Who delivered the deliverer? Most prominent in our lesson this week about Moses are the women in his life.
Women who:
Feared God instead of man like Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15–20) the midwives,
Persevered past obstacles like his sister Miriam (Exodus 2:2–9)
Nurtured as Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:5–6, 10),
and were brave like his mother, Jochebed, (Exodus 2:1–3; Numbers 26:59).
President Boyd K. Packer said: “There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother.” (These Things I Know, April 2013)
Jochebed seemed to know this, and we can learn other lessons from her life as well:
1. We must learn to trust and have a steadfast faith in the Lord. When we lay our trust on him he is always there to help us through his providence.
2. The upbringing of our children is very important. Paragraph 6 of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches us of those duties:
“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.”
3. Genuine faith has rewards. When we continually walk in the faith of the Lord he is able to bless us. Not only was Moses life spared, but his mother was able to nurture and care for him.
4. Knowing all the consequences, she still trusted the lord and delivered and protected her baby.
What women have influenced, prayed for, delivered you?
“It would be impossible to measure the influence that such women have, not only on families but also on the Lord’s Church, as wives, mothers, and grandmothers; as sisters and aunts; as teachers and leaders; and especially as exemplars and devout defenders of the faith.” (President Russell M Nelson. A Plea To My Sisters, Oct 2015)