I have a confession. I cannot read the story of Moses’s birth without crying. Exodus 2 holds a special place in my heart as an adoptive mom, and it’s not for the reason you might assume. I’m not shedding tears over Pharoah’s daughter finding Moses and adopting him (although that is a beautiful moment). It’s another mother who has caught my attention.
Every time I read about Moses’s mom hiding him for a few months and his sister following him to make sure he’s okay, I get choked up. And when the sister offers to find a Hebrew woman to nurse him, my tears start to fall because I have witnessed first hand the sacrifice of birth moms and birth families. The thought of being able to nurse your child that you thought you’d lost, only to have to place him in another family once he’s weaned breaks my heart into a thousand pieces because I have seen how birth mothers have gone to great lengths to ensure that their children have safe and loving homes when it was just not possible for them to experience that in their care.
And yet, for whatever reason, this side of earth where brokenness and heartache are plenty, God used Moses’s adoption for the good of an entire people group—the people of his birth heritage.
And this plotline breaks me every time.
That is what we’re seeing today. Moses was born to one family, but because of political and social injustices, he was sent along a river with the hopes that his life would be spared. And when Moses’s mother placed him in the water, God in His goodness ordained for Moses’ basket to land at the feet of the Pharaoh’s daughter, and a discovery that resulted in him being adopted into the most powerful family in his country. But even more importantly, he was adopted into the family that was also oppressing God’s people, Moses’ birth people.
This is no coincidence. Our God is not a god of happenstance and chance. Proverbs 16:9 says that “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” God knew when Moses was in his birth mother’s belly that this child would be the one that God Himself would call to lead His people out of bondage. God knew what it would take to make Moses flee to the wilderness, and He knew exactly what it would take to have Moses step into God’s calling on his life.
Despite Moses’ flaws, his past sin, and even his chaotic birth story, God called Moses to lead. But more than that, God had been orchestrating every moment in Moses’s life to slowly shape Moses into the very man God had called him to be. So it shouldn’t be a shock that when Moses started doubting himself, God reminded him of these truths: When the people ask who sent you, you tell them that you have encountered “I AM WHO I AM.” I AM sent you. I AM called you. And I AM is using you to make a way for my people to be free.
Do you see what God is doing there? He’s reminding both Moses and the Israelites that our God, I AM, is the one who calls, I AM is the one who saves, and I AM has not forgotten you.
And today, I want to remind you of the same thing. No matter your story, your background, or the mistakes you’ve made: Our God is calling you into right relationship with Him. And when He calls us into relationship, He equips us in every way for the life and ministry that He’s drawn us to. And just as He did not neglect or forget Moses in the water nor the enslaved Israelites, He has not and will never forget you.
So today, when doubt starts to creep in, I want you to remind yourself of these truths:
I AM has called me. I AM has saved me. And I AM is using every hard part of my story for His glory and my good. And because of those three truths, I can step into my calling with confidence, not because of my works of righteousness but because of I AM’s great love on the cross.
