Shemot, שְׁמוֹת - Names
Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1
Exodus 1:18–2:10
1:18 The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”
19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”
20 Elohim dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. 21 Because the midwives feared Elohim, He gave them families. 22 Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
2 A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him. 5 Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”
8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.”
The young woman went and called the child’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.”
The woman took the child and nursed it. 10 The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
Today’s Meditation:
The plans of Hashem always come to pass. In today’s reading, we see two miracles. First of all, that the midwives are rescuing babies from murder, and secondly, that the Pharaoh's daughter finds Moses in the river and rescues him. And actually, a third miracle occurs when baby Moses is given back to his birth mother to be nursed and cared for. Hashem had an excellent plan to raise a deliverer for His people, and the enemy obviously did not like this. However, Hashem’s plan prevailed. Moses is saved and returned to his mother's loving arms. Nothing can stop Hashem's plans.
Today’s Challenge:
If you saw something wrong, would you intervene to stop it? Would you lie to save a life? Would you dare to carry out a dangerous plan (such as placing baby Moses in the river)? Would you trust in Hashem that if you did any of this, He would bless and protect you? My challenge to you today is to be on the lookout for what Hashem is challenging you to do. It will take you out of your comfort zone, but you must pray that He will give you the strength. Be brave and bold. Hashem will go with you wherever you go.
