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Exodus 2:1-10
Acts 7:17-23 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which
God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in
Egypt,
Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers,
so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in
his father's house three months:
And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished
him for her own son.
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in
words and in deeds.
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his
brethren the children of Israel.
The Greek historian, Herodotus is quoted as having said,
"Egypt is the gift of the River Nile”
The 4000-mile long Nile River was believed to be the source of
life, fertility and development for the Egyptians. The Nile River
has always been their source of prosperity, and was the major
contributing factor in building their civilization. For the
Egyptians the Nile gives them hope and promises happiness and as
such it has always been a source of inspiration and creativity
for all kinds of arts. In ancient times, Egyptians made
sacrifices to the River to appease their gods that were
represented by the hippopotamus, the crocodile, and the frog.
When Pharaoh became frightened by the population growth of the
Hebrews, he ordered the baby boys to be killed and thrown into
the Nile River. Pharaoh was attempting to control the Hebrews and
to appease his gods.
We need to remember that this is the Nile River Moses was placed
in.
Do you have any idea what the most dangerous animal in Africa is?
Surprisingly, not the ferocious lion or fearsome crocodile. In
fact, more people are killed by the hippopotamus than any other
wild animal, either by being trampled to death or having their
boat capsized.
We all are familiar with the story of Moses…of his mother’s
faith in practice as she wove that basket made it watertight with
pitch and placed her three-month-old son into it, and then set
the basket into the Nile River. But what do we know of Pharaoh’s
daughter.
Obviously, she was a princess…daughter of the ruling King of
Egypt. She had maids that traveled with her. They weren’t
girlfriends that she happened to hang out with but her servants,
there to answer her beck and call as well as to protect her.
Pharaoh’s daughter was going to the river to bathe. This was
a common activity, but probably not an everyday occurrence, that
God chose to use for His divine purpose. Remember the Nile River
is 4000-miles long and yet Pharaoh’s daughter happened to
choose that day and that place in the river to bathe.
When she saw the basket or ark the princess sent a servant to get
it for her. The chance is very good that the princess and others
often saw baskets floating in the Nile River. The Nile was a
major source of trade and the main route of transportation. A
basket falling from a barge or boat was probably a fairly common
occurance but on this day...at this bend in the River God had a
plan.
Now, let’s read Exodus 2:6 And when she had opened it, she
saw the child:And behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion
on him, and said, This is
one of the Hebrews' children.
How amazing is this? The princess looks at a crying baby and
recognizes him as being the child of a slave. No one would expect
her to care about a slave infant.
He was of a different race and beneath her socially. She knew her
father had ordered the baby boys to be killed. I’m sure her
father would have been happy for
her to toss the whole ark and baby back in to the Nile…but
not this princess. She sent Miriam to find a wet nurse, paid the
baby’s mother to care for her own son
and then named the baby, Moses.
When Moses was weaned Pharaoh’s daughter took him into the
palace, raised him as her son and made sure he was educated in
the best schools. Moses was groomed to be a member of the ruling
family of Egypt and lived in the palace until he was 40 years
old.
Pharaoh’s daughter is an example of compassion in action.
She is a “go giver”…an individual who is always
looking for a way to give to others. An example that goes beyond
the let me plan what I can do that might be convenient for me.
She practiced unplanned compassion that allowed for God’s
hand and purpose to move in history.
Job 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not
his days also like the days of an hireling?
Mic 6:8-9 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth
the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with thy
God?
The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom
shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
1Pe 3:8-12 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one
of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that
ye should inherit a blessing.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain
his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue
it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are
open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them
that do evil.
A “go giver” doesn’t need to know how her action
will effect eternity. She doesn’t have to spend money she
doesn’t have. She may give someone else first place in the
checkout line. She may park away from the front door. She may offer
a helping hand or a hug. She may pause to pick up a piece of
trash that’s blowing across a parking lot. She may take a
few minutes to listen to a child or a senior citizen. She may say
“thank you” to a person in uniform. A “go giver”
has compassion and does what she can where she is every chance
she gets.
I find it interesting that Pharaoh’s daughter was a pagan
but God used her. She was a princess but we don’t know her
name. Her adopted son, Moses saved his people from slavery and
yet we have no record of the Hebrew name his parents gave him.
{Tradition says his Hebrew name was Joachim, however it is not
recorded in the Bible.}
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