Jochebed

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"Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak." Ps. 6:2-3

Faith Foucus/Meet Me at the Well/Jochebed

Meet Me at the Well

Women of Faith: Jochebed

Bible Study on Numbers 1-2

Introduction: Numbers 1

After Joseph and all that generation died, the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied. They became so numerous that the land was filled with Israelites. A new King who had not known Joseph came to power. He feared that the Israelites would overpower them in war. So he made slaves of all them.

However, the Israelites still continued to multiply. Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter and filled with hard labor. As if this was not enough, the King than declared that all baby boys be killed at birth by the Hebrew midwives, but the midwives refused to cooperate. So the King issued another decree...

I. Jochebed's Problem (Exodus 6:20, Numbers 2)

Now Jochebed was a Hebrew woman of the tribe of Levi, and she had an overwhelming problem...

Pharaoh's Proclamation:

-What law did Pharaoh make regarding the Hebrews? Why? (Ex 1:10, Ex 1:22)

-According to Exodus 2:2, what was Jochebed's problem?

Jochebed's Pregnancy:

-What would have been some of her feelings as she faced this overwhelming problem?

-As a Hebrew woman of God what do you think she did when faced with this problem?

-When have you been faced with an overwhelming situation or problem? What did you do?

What do these verses say to do when we are faced with an overwhelming problem? - Psalm 34:4 -Proverbs 3:5-6 - I Peter 5:7 - Matthew 11:28-29

II. Jochebed's Persistance in Prayer

Jochebed Believed God and waited for the answer to her problem

- To what Hebrew tribe did Jochebed belong? What does this tell you about her heritage? Exodus 2:1

- What did Jochebed notice about her son when he was born? Hebrews 11:23, Exodus 2:3

- What did Jochebed do for his first three months of life?

- What do you think Jochebed was doing during the three months she hid her baby and waited on God for a solution to her problem?

- According to Hebrews 11:23, what enabled Jochebed to disobey the King and hide her son?

- Who was Jochebed obeying by risking the King's wrath to hide her son?

- What is the definition of *faith?* Hebrews 11:1

- What promise does God make to us in each of the following verses? What do these verses tell us about our problems from God's perspective? Philippians 4:19 -Matthew 17:20-21 -James 1:5

-If we are not experiencing these promises in our own lives, what might be the reason?

- According to Hebrews 10:35-36, what is our reward when we do God's will wait and patiently for Him to answer?

From the book God's Invitation, Henry Blackaby gives the following four reasons to trust God in the midst of problems:

1. God is love: He always gives what is best for me.

2. God is all-knowing: His word for my life is always right.

3. God is all-powerful: He will always meet my need.

4. God never changes: I can trust Him in every circumstance.

How does knowing these four truths help you in the midst of a crisis or problem?

III. Jochebed's Provision

Jochebed was faced with an overwhelming problem, but God provided:

Wisdom:

-What was the specific order of Pharaoh in regard to little boys? Exodus 1:22

- What wise plan did God give to Jochebed when she could no longer hide her son?

- How did this meet Pharaoh's decree?

- When you are faced with an overwhelming problem that requires sound wisdom what does James 1:5 tell you to do?

Jochebed made a basket out of papyrus reeds and placed her baby inside it. She then put the basket in the river among the bulrushes, and asked her daughter, 10 year old Miriam to stand nearby and watch over it.

-What did Jochebed possibly know about where she had placed her son?

- What was Jochebed trusting God to do?

- What did Jochebed have to let go of in order for God to provide a solution to her problem?

- When you are faced with an overwhelming problem, what does God want you to do with it? Prov 3:5-6 I Peter 5:7

"Jesus encourages His followers to turn to Him when the hard times hit. He is not disinterested, letting you work out your problems for yourself. He is not powerless, unable to do anything for you. He is not out of touch: unable to understand what you are going through. He is "gentle and humble' and He is able to bring "rest" to your soul. He may not always change your circumstance, but He will bring a peace to your heart even in the midst of the most difficult situation if you will TRUST Him." (Blackaby, The Invitation, pg 85)

Read Psalm 34:4-10 What are some of the ways that people may respond to problems or crisis in their life?

How did David respond in the dark moments of his life? (Psalm 34:4-10)

What promises do you see in these verses? (Psalm 34:4-10)

A Way of Escape:

Who did God send to find Jochebed's baby in the Nile? Exodus 2:6-10

Why did God want this baby to be found by Pharaoh's daughter?

What does this tell you about God's viewpoint in the midst of our problems?

What special blessing did God allow Jochebed to have after the baby was discovered in the Nile? Exodus 2:6-10

IV God's Plan and Purpose

--Jochebed's faith was used to prepare her children to join God in His Work

Who were the other siblings of Moses? Micah 6:4

How did God use Miriam and Aaron as adults? Micah 6:4

What affect may Jochebed's faith during this time of crisis have had on the older two children? Isaiah 54:13 Detueronomy 6:7-9

Why is it important for us to model faith in the hard times to our children?

Jochebed was allowed to keep her son until he was weaned and then he went to live with Pharaoh's daughter. It must have been very difficult for her to let him go into the palace and grow up there under the influence of the Egyptians. From her perspective it may have seemed that all hope was lost for Moses to become a Godly man. She could not see the big picture that God saw. However, she entrusted her child to God.

How did God use Jochebed's willingness to trust God with her baby to impact the lives of the Hebrew slaves?

Why is it important that we remember that God sees the big picture when it appears all hope is lost for our child?

Challenge:

Is there an area in the life of your life or in the life of your child that you need to entrust to God? If so, name it below and begin to pray now that God will use this to bring Him glory?.

Note: We cannot hide our children forever, just as Jochebed could not hide her son forever. At some point we have to stick them in the little boat and let them float away on the Nile of this world. , praying that we have passed on to them a heritage of faith and trust in God. Even if we are not moms, we have hopes and dreams for the future to which we cling. We must entrust them to God as well, knowing He is in control. What are some verses that comfort and strengthen you to entrust that which you hold most precious to Him? Draw from the Well: Devotional Wrap-up

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