Richard Boyd
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you cast into the Nile, but you let every daughter live.”
Exodus 1:22
Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she retrieved it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews' children.”
Exodus 2:5-6
Have you ever wondered why Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses as her son? Especially since her father, Pharaoh the king of Egypt commanded that all Hebrew boys be murdered?
The bible is quite explicit if we understand exactly what we are reading. In other words, we need to allow the Bible to interpret itself. We read in the above verses that Pahoroes daughter took pity on baby Moses. The King James Version of the Bible states that she had compassion.
The Hebrew word is ḥāmal, it implies to spare, have pity and have compassion. Pharaoh's daughter was moved in a way to spare the boy Moses, she acted as a mother would with her child. Her compassion towards Moses was greater than her father's demands for injustice. She recognized who Moses was, she knew he was a Hebrew but refused to deny his right to exist.
“Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.”
Ezekiel 36:21. Here again, we read another scripture among many that speak of pity, to spare, and to have compassion. YHVH (God's) jealousy for His land, is directed by pity for the people He promises the land.
“And they shall be mine, say's the Lord of hosts, in that day when making up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his son that serves him.” Malachi 3:17
Once again we read the meaning of the Hebrew word ḥāmal, to be spared. When Yeshua (Jesus) went about doing good. The Bible says He was moved with compassion. Yeshua spared the lives of those he pitied. His intention for the hurting always has been to be influenced by a heart of compassion. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36
Pharaoh's daughter changed the course of history by rejecting the injustice of her father the King. She did not give in to his diabolical scheme to annihilate the Hebrew people. She allowed the divine favor that God placed upon Moses to move her. She forever engraved in history the emancipation of a people. Eighty years later Moses would return and free the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery by the hand of God.
We can learn many lessons from this story, nonetheless, here are two important points. God developed a woman who no one would have thought sympathized with the Hebrews. Pharaoh's daughter stands as an example of women today in the local church. Women who have been pushed aside due to religious opinions. Women who have been denied the privilege to lead righteously. Yet, like Pharaoh's daughter, many of them hold the key to the success of the local church.
Pharaoh's daughter allowed compassion and instinct to spare the weeping child Moses. She then initiates the adoption of a non-Egyptian, as her child. A child who by the command of her father was to be killed.
What can we learn from such a person? That within certain circles which do not hold your best interests at heart. There will always be someone who God will move upon, with compassion on your behalf.
Hāmal, - to be moved by compassion and pity by saving others.
Pastor Richard
Photos: Richard Boyd