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Sunday, August 14, 2008 ~ Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:8-2:10

          Last week, the Bible reading was about Joseph in the book of Genesis.

This week, the scene has changed and the time is about 450 years later. The characters have changed, too. In this reading, we are told of the birth of a baby. Generally, when the Bible gives us a "birth story," the baby in the story is someone who has an important role to play in the history of God's people. The baby is Moses.

            If you have children, did you keep a "baby book" when they were young? Parents today don't keep baby books as often as previous generations of parents. Instead, they are more likely to maintain electronic baby books on the Internet that friends and family can view from anywhere in the world. But most of us kept baby books the old-fashioned way. We wrote down all the important events in a baby's life: the first time he or she smiled, sat up, got a tooth, crawled, started to walk and started to speak. We recorded details like weight and height at birth, shower gifts and so on. All of this and more we recorded in a baby book.

            Moses' mother was Jochebed (her name is not mentioned in this reading). What do you suppose she recorded in Moses' baby book? The striking thing about Jochebed is how she entrusted Moses to God's care and protection. The baby Moses was in grave danger. The Pharaoh had ordered the execution of all male Hebrew babies. But Jochebed and Moses' sister did what they could to protect baby Moses, and they let God do the rest. They put him in a waterproof basket and hid him in the weedy banks of the Nile River. And then, through a series of remarkable events, Jochebed was given her baby Moses to care for in his early life.

            Jochebed was a person of faith! When it seemed her child would be taken from her, he was given back to her. Your children are no doubt well into their adult lives and may have children of their own. Some of you perhaps have suffered the loss of a child. Some of you may not have had children. Yet, all of us can appreciate the faith required in all of these situations.

            We are people of faith. Let's continue to be strong in faith. 

Prayer: Mighty God, you are my strength. You fortify my soul.

May my faith ever grow stronger throughout my days.

In Jesus' name. Amen.