What is the meaning of Exodus 2:3? But when she could no longer hide him • The decree of Exodus 1:22 pressed every Hebrew family into a crisis, yet Jochebed held out as long as possible (cf. Hebrews 11:23; Acts 7:20). • Three months of concealment testify to both parental courage and God’s providence (Psalm 27:1). • Her limit came at the precise moment God had ordained—He never allows a trial to outgrow His rescue (1 Corinthians 10:13). she got him a papyrus basket • Papyrus reeds, plentiful along the Nile, provided a lightweight yet sturdy material, ideal for floating. • The word “basket” recalls a vessel of deliverance, echoing God’s earlier preservation of Noah in an ark (Genesis 6:14); both accounts reveal a God who rescues through prepared means. • By tangible action, Jochebed united faith with works (James 2:22). and coated it with tar and pitch • The waterproofing mirrors Noah’s pitch-covered ark (Genesis 6:14), underscoring a pattern: God shields His people from judgmental waters. • Tar and pitch represent thorough preparation—faith does not neglect practical details (Proverbs 21:31). • The sealing also hints at the future Passover blood that will protect Israel from death (Exodus 12:13). Then she placed the child in the basket • Letting go cost a mother’s heart; still, she entrusted Moses to the Lord who “carries the lambs in His arms” (Isaiah 40:11). • Her surrender models Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you.” • The moment foreshadows Israel’s later trust when stepping between walls of water at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22). and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile • The reeds offered concealment, yet the location aligned Moses with Egypt’s royal domain, setting the stage for divine reversal (Romans 8:28). • God’s sovereignty over the Nile—Egypt’s life-source—anticipates the plagues that will later strike that very river (Exodus 7:17-18). • Jochebed’s careful placement shows wisdom: she did not abandon the child to currents but positioned him where Pharaoh’s daughter would come (Exodus 2:5). summary Every phrase of Exodus 2:3 showcases a seamless blend of parental love, diligent preparation, and unwavering trust in a sovereign God. Jochebed reached her human limit, crafted an ark of rescue, sealed it securely, surrendered her son into God’s keeping, and strategically positioned him for deliverance. In doing so, she became an instrument through which the Lord preserved the deliverer of Israel—proof that even when circumstances press hard, faith coupled with obedient action invites God’s saving power into the story. |
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