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Powernote from Edna
Hi there friend
This edition of 31: the digital magazine you’re holding in your hands, is once again filled with powerful testimonies of a God that hears the cries of His people and intervenes.
It reminds us of the book of Exodus, where we meet up with the Israelites that found themselves in a very similar, precarious position. After 400 years in Egypt, the instrument of their initial salvation became a place of slavery.
Exodus 1:8-14,22 NASBS
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. [9] He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. [10] Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply, and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” [11] So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. [12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. [13] The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; [14] and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.
[22] Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”
Amid this impossible situation, the Israelites cried out to God in their slavery.
Exodus 2:24-25 NIV
God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. [25] So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
I don’t know about you, but that comforts my heart. God is not impartial and unaffected by what causes me pain, it moves Him and He intervenes...
But can you imagine being a woman at such a time in history?
Let’s meet Jochebed.
Numbers 26:59 NASBS
The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.
Backstory:
Jochebed was born into slavery. She grew up in a culture of injustice, discrimination, poverty and fear, yet she had faith in God for her family’s future. Her name, Jochebed, means Jehovah is Glory. She came from the tribe of Levi (set apart as priests); she knew her God and looked to Him to change the trajectory of her/their lives from bondage to freedom!
During these perilous times, Jochebed and Amram raised three children that played significant roles in leading a nation to freedom.
They gave their kids interesting names: Miriam, meaning rebellion, she rebelled against the idol-saturated culture of Egypt, leading a nation into prophetic worship of the Most High, Aaron meaning bringer of light; he headed up the priesthood and brought illumination and revelation by using his ‘smooth tongue‘ (oratory gifting), as for Moses, meaning; drawn out of the water, he rescued God’s people and led them through the wilderness until God’s image and ways became clearer than that of the idols they grew used to in Egypt.
My friend, God desires that we raise children that will confront the values and customs of the day and establish a Kingdom culture.
As bold women of strength and courage, we may acknowledge the darkness of the times yet simultaneously refuse to submit to the enemy’s intimidation.
For you and me, just like for Jochebed, not succumbing to fear and the negative report of the day requires faith in God, hearing His voice and accurate obedience.
Hebrews 11:23 NASBS
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
Moses’ parents discerned that God had a destiny for their son, and were willing to take risks and do whatever it takes to keep him safe.
We, too, can identify and partner with God’s dream for our children by keeping them safe from the enemy’s influence until God says it’s time to let them go.
Jochebed used what was at her disposal to launch her child into his destiny. We may have more sophisticated means, but like Jochebed, we must be strategic with our kids.
The Nile was the most dreaded place for any Israelite baby boy, as was Pharaoh’s palace, yet God used both to align and train Moses for His Kingdom’s redemptive purpose, to lead a nation out of slavery into their promised land.
We live in extraordinary days in an ever-changing world where our only security is that we are His people and that we have the incredible personal relational privilege of hearing His Voice and living in close proximity to the One who holds the whole world in His hands.
We are His daughters, and He is our Heavenly Father.
When Father brings His insight and perspective, He changes our hopelessness to a hope-filled future and outcome.
Let’s continue to be the women who know their God, united in Him and His strength and do exploits in His Kingdom that brings glory to Jehovah!
