting. As we learn more about this courageous woman, we will see her struggling to bloom, however, she knew spring was a time to blossom and she was guided by her faith in her God.
Hebrews 11:23 tells us:
“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 edict.”
Wait a minute. Did you catch that? What words are the most stunning here?
THEY WEREN’T AFRAID OF THE EDICT!
Why in the world would Jochebed be unafraid of the edict? After all, focusing on the obstacles is the right thing to do here!
Did she have to hide her pregnancy? Were guards watching for pregnant slaves to assure the death of male children?
She had two other children. Miriam was probably about seven and Aaron three. Keeping these kids quiet about the birth of a new sibling. How?
And those heart stopping cries! That is a full time job, but absolutely necessary. What if someone hears?
However, God is at work in her heart and, despite all the stumbling blocks, she knew that spring is a time to blossom.
LET’S LOOK AT HER FAITHFUL CHARACTER AND HOW IT SUSTAINED HER DURING THE PLANTING PHASE
1. LIVING FAITH
What is living (or sustaining) faith? Saving faith is the beginning. It saves us, like the criminal beside Jesus going to Paradise that day. (Luke 23: 32-43) Nonetheless, God wants us to develop a relationship. After salvation, we must grow and cultivate our faith through obedience and trust, especially in God’s Word.
Jochebed’s living faith was real and strong. Of course, there was no Scripture, but the Jewish people notoriously excel at passing down God’s Word orally. Consequently, Jochebed didn’t fear the annihilation of her people because she knew of God’s covenant with them to enter the Promised Land. (Genesis 12 and 13) Most likely, she also recognized that this slavery thing was winding down, How? Based on the four hundred year servitude God told Abram about that is recorded in Genesis 15: 13-14.
2. STRATEGIC FAITH
Moreover, while her living faith sustained her, she didn’t sit around eating bon bons and take a nap while God took care of things. She strategized and planned by making a basket and placing Moses where the Pharoah’s daughter might find him.
Other examples of Biblical strategizers:
JOSEPH
This intelligent and blessed young man didn’t just interpret dreams for Pharoah, but strategically formulated a plan that God gave him. (Genesis 41)
NEHEMIAH
An exile and slave after Judah was conquered, Nehemiah was a slave and cupbearer in Persia. But God’s plan to rebuild the destroyed walls around Jerusalem burdened his heart. For this reason, this was a man with a plan. First, he bravely asked the king for help, including temporary freedom!
As you read further in the book named for him, notice that before and during this God-ordained project there is planning. Nehemiah prays, secures resources, makes a thorough examination of the project, organized workers, secured protection, etc. His strategic faith resulted in successful completion of the wall despite opposition. (Nehemiah 2: 7-9; 11-16 and 4: 13-18)
EVEN JESUS
He chose twelve disciples, trained them, and sent them out with specific instructions. Jesus’ deliberate approach in preparing His followers for their mission underscores the importance of the need to plan when fulfilling God’s purpose. (Mark 6: 7-13).
3. SHREWD FAITH
What? Shrewd? That is a terrible thing to say. Well, listen to Jesus. “Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Need more proof? Read Mark 12: 13-17 and check out Jesus’ shrewd answer to the Pharisees trying to trick him, OR how he answered the men who brought the adulterous woman to him. (John 8: 1-11)
I
Indeed, Jochebed was also shrewd. Coaching and positioning Miriam in the right place. Cleaver, indeed.
BUT YOU SAID SPRING IS A TIME TO BLOSSOM!
Where is the blooming?
Well, she did blossom. Despite putting her baby up for adoption, she got to keep him during his early years and got paid to boot! (Exodus 2: 7-9)
Additionally, she probably watched him grow from a distance. After all, Moses knew he was a Hebrew – perhaps he visited sometimes? The Bible doesn’t tell us this, but I like to think it’s possible. When he returned to Egypt he connected with his siblings. (Exodus 4: 14-16)
All this blossoming was due to her living, strategic, and shrewd faith as she fulfilled her purpose and her part in freeing the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery.
IN THIS SERIES…
Learn how spring is a time to blossom and discover from lesser known women of the Bible how to bloom during difficult times. Increase your faith and confidence as you learn blooming techniques from these ancient ladies.
RESOURCES AND COMMENTS
Want to learn more about gardens and how blossoming has spiritual significance? Read my blog post: “Gardens: It is that Time of Year.” You can also check out some Bible verses that ‘Encourage you to bloom where you are planted.’
Respectful comments are always welcome…even encouraged! After all, we are a community and sharing helps one another. Please share your thoughts about Jochebed or about a time you were buried…perhaps it is now! In the meantime….
