Faith in God’s Promises

Fear can be a silent enemy, creeping into our hearts before any battle begins. It whispers defeat, fuels doubt, and tempts us to grip control rather than trust God. Yet, in the face of overwhelming odds, one woman’s faith turned a test into a triumph. Jochebed, Moses’ mother, faced a terrifying decree: Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys thrown into the Nile River. Her response—marked by courage, surrender, and influence—defied a king and shaped a nation. Though her name appears later (Exodus 6:20), her story in Exodus 1-2 shines as a testament to trusting God’s promises. The Nile, meant for death, became a path to deliverance because she chose faith over fear. Her example shows us how to move from uncertainty to victory, trusting God to transform our trials into triumphs.

The Israelites thrived in Egypt after Joseph’s rise to power, but a new Pharaoh, ignorant of Joseph, feared their growing numbers (Exodus 1:7-12). He enslaved them, yet they multiplied. In desperation, he commanded the death of all Hebrew male newborns. Defiant midwives spared many, but the edict stood (Exodus 1:19, 22). Enter Jochebed, a Hebrew mother facing an impossible choice: obey Pharaoh and lose her son, Moses, or risk everything to save him. Her story unfolds in three powerful traits—courage, surrender, and influence—that show us how to trust God through our own battles.

Jochebed and her husband, Amram, hid Moses for three months, defying Pharaoh’s decree (Exodus 2:1-2). This wasn’t just risky—it was life-threatening for them and their children, Miriam (around 10) and Aaron (around 3). They saw more than a beautiful baby; they saw God’s purpose (Hebrews 11:23). Their courage prioritized obedience to God over human laws (Acts 5:29). Jochebed faced societal dangers—neighbors who might betray her, soldiers hunting newborns—yet stood firm.

Today, our children face modern threats: peer pressure, social media’s influence, drugs, or ideologies like moral relativism and alternative lifestyles. Like Jochebed, we must courageously declare our children “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), not mistakes or cultural experiments. This takes prayer, God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-14), and boldness to train them in His ways, not society’s (Joshua 1:9). Jochebed’s deliberate choice to trust God’s promise over Pharaoh’s threat inspires us to stand for truth. What fears are you facing, and how can God’s promises embolden you?

When hiding Moses became impossible, Jochebed made a heart-wrenching choice. She crafted a waterproof basket, placed him in the Nile—the river of death—and sent Miriam to watch (Exodus 2:3). This wasn’t despair; it was active faith, trusting God’s providence despite crocodiles, soldiers, or a leaky basket (Hebrews 11:23). She knew God’s promises couldn’t fail if all male children died. God moved, orchestrating Pharaoh’s daughter to find and save Moses, turning a place of death into deliverance (Exodus 2:5-10; Romans 8:28).

Jochebed’s surrender meant casting down fearful thoughts and trusting a sovereign God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Mothers today face similar moments—children grow, leave for college, or make tough choices. Surrender means releasing them to God, praying for His guidance, and trusting His plan (Isaiah 41:10). Like Jochebed, we pray, “Lord, I’ve done all I can. They’re Yours.” Her faith echoes Joseph’s words: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Are you holding onto control, or surrendering your fears to God?

Jochebed’s courage and surrender opened doors to profound influence. Miriam’s quick thinking led to a miracle: Pharaoh’s daughter hired Jochebed to nurse Moses until he was 5-7, a critical time for shaping his identity (Exodus 2:7-10). Jochebed taught him about God, the Hebrew faith, and Abraham’s promises, laying a foundation that led Moses to reject Egypt’s riches for God’s call (Hebrews 11:24-26). Her influence birthed a deliverer who freed Israel from 430 years of bondage.

Parents are called to guide children from dependence on us to reliance on God, teaching His Word diligently in everyday moments (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). Billy Graham said, “The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be measured. They know and absorb her example and attitudes.” Your actions—praying, teaching Scripture, living faith—shape generations, as seen in Timothy’s faith, rooted in his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Jochebed’s legacy shows our influence can lead others to God, starting at home (Psalm 37:25). Do your children see your faith in action?

Jochebed’s story is a blueprint for victory:

• Courage to trust God over fear, defying opposition.
• Surrender to release control, believing His promises.
• Influence to model faith, shaping others for His glory.

The Nile, meant to destroy, became his salvation because Jochebed trusted God. Our trials—family struggles, societal pressures, or personal doubts—aren’t thwart His plan. Like Jochebed, we face giants, but God provides “bread in the battle, food in the fight.” This week, identify one fear or challenge. Write it down, counter it with Scripture (e.g., Isaiah 41:10), and pray daily, releasing it to God until His promise overshadows the giant. Rise as a person of courage, surrender, and influence, trusting Him to turn your tests into triumphs.

Memory Verse

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

For more on this topic, listen to our sermon Woman of Courage: