Jochebed was the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and she is remembered for her courage, faith, and obedience to God in a time of great danger. Her account is found in Exodus 2:1–10 and briefly referenced in Numbers 26:59. Despite Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew baby boys, Jochebed trusted God and acted wisely to preserve her son’s life.
Exodus 2:2–3 records:
“So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.”
Her actions required both faith and ingenuity. By placing Moses in a small basket on the Nile, Jochebed entrusted her child’s future to God’s providence. This act ultimately led to Moses being discovered and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, ensuring his survival and preparing him for his future role as Israel’s deliverer.
Hebrews 11:23 commends Jochebed and her husband for their faith:
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.”
Jochebed’s importance extends beyond motherhood; she models unwavering trust in God’s plan despite life-threatening circumstances. Her faith set the stage for the deliverance of Israel, reminding believers that acts of courage and obedience, even in secret, can have eternal impact. She exemplifies the truth that godly influence often begins at home, shaping leaders who change history.
