Devotions

The Risk of Faith

Read Exodus 2:1–10.

Jochebed, the mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam, is a picture of faith in action. All of her children became leaders of the Israelites. Jochebed must have been a dedicated mother who instilled a love for God in her children.

Jochebed’s Heritage

Jochebed, a daughter of Levi, married Amram, a man of the house of Levi (Exodus 2:1; 6:20). Through their family they would have been taught of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Her Situation

She was a mother of a newborn faced with a dilemma. Pharaoh had ordered that every Israelite baby boy should be cast into the Nile River to die. She loved her beautiful baby boy. But what could she do to save his life?

Her Faith

Jochebed hid her son, Moses, by placing him in a basket on the river Nile—into God’s hands. She trusted in God and took a risk in faith.

Her Decision

Hebrews 11:23 notes her risky faith, “By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born … and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Jochebed’s and Amram’s faith gave them courage to meet the challenge of saving their child.

What would give evidence of faith in your life?

Look to Your Heritage

In Romans 8:15–17 we read, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co–heirs with Christ.” You are a child

of God, a joint heir with Jesus Christ.

Difficult Situations

Many times you may feel you are sending your child into a difficult situation. Some of them are going off to college or to a job in another city. Others may be getting married and moving away from you. These are the times we are called to place our children “in a basket”—into God’s hands.

Choose the Risk of Faith

This is when you must be an example of living faith. Determine that above all else you will be obedient to God and faithful to His ways. Trust God’s great providential care.

Your Decision

Choose not to fear. Instead place your trust in God.

Jochebed, through faith in God, protected Moses. She was able to raise him during the first years of his life. We can assume that she taught him about the Lord. When he was 40 years of age, Moses chose to identify with God’s people and became a part of God’s plan to deliver the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.

Have you taken a risk and stepped out in faith, trusting God to protect your family as you place them into His hand? He is faithful and can be counted on to care for them. Trust God that you will eventually reap benefits and blessings because of your risk of faith.

Ray Boltz has written a song titled “Never Let You Fall” (2002 Shepherd Boy Music/ASCAP, from the album “Songs from the Potter’s Field”). He speaks of the difficulty of letting a child go, fearing that if you do, they will go wild. God reminds us that His love is still true and He can take care of our children just like He has taken care of us. He will never let them fall … at least not “further than their knees.”