After having three little girls, I wasn’t quite sure what to think when I found out our caboose was a boy! I was so use to tutu-twirling, singing, giggling, sometimes squabbling, princess loving, sweet smelling (well most of the time) girls.
Poor kid was going to be surrounded with so much pretty, sweet, and pink, haha! About 4 months later, Ian arrived. My wild, sweet hearted, soccer and fishing loving, loud, and crazy Ian.
What a privilege it is to raise a little boy in this day and age! But oh, what a challenge! How do we raise a Moses in a world that encourages Pharaohs? Here is what I mean:
Pharaoh had one purpose: to built and protect His own kingdom even at the expense of others. He was arrogant, self-reliant, and self-absorbed.
Moses also had a purpose: to build up and protect the Kingdom of God and God’s people at His own expense.
Pharaoh was a boss (more like Tyrant); He was a ‘My way or the Highway’ kind of guy.
But Moses was a leader – follow me as I follow HIM.
Moses was not perfect by any means. He felt naturally afraid, unqualified, and inadequate, yet he walked by faith. He heard the voice of God and responded in obedience. Being was fully aware of His own weaknesses, he was dependent on God, humble, and selflessly courageous.
I’m sure you would agree that we need to raise more Moseses, but wouldn’t you say our world encourages Pharaohs? Build your own little Kingdom and protect it at all costs, after all you are your own God.
One of my favorite mamas in the Bible is Jochobed, The mother of Moses. There are so many golden nuggets of wisdom we can pick up and glean from her. Jochobed did not rely on her own common sense to survive life. She listened to the voice of God and relied on Wisdom.
We know our desperate need for wisdom, but how often do we mistake common sense for wisdom? Of course we need common sense, but there are times when common sense just isn’t enough. Proverbs 8:11 tells us that Wisdom should be desired above everything.
When Pharaoh commanded all baby boys be killed, common sense would have told Jochobed to hold on to her baby boy as tightly and as long as possible. Surely she thought with her motherly intuition, “He is safer hidden with me than anywhere else. They’ll have to kill me to get to my baby”. But wisdom spoke, “Let him go; put him on the river bank.” Jochobed likely silently argued against wisdom. Common sense was shouting loudly in her ear, “Hold on with all your might; It all depends on you”.
BUT Do you know wisdom cries loudly too? Sometimes we act as if wisdom is a whisper we have to strain to hear, but Proverbs 8 tells us that wisdom raises her voice and cries out from high places to be heard.
Maybe the reason we struggle to hear is that we are more accustomed to the voice of reason than we are to the voice of God. Wisdom cried out, “Jochebed, let go; put that baby on the Nile! “
Just think of the lack of common sense here – all of the things that could go horribly wrong with a baby in a basket in a river – uhhhh… crocodiles, drowning? But it was the voice of wisdom. Proverbs 4:6-7 says, Forsake not wisdom and she will protect you.
Jochobed followed wisdom and it protected her and Moses! We know how the story continues!
So moms, here’s the deal: you WILL wear yourself into the ground with fear and worry if your goal is to be a perfect mom. I hate to break it to you but you’ll never attain perfection. BUT What you can attain is wisdom. Proverbs tells us that wisdom longs to be found.
YOU have access to the wisdom of God. Lean hard into Him and become accustomed to His voice. Get to know it by spending time seeking him, reading His word, and pouring your heart out before him. You’ll find that actually he isn’t murmuring quietly, tormenting you, and testing to see if you can hear Him. Oh no, Wisdom cries from the roof top longing to be found!
Sense is common – Wisdom is not. So if you’re listening to your own sense, leaning on your own understanding, and holding on with your own strength – let go, put that baby in the cradle of Gods arms, put it down on the river, and see what God will do!
So how do we raise a Moses in a Pharaoh world? Do all that you know to do to protect and to provide, BUT when you hear that voice of wisdom cry out, “put that baby in the basket”, it’s time to let Go – and watch your God – the God of Jochobed – do the rest.
Common sense produces common results. Wisdom produces unprecedented victories.
(Keep a watch for part 2 of ‘raising a Moses’ and the Jochobed bracelet – coming soon)!
31 Beads 
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