Bearing Love: Jochebed Risked

“Now the two midwives respected God,

so they didn’t obey the Egyptian king’s order.

Instead, they let the baby boys live.”

-Exodus 1:17

Living as Kingdom-citizens on earth is risky. Jochebed’s birth story gives us examples of how to faithfully risk, upholding justice through creativity.

Read: Exodus 1:15-2:10

I am fascinated with so much of Jochebed’s birth story. It just seems to be filled with fierce female energy, and every time I read it, I feel empowered by the resilience, the cunning, and the strength of these women. This may be surprising since Jacobed isn’t named immediately. In fact, we don’t learn the mother of Moses’ name until Exodus 6:20. But this story, unlike so many in the Bible, centers on the story through the eyes of women.

Shiphrah and Puah are the first women named. They uphold an Ancient Near Eastern version of the hippocratic oath, as they advocate from their roles as midwives. It seems that birth is a thin place to experience God. (Perhaps, this makes it the perfect place for God to break through). Their resistance makes Pharaoh’s cruelty plain. He goes from manufacturing stillbirths to throwing babies in the Nile River.

Enter Jochebed. This mother resists Pharaoh by doing exactly what Pharaoh has ordered, throwing her baby in the Nile River. But her creativity and cunning provide a vessel for his journey, a basket. This action is still risky. Although his sister watches from a bank, the Nile is a major river and is a dangerous place for a helpless infant. God blesses Jochebed’s resistance by navigating the baby’s journey to a place of refuge.

Pharaoh’s daughter may show us her resistance in adopting this Hebrew baby and naming him, Moses, for removing him from his intended final resting place. Can you imagine his grandfather using this name, knowing that this child was allowed to live against his orders?

All of these women take on risk in this birth story. They expose the cruelty of earthly powers and live by another belief system that upholds life and values the work of women to birth, nurse and raise the next generation of resistors.

How much more important is this the work of Advent as we watch people crying out to God for justice? In this season, we have watched moms grieving the children they birthed, nursed and raised who have experienced earthly cruelty. Their children have been gunned down, trespassed, knelt on and crushed. They are crying out that their lives matter. We cannot wait for the fulfillment of the Kingdom to correct the injustices that are killing people created and deeply loved by God. How else can a weary world rejoice?

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In our story, the midwives are essential to the birth story. This week I interviewed someone essential to my birth stories, my doula. Jen Walker is the founder of Mumda in Jacksonville, Florida. She also has a background in dance, choreography and fitness, and is investing into these areas of connection in a season of disconnection. She gives such an important perspective on her role as bearing witness.

Blessed Advent!

Rev. Haley Grace

Resources:
Creating with God by Sarah Jobe