Moses
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The mother succeeded in concealing the child for three months.
Then, finding that she could no longer keep him safely, she prepared
a little ark of rushes, making it watertight by means of slime and
pitch; and laying the babe therein, she placed it among the flags at
the river’s brink. She dared not remain to guard it, lest the child’s
life and her own should be forfeited; but his sister, Miriam, lingered
near, apparently indifferent, but anxiously watching to see what would
become of her little brother. And there were other watchers. The
mother’s earnest prayers had committed her child to the care of God;
and angels, unseen, hovered above his lowly resting place. Angels
directed Pharaoh’s daughter thither. Her curiosity was excited by
the little basket, and as she looked upon the beautiful child within,
she read the story at a glance. The tears of the babe awakened her
compassion, and her sympathies went out to the unknown mother who
had resorted to this means to preserve the life of her precious little one.
She determined that he should be saved; she would adopt him as her
own.
Miriam had been secretly noting every movement; perceiving that
the child was tenderly regarded, she ventured nearer, and at last said,
“Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may
nurse the child for thee?” And permission was given.
The sister hastened to her mother with the happy news, and without
delay returned with her to the presence of Pharaoh’s daughter. “Take
this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages,”
said the princess.
God had heard the mother’s prayers; her faith had been rewarded.
It was with deep gratitude that she entered upon her now safe and
happy task. She faithfully improved her opportunity to educate her
child for God. She felt confident that he had been preserved for some
great work, and she knew that he must soon be given up to his royal
mother, to be surrounded with influences that would tend to lead him
away from God. All this rendered her more diligent and careful in
his instruction than in that of her other children. She endeavored to
imbue his mind with the fear of God and the love of truth and justice,
and earnestly prayed that he might be preserved from every corrupting
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influence. She showed him the folly and sin of idolatry, and early
taught him to bow down and pray to the living God, who alone could
hear him and help him in every emergency.