Jochebed, the mother of Moses, teaches us a great strategy on how to save our generation: Take a chance on a life!
Jochebed faced risks and challenges when she sent her baby down the Nile. Today, we preach Jesus to children or teenagers, and that involves risks and challenges, too. We may face a lack of resources, a lack of support from our leadership (government or church), dangerous areas and so forth.
However, these sacrifices are needed and have eternal results in God’s plan.
Passion needs patience. Jochebed built a good structure to keep the baby floating. Although she was in a hurry, she took the time to coat the basket with tar and pitch.
Taking the time to develop structured programs to respond to children’s needs is complicated, too. It takes time! But the time Jochebed took to coat the basket certainly paid back as she saw her baby floating peacefully on the Nile River.
Similarly, the effort you put into children will certainly be paid back as they grow up without losing their values.
Faith!
Jochebed filled the basket with this very important ingredient. She did not know what was going to happen. She trusted God, and she knew He would protect the child.
I remember meeting a mother in El Salvador. She lived in an abandoned prison with her 1-year-old baby. They had no running water or electricity. However, she found Jesus through Compassion’s Child Survival Program. When you asked her about her son’s future, she responded, “God will help me, and I am sure he is going to be a doctor.”
Jochebed is not a famous name in the Bible, but she was very significant in God’s plan, one of the heroes of the faith. Sometimes those who work for children are not the ones who appear as the star of the story. However, because of their efforts, tears and lives, God certainly considers them heroes of the faith.
So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. — Exodus 2:8b–9, NIV
Prayer: God, help us to be brave; we don’t want to give up and forget your calling. We know our passion needs patience to see longer and deeper results. Above all, we know we can’t be close to you if we don’t have faith. We trust you, we know you are in control, and we know you will bless the work of our hands. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Roberto Medrano is a Learning and Support Specialist in our El Salvador office.
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Thank you for this. As someone who ministers to children, it was very meaningful. Nothing we do to develop and nurture children is ever wasted!!