Faith...And a Wicker Basket

As well, before we go any further that this point, all of the characters in this play are nameless, we will learn the names of mom and dad until later sister until later will never learn other than extra biblical resources. The name of Pharaoh's daughter and it's been suggested and I would agree that the point of God I think is giving to us as he and Scripture rated this account is that he is the primary actor.

I don't think he wants the focus of that spotlight away from anything other than his plan is so as you know, he was raised in the palace by the daughter of Pharaoh. She took him as her own. When she found him in a river many years later, she left Egypt with the Hebrews during the Exodus God use the testimony and witness of his people to awaken her faith. Welcome back to wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi today we return to the book of Exodus, where we meet this princess who took in Moses and who later left with Moses and the people. This series is called out of Egypt and this message is entitled faith and a wicker basket you are with us last Sunday as we started our journey through the book of Exodus, you may turn there now and noticed the 22nd verse of chapter 1 Pharaoh has just decreed that all of the male children will be cast into the Nile River as an act of religious duty to the great God of the Nile. This wasn't just considered murder. This was justified in their minds as being something that would give allegiance to their God by a people who had ignored their God. The Nile and it says in verse 22 than Pharaoh commanded all his people saying every son who was born you are cast into the Nile River and every daughter you are to keep alive. So here we are in a period of of Hebrew history where the birth of the Hebrew child would normally bring about great celebration rejoicing.

They would spread the news far and near that a Hebrew boy that they had been given in their family. The joy of of another son of Abraham who would help that line that would ultimately bring about the Messiah, but now in this era when Hebrew boy was born there was terror and fear. The thought of loss.

It was kept secret in hopes that the Egyptian travelers and those spies among the Hebrews that I Hebrews themselves would not discover that their baby was a little boy, hoping that he would live in. It is in this chapter when it seems that oppression is at its worst when Pharaoh has issued an extermination edict in God is beginning his plan of emancipation. Thus we begin chapter to read with me verse one know a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.

Now the story here is written by Moses and he begins with his own birth, would imply that he was the firstborn which he is not will learn later in the book that there were two other children born to this couple was a daughter Miriam who perhaps was seven or eight years old. During this episode in chapter 2. He also has an older brother three years older than him, we know is Aaron. They are unnamed here. In fact, the story seems to indicate that Moses came along first. We would know by comparing Scripture that he doesn't verse to the woman conceived and bore a son. Usually that would bring rejoicing that brings fear, but when she saw that he was beautiful. She had him for three months. We need to take this verse apart so we can understand the context of what's happening here in acts chapter 7 will tell us that she and her husband saw that he was beautiful. They were both people of faith. In fact, they together conspired to hide the child.

The word beautiful would indicate that that they just they decided to because their baby boy was so handsome that they would allow him to live, but that seems a little inconsistent, simply because every parent considers their baby boy to be handsome even though you and I know that's not true right least that it was for us but I do know that you well. It wasn't just because they thought all this is such a pretty boy. We don't want to cast them into the Nile. Acts chapter 7 says that he was beautiful unto God.

Now while the text doesn't give us any inclination of what happened. We know that they had faith because Hebrews 11 says, by faith. They hid the child. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God so we can only assume that somewhere in this birthing room as they viewed their newborn baby boy that God gave some sort of revelation. This boy had a destiny. He was beautiful to me. God taught them he would in fact become the Redeemer of Israel. Now, we would note even further in acts chapter 7 we will turn there, but in acts chapter 7. It tells the story of how Moses slays that Egyptian soldier you remember how he was beating one of the Hebrews and Moses comes along and he decides now is the time to implement the rebellion, and so we strike that Egyptian down, but the text says that when the Hebrews rejected Moses that Moses said, quote he supposed that they understood he was the Redeemer. Where did he get that idea didn't come to him and then I know it probably came from a mother and a father who told him as a little boy that God has a destiny for you and you will lead the people out. The prophet said in Genesis chapter 15 that my people will be subjugated to Egypt for 400 years at his birth.

It had been 350 years it all fit. Moses was the boy grow up to leave them out and Amram and Jock the bed from some kind of revelation learned that in so they decided by faith because he was beautiful and the God that they would Heideman says specifically that she had him for three months and I've kinda got a scratch my head here because I can't imagine concealing a baby boy for three months. It's hard to do for three hours, but I can imagine three months now. Perhaps they they put him off or they they had the tradition, then I'm sure they didn't maybe they dressed him in pink telling everybody this was really a little girl.

I don't know what they did but somehow or another they played him off to those that knew as a as a girl, perhaps we had twin boys born.

My last semester of seminary and it used to be so irritating to me because they were fraternal and they look rather different, but one of the boys has very fine features, long lashes it birthing and a beautiful little face course, that's my bias again understand, but I would be pushing them along the mall and we have somebody come up and say all my twins aren't they beautiful. Let's see this.

This must be the boy and wealth isn't that a sweet little girl and I'd be you know it if you don't know the sex of the baby never guess because if it's if it's a boy. You say the girl that dad to be worried. And if it's a girl and you say all what a handsome boy. The moms worried well at this time and I don't know how they did it but somehow they concealed him. Somehow they fooled everyone for three months.

Perhaps they dug an underground room put aloft in their hot somehow keeping him quiet, as quiet as they could, but I can imagine but at the end of three months. The text tells us that she could hide him no longer so she comes up with this plan and I think Amram probably designed that that many boat but it says she got a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch pitch would be that the bitumen that was a plant that they believed would would repel the crocodile and so though the vessels were usually coated with bitumen.

The Nile was was infested by the servants of the Nile God the crocodile and so is she designed or perhaps put this thing together with Jock been working out in the field or Amram working out of the field Jock event design. This little boat and she she made it just as watertight as she could possibly make it. And then she put the child into it first. Three and she said it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile you want to underline in your text the word set.

You may have the idea that this is this is an act of sheer foolishness where she just puts the little boat into the water and says you. God help you know I'm going to trust God for this in the I'll let him do all of the detail know she took every possible occasion to make sure that this boy would survive. We often learn from the archaeologist. One of the things that we've learned is that the daughter of the pharaohs often had their own housing and would usually be by the Nile using the Nile was considered a fertility giver. That's why they would often sacrifice children to the Nile in hopes that the Nile God would give them anymore and what what will happen here is best understood in context, but let's take a note in verse four before you get too far and his sister. That's Miriam, a seven-year-old stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him, and here's what happened. The daughter of Pharaoh that we know whose name was Mary MER RI she came down to bathe at the Nile with her maidens. Walking alongside the Nile. This was not a bath where she took a bar soap and decided she need to be clean, so she headed down to the Nile being the daughter of Pharaoh. She would've had marble encased baths.

She would have had the most luxurious surroundings with attendance to bathe her, but this was a second. This was a religious ritual. If the archaeologist chronology is correct, this woman was yet childless, and she believed as all Egyptians believed that if they washed forbade ritualistically in the Nile. The waters of their fertility God would give the many children and so what she's doing here is not bathing yourself to clean herself. She's going down and and sprinkling herself with water, hoping that the God would be favorable to her and give her child. Isn't it interesting that that that there's only one person in all of the kingdom who can override the edict of the Pharaoh and saved Moses his life. Only one person, the daughter of Pharaoh. I don't think for a moment that Jock the bed and and Amram didn't know that.

And don't think for a moment they didn't recognize the fact that she was without child and perhaps very sympathetic to having a child missing this is faith in action that combines all that they could do to help their boy survive and it says that she sent it in the reeds she she carefully marked out the spot she placed it just there where she knew Pharaoh's daughter would come down in this ritual bath and it is there that Pharaoh's daughter notices the little basket she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maidens and and that she brought it to her or her maidens. She brought it to her and when she opened it and that's where J. Vernon McGee says that God pinched Moses. She saw the child in Lockerbie whole. The boy was crying. I don't think it was the kind of crying that irritates I think it was the little whimper that brings sympathy. My daughter hasn't mastered it doesn't affect her mother but it really gets me. It's that little whimper that you just you know can't turn away from.

And I think as she lifted the lid on that little boat Moses whimpered and begin to cry and God brought together at that moment a babies crying in a woman's heart and Pharaoh's daughter found him irresistible. No other texts. Extra biblical texts suggested at that moment she began thinking with her maidens who can nurse. This boy obviously a Hebrew child. The text tells us, and they went around the circle. Trying to decide who could who can take care of this boy and nurse him and they couldn't find anyone in. It was at that moment that plan a wood into action. Notice what happens. Verse seven. Then Miriam at that particular time, said the Pharaoh's daughter. Shall I go and call the nurse for you among the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you now.

Here again, don't think that this whole story rests upon the ingenuity of a of an eight-year-old child who came up with a clever thought when this thing began to develop.

Oh, I know all suggested to I get a Hebrew maiden Algoma get mom absolutely not. They had this thing plan to the minutest detail. Miriam was sent along to watch and she was instructed that if it Pharaoh's daughter didn't catch that baby in the water.

The Nile vignette seems sympathetic to wait until just the right time and – in there and say can I get a made for you and she had her lines memorized and I can imagine that document back in the hot hoping that Miriam remembered her lines and said them just right. I love watching the faces of parents when children are in a play or singing and they got a solo part. Mom and dad to intone enjoyed a bit. You can watch their faces, I was reading this past week of a little boy was in a Sunday school play and he got on stage and he saw the crowd and he forgot his line that his mother was right on the front row and she because the gesture wildly and she's she so frightened and she's she's mouthing the words I am the light of the world.

I am the light of the world find the boy with great confidence, says my mother is the light of the work of I have a very good feeling that they had planned and rehearsed and rehearsed again the Miriam what are you going to say here. The words shall I call for you. I made from among the Hebrews to nurse this child. What a plan now you need to understand as well. Before we go any further that up to this point all of the characters in this play are nameless, we won't learn the names of mom and dad until later sister until later will never learn other than extra biblical resources.

The name of Pharaoh's daughter and it's been suggested and I would agree that the point of God I think is giving to us as he and Scripture rated this account is that he is the primary actor. He's in total control and he I don't think he wants the focus of that spotlight away from anything other than his plan is sovereign decree and as we watch this thing a develop we may come away with the idea wasn't Jock to bed. Clever wasn't Miriam, really sharp wasn't something the way they were able to persuade Pharaoh. No none of that work around that little basket floating in the reeds of the Nile is the shield of God's purpose, even in the height of pain and difficulty, God had a plan. It would be 80 years before it was developed and for most people, they would wonder of God was alive. God was at work that same shield is around everyone of our lives is the shield of God's divine plan and purpose. I think perhaps they are left unnamed. Maybe that is best understood by the monument of John Wesley, a man who was greatly used of God on his monument in Westminster Abbey. He had inscribed on his tombstone. These words, God buries the workman and carries on his work.

Let's not come away from this study with her eyes tuned on people, but on a sovereign God is know what happens next.

The Starwood verse six when she opened it she saw the child of the hole.

The boy was crying and she had pity on him and said this is one of the Hebrews children then his sister said the Pharaoh's daughter. So I go and call a nurse for you among the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you. And don't think for a moment, Pharaoh's daughter didn't get the plot she knew Pharaoh's daughter said to her well go ahead so the girl wins and called the child's mother, I imagine that document gave it away whenever she came up to the bank of the Nile and with friendly hands reached out that to get her son back. They knew what was going on but somehow got it moved in the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to accept it and to override the edict of her cruel father and to allow this boy to live so Jock in bed took that little boy home and nursed him. Perhaps, for a period of 3 to 4 years until he was fully trained that she keep him. So God use the daughter of the Pharaoh to adopt the child to protect the child must look at what happens next. Pharaoh's daughter. Verse nine said to her, take this child away and nurse information.

I will give you your wages.

Imagine that moms being paid for raising your children be wonderful so the woman took the child and nursed and the child grew and noted this she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter. That is, she kept her word Pharaoh's daughter didn't have to send a legion of soldiers to get that baby boy this in fact was another great act of faith on the part of Jock to bed sheet entrusted the life of her son, not understanding how will all work out, but she brought him to her. Can you imagine that with me Jock in bed, perhaps kneeling reverence to the daughter of Pharaoh and holding her baby boy unwilling or unable to give full vent to the plot and tell her this is my son. Please may I keep him she gave him to Pharaoh's daughter, but faith what trust verse 10 and the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and she became. He became her son and she named him Moses you get that Pharaoh's daughter is the one that gave him the name of O'Shea no meaning sunshade meaning to draw out. She says this is my son who I drew my Drew out of the water.

Perhaps he was not named as part of the plot. They named it a boy's name. Maybe they would've slipped and given away the secret that this was a boy, so no name, and been given Pharaoh's daughter would give him the name now draw the strings together. Let me give you by way of application. Three things about face as evidenced in their lives. First, faith benefits those who live closest to us only tell you what I mean by that. There are at least three things that are results of the faith of Amram and and Jock a bed. The first is the Jock to bed was now able to stay home and raise her children because of the edict they had been forced out because of that edict they had been sent to labor camps. Perhaps their children tagging along with them out in the field as they work force work themselves, but because of this act, she was given the great benefit of being able to stay at home and raise her children. You know, ladies and gentlemen, I really believe in the 20th century, as in this day it is going to take more and more a declaration of faith for moms to remain at home in 1950 there were only 12% of mothers who were at home. 1987, that figure had risen to 50% and they are saying that in the next five years, 80% of all mom will be at work. The tragic tale of that it is the statistic that now more than 10 million children are being raised by someone else.

10 million children.

My hard dreams for 10 million children that I recognize that there are instances where a mom must work in my heart and sympathy goes out to every single mom, but my heart has little sympathy and I do not think it's appropriate when a man and a woman decide volition only for the sake of social advancement for the sake of purchasing things we will give our child to someone else. God help us. There is a feminist line out there that tells our women of today are young people, but for a woman to be fulfilled. There must be a career outside the home.

I can't help but think that because of this faith Jock. The bed was able to take Moses and raise him and train him. You know it's interesting in this text. There isn't any mention of Amram even being in the home. Perhaps he was part of a labor camp group that was out working the field and God in a sense is emphasizing for us. The fact that nothing can replace the need of a mother.

Where did Moses learn the covenant given to his forefather. Abraham, where did he get the idea that he was the Redeemer. Where did he learn such truths that one day he would forsake Egypt for a people. He rarely know how why I believe it's because in the early days of his home. His mother instructed him and trained him and taught him that only Moses but Aaron and his sister Mary who together all three would be instrumental in leading the people out of Egypt. There may be instances where work is necessary. Fact I come from a home where my mother had to work was their conviction that all of us boys attend a Christian school in on a missionary salary was impossible to send this all and so when our fourth, my youngest brother enrolled in kindergarten, my mother began working she chose to work at the school where we attended as one of the maids. I am deeply grateful for that. I was never embarrassed in any way that she was made. In fact, by the time I was in fifth grade and really had the inside scoop because just before gym class, when all the other guys were scrounging around for a fresh pair of socks in the gym basket that we had to wear. I slid down to the maids room and my mother would give me a fresh pair right out of the dryer.

Man, I was the envy of that class and I appreciate their conviction to ladies and gentlemen it is time that somebody had the guts to stand up and it must be you. The sweep of our culture is tearing the family apart and it is telling us a message that to really be happy. We must have seen it may be a house or a car or clothing and I challenge you to check out your motivation if you may be working with children yet out of school, one of the other things about faith that strikes me from this passage is that faith obviously affects decisions that surround us. Faith affects decisions where it should surround us and I come away with a question does my faith in God demands honesty and integrity does my faith in God shape my vocabulary. Does my faith in God.

Does your faith in God keep you in the front seat on a day that your faith in God guide your hand as you fill out a an expense report does your faith in God work is alive. They made a strategic decision. Amram and Jock the bed housing Hebrew boy could have lost their lives and yet their conviction declared that they would obey God and their child would live because of that their decisions were shaped on the basis of faith. To give you one more. And it is this faith impacts that I love this faith impacts people who are observing us, you have no idea on the job in the neighborhood who is watching you perhaps know thought did someone has been keeping their eye on you, and they've noticed there's something about you.

You make them thirsty for for something and they don't know what you're a source of conviction they can understand why, but it is your faith in God, that's a lie. One of the greatest parts of this story is what would happen some 50 years later we have learned that the daughter of Pharaoh's name was Mary. And there have been discoveries of appellations with the daughter of Pharaoh's name being found and discovered at this time from rabbinical traditions and stories carried on to the Hebrews who obviously pondered this woman and kept her story alive. Her name was changed to Bill Hall, which means daughter of Jehovah, something occurred and the text doesn't really tell us.

We wish we had all of the details, but somewhere she decided, along with her son Moses that she would no longer be the daughter of Pharaoh, but she would become the daughter of Jehovah or Yahweh. There is a very rare passage of Scripture that is often overlooked. I want you to find it because I want you to see it for yourself first Chronicles 1st Chronicles chapter 4 were the pages stick together.

Would you look with me in verse 17 verse 17 of first Chronicles chapter 4 and the sons of Ezra were just for these were the Hebrews that came out of the Exodus, the sons of Ezra were Jester and Merritt Ifor in jail on. And these are the sons of Biff via the daughter of Pharaoh who Merritt talk to Cachette, the daughter of Pharaoh left during the Exodus with the people of Israel. She took a Hebrew husband and she bore children she had turned her back on her home country.

Her faith had been brought alive by the faith of those that she had seen and observed.

You know it's interesting as a sidelight that she bears a firstborn daughter you notice which he names her Mary, what a day that must've been as the people of Israel accident. Egypt and among them we already know were many Egyptians who would become proselytes of God in that company was a woman who was none other than the daughter of why that come about. She'd observed in the life of these Hebrew children faith in God that would not break them up faith that would allow her adopted son to turn his back and perhaps in lengthy discussion with her explain. I must follow God and she said I ought to have that my dear friend is your faith benefit those that live closest to give this your faith decisions that you make your lifestyle is your faith impact those who are observing is our faith. This is wisdom for the heart even currently in a series called out of Egypt. Today's lesson is called faith and a wicker basket. I want to make sure you know that we have a companion study guide that goes along with this series. The study guide is also called out of Egypt and you'll find it in the resource section of our website can also order by calling us at 86 648 on tomorrow's broadcast.

Stephen continues through this so join us here on wisdom for the heart