Episode 63: Hearing God when your faith is tested.

Oct 27, 2024 | 0 comments

 

Episode Description:

How do you respond when you’re required to do something contrary to your beliefs and principles? Join us as we unpack how Jochebed in the Bible (Moses’ mother) handled an order as a midwife to not only kill male babies but also the actions she took to save her baby boy. It may be a bit of a stretch to say Jochebed ‘heard’ God. It’s probably more how she responded to God throughout this time. Jochebed was willing to make difficult decisions and great sacrifices, putting her whole family at risk. But God. Just as God quietly orchestrated events in the life of Jochebed, be assured that He is also working behind the scenes in your life.

 

Episode Notes:

Background to Jochebed:

  • Married to Amran, her nephew (Numbers 26:59 and Exodus 6:20).
  • Mother of Aaron, Miriam and Moses. Moses was the youngest sibling.
  • Jochebed must have been a woman of character – when you look at her three children: Aaron – High Priest, Miriam, prophetic worshipper and intercessor, and Moses delivered the Hebrews from the Egyptians and led them for 40 years.
  • Read about her and her baby Moses in Exodus 1:8-22, and 2:1-10 and then again in Acts 7:18-22. Plus, Hebrews 11:23.
  • A new king came to power in Egypt, complaining that the Israelites living among them were too numerous. Says, “Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
  • So, they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they made their lives bitter. But the more they abused and oppressed them, the more they multiplied.
  • The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah (Jochebed) and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then, the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
  • The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”
  • So, God was kind to the midwives, and the number of people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them their own families.
  • Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
  • Jochebed became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She hid him for three months. When she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch to make it waterproof. Moses was put in the basket and set among the reeds. Miriam stood watch every day.
  • Interestingly, papyrus/bullrushes are soft, flexible, and capable of withstanding pressure and contact with hard and soft objects.
  • Both the Amplified and The Message versions in Hebrews 11:23 say it was an act of faith that Jochebed hid Moses.
  • Verse 5 – Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe and saw the basket among the reeds. She opened it and saw the baby, recognising it as one of the Hebrew babies.
  • Verse 7 – Miriam, an 8-10-year-old, boldly approaches Pharaoh’s daughter and asks, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
  • Pharoah’s daughter replied yes. Jochebed came, and Pharoah’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So Jochebed took Moses and was paid to nurse him.
  • When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
  • God was at work behind the scenes. Co-incidences/God-incidences:
    • Jochebed just happened to put Moses in the right spot on the Nile.
    • Pharaoh’s daughter just happened to see the basket.
    • Moses just happened to cry at the right time.
    • Miriam just happened to be nearby.
    • Jochebed just happened to be available and able to nurse.
    • Pharaoh’s daughter just happened to have enough influence to save baby Moses.
  • I gather Pharoah’s daughter didn’t tell her father that she had saved a Hebrew baby until he was returned to her some 8-10 years later.
  • What are some areas of your life you need to stop holding on to and start trusting God?

First Principle: Preparation is key.

  • How we react in situations begins long before the crisis occurs.
  • With our kids, we discussed certain situations with them when things could go wrong and talked through with them some actions, e.g. at a party and don’t feel safe, code words etc
  • Intimacy with God and reading the Bible are important and they build our faith muscle.
  • Practising hearing the voice of God.
  • Hebrews 11:23 “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 king’s edict.”
  • Moses’ sister acted quickly. She approached Pharoah’s daughter and asked if she wanted someone to nurse the baby for her.

Second Principle: Discernment is necessary.

  • Hiding the baby would have put her whole family at risk. Do you think Jochebed clearly thought through her plan from beginning to end and considered the consequences, even if it was a great sacrifice for her and Amram?
  • Jochebed had to let go and trust God.
  • Go to God yourself, not through others. Yes, seek wise counsel, but don’t rely on others hearing God for you. Prophetic words should affirm that which you are already sensing from God.
  • The whole Covid experience worldwide – I wonder if we as a society ‘failed’ that test. Not that it was a test, but fear undoubtedly reigned prominent, even amongst Christians.
  • James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.“
  • Colossians 3:15 “Let peace be your umpire.”

Third Principle: Be courageous.

  • Hebrews 11:23 – an act of faith that Jochebed hid Moses.
  • Courage to fear God, not man. Sometimes, we can let our fear override our faith or misplace fear. Jochebed was courageous and showed steadfast faith in God’s promises and provision.
  • Jochebed’s name means ‘Jehovah glorified’. She certainly brought glory to God in her actions.
  • Courage to trust God and place the situation in His hands. Not only with her baby but all the Hebrew babies. She was wise, righteous, and God-fearing. God is not into child sacrifice.
  • Trusting God often requires both decision and action.
  • Deuteronomy 31 has the command to “Be strong and courageous” three times, and Joshua 1 has it four times. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lordyour God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
  • One thing we can be certain of is that we will experience trials of our faith. We don’t want those trials to rock the foundations of our faith.
  • Courage may look like creativity, sacrifice, and trust.
  • The reward for fearing God is the Torah – Jochebed feared God and didn’t kill the Hebrew baby boys. She gave birth to Moses, through whom the Torah was given.
  • Trust that God is working behind the scenes.
  • As God quietly orchestrates events in the life of Jochebed, be assured that He is also working behind the scenes in your life.

Summary:

  1. Preparation is key.
  2. Discernment is necessary.
  3. Be courageous.

 

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “Father God, what would You like me to pray for myself at the moment?” (You might like to include ‘and my kids’ if you have kids.)

 

Time Stamps:

[0:57] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[5:39] – Background to the story of Jochebed.

[12:02] – First Principle: Preparation is key.

[14:43] – Second Principle: Discernment is necessary.

[20:03] – Third Principle: Be courageous.

[23:44] – Recap the principles.

[24:06] – Prophetic activation.

[25:03] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[27:12] – Gary prays for you.

 

Resources / Links Mentioned:

 

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Numbers 26:59
  • Exodus 6:20
  • Exodus 1:8-22; 2:1-10
  • Acts 7:18-22
  • Hebrews 11:23
  • James 1:5
  • Colossians 3:15
  • Deuteronomy 31
  • Joshua 1

 

Connect with Gary & Jane:

 

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