Monday, March 18, 2019              

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Genesis 28:10–22
Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” (NRSV)

Reflection
There is a scene in the classic movie The Ten Commandments that depicts this familiar story from the Bible. It is heart-wrenching and faith-filled at the same time. Imagine being forced to make that kind of decision? Recent scenes at the border remind us that for centuries parents have had to make difficult choices about what is best for their children. This predicament is not new.

Moses’ mother had faith that God would provide for her child. She had faith that Moses would survive and thrive. She could not have known that she would be part of the plan to ensure his safety, but her faith led her to let him go. That is a kind of faith that few of us are ever forced to exhibit. Would you be able to be that faithful?

Prayer
Faithful Father, I hope to be able to mirror your faith in me today. Guard each of us in your ever-loving arms as we prayerfully consider appropriate but necessary decisions. In your name, we continually pray. Amen.

Written by Lesley Conzelman, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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