The Terrible Situation

A Pharaoh arose who didn't remember Joseph and didn't favor the people of Israel. The years ticked by, and the small family of Jacob had grown 2-3 million strong. Fearing their numbers, Pharaoh turned them into the slave class. Mercilessly, he beat down upon them, but their persecution only led to their multiplication.

So Pharaoh uttered two edicts. The first was given to the midwives who aided Hebrew births. "When you serve as a midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live" (Exodus 1:16). Bravely, the midwives disobeyed Pharaoh, for his command was abhorrent, and their respect for God was strong.

The second edict was to the entire population. "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live" (Exodus 1:22). Atrocious evil. But in conditions like these, love reigned, and a young couple named Amram and Jochebed married.

Moses' Parents' Decision

"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." (Hebrews 11:23)

As the author of Hebrews scanned the history of the Old Testament for examples of faith with which to instruct his readers, he came to Moses. We notice first, not Moses' faith, but his parents' faith. They married in an evil season. They had a child, which was faith in itself. And, as Hebrews notes, they hid him for three months. His commentary: "they were not afraid of the king's edict."

Exodus tells us that after three months, Moses' parents felt they could hide Moses no longer. They put him in a basket they'd covered in pitch. Able to float, they inserted the basket with Moses in it into the Nile. It seems they chose the insertion point strategically, for it was just upstream from where Pharaoh's daughter bathed. Providentially, she saw the basket, sent a servant to receive it, and saw baby Moses. Immediately, she was in love. The decision was made: I will raise him as my son.

With that, Moses' older sister, who'd been watching the basket from a safe distance, emerged. Would you like me to find a woman to nurse your son? With that, Moses was taken home to his mother so she could nurse him until he was old enough to go back to Pharaoh's daughter. He was then raised as the grandson of Pharaoh.

Why They Risked Their Lives

But why did Moses' parents risk their lives? Why were they "not afraid of the king's edict"? From where did such boldness arise?

It says, "because they saw that the child was beautiful." Moses' parents acted the way they did because they saw something in Moses. All parents should feel this way, but it seems there was more at play than mere parental adoration. Stephen, in his New Testament commentary on this event, said, "Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight" (Acts 7:20). It seems the beauty Moses' parents saw in Moses was a glow from God. As they looked at their baby, they knew God had big plans.

And it was this vision which enabled them to risk life and limb to obey their King in heaven and not their king on earth. Their love for Moses was bigger than their love for safety.

Faith is fueled by a greater love. Amram and Jochebed were like us. They would've liked security, acceptance, and peace, but they loved baby Moses more than any of those things. It was this greater love that enabled them to live by faith.

When the author says, "they were not afraid of the king's edict," he does not mean to say they felt no sense of fright over the situation. For three months, they hid their baby. The king was a terror. But they would not succumb to ultimate fear. Instead, they loved Moses and saw something beautiful in him, and it enabled them to overcome.

See Christ's Beauty

Perhaps many of us need to have faith such as theirs, one which loves the beauty of Christ and his kingdom more than security, acceptance, and peace. All of us want those things, and Jesus can grant the most authentic version of each, but He must become beautiful to us. Consider infant Jesus, lying in the manger. Think of crucified Jesus, substituting himself for you. And set your sights on resurrected Jesus, sure to return for His people. When we see his beauty, it makes it easier to step out in faith, for faith is fueled by a greater love.

You see, if our aim is to have God, to enjoy and experience Him, then we are protected from temptation and will more readily enter into faith decisions. But often we endure for good, yet lesser, reasons. For instance, someone might persevere in Christ because they can envision all they'd lose if they abandoned the Lord and pursued the flesh. They know the relationships they'd hurt, the positions they'd vacate, and the bridges they'd burn. Additionally, someone might endure because they can envision what they might become if they gave themselves over to the flesh. They can see the monster within and know they'd be a terror if not walking with Christ. Each is a good reason to endure, but not the best.

The best reason to endure is because Jesus Christ has become so beautiful, wonderful, transcendent, and preeminent to you. You've discovered His beauty. You've marveled at His love. You stare into his eyes and know you've found the greatest of all possessions. You love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And God knows this higher love will set you free.