What can we learn about compassion from Pharaoh's daughter's actions in Exodus 2:6? Setting the Scene Pharaoh has decreed that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile (Exodus 1:22). Jochebed hides her son for three months, then sets him afloat in a papyrus basket (Exodus 2:3). The river that was supposed to be an instrument of death becomes the stage where God stirs an unlikely heart. Seeing Compassion in Action “ ‘When she opened it, she saw the child—and behold, the little boy was crying. And she felt sorry for him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”’ ” (Exodus 2:6) What Pharaoh’s daughter does in this single verse shows a progression worth noting: • She looks: “she opened it, she saw the child.” • She listens: “the little boy was crying.” • She feels: “she felt sorry for him.” • She acknowledges truth: “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” • She moves toward rescue (v. 8–10 will show her follow-through). Key Lessons We Can Learn 1. Compassion starts with seeing and hearing. • Luke 10:33—“when he saw him, he had compassion.” • Matthew 9:36—Jesus “saw the crowds” before feeling compassion. 2. Compassion overrides prejudice and fear. • Pharaoh’s daughter crosses ethnic, cultural, and political lines. • Proverbs 31:8-9 urges us to “defend the rights of all the needy,” not only our own circle. 3. Compassion is a God-reflecting instinct. • Exodus 34:6—“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious…” • Psalm 103:13—“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion…” 4. Compassion moves toward costly action. • She risks her standing in Pharaoh’s court to save a condemned baby. • 1 John 3:17—“If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart… how does the love of God abide in him?” 5. Compassion can be the hinge that turns history. • By sparing Moses, she becomes an unwitting partner in God’s plan to deliver Israel. Compassion Cross-References • Psalm 145:8—“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.” • Mark 1:41—Jesus “was moved with compassion” and healed a leper. • James 2:15-16—words without compassionate deeds are empty. Putting It into Practice • Train your eyes and ears—deliberately notice needs around you. • Let feeling become doing—set aside convenience, reputation, or resources to help. • Cross boundaries—serve people outside your usual circle. • Remember the bigger picture—your single act of compassion may ripple farther than you can see, just as Pharaoh’s daughter’s kindness opened the door for Israel’s deliverance. |
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