A long, long time ago, the Israelites lived in Egypt. Unfortunately, they did not do well there, because Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, treated them very badly and made them work hard. One day, Pharaoh ordered that all the newborn boys of the Israelites be killed, because he was afraid that they would become too strong. That was a very bad time for the Israelites.
During this time, a little boy was born. His mother loved him very much and wanted to protect him at all costs. So she hid him in her house for three months. But as the boy grew bigger and louder, she knew she had to do something to save him.
So she took a basket of reeds, covered it with tar inside and out, so that no water could penetrate, and carefully put her little son in it. Then she put the basket in the reeds on the edge of the Nile, a great river in Egypt.
The little boy’s big sister was called Miriam. She was very brave and smart. Miriam stood nearby on the shore and paid close attention to what would happen to her little brother. She wanted to make sure he was safe.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter came, who wanted to bathe on the Nile. Suddenly she discovered the basket in the reeds. She sent one of her servants to fetch it. When she opened the basket, she found the crying little boy inside. Her heart softened, and she said, “This must be one of the Israelite children!”
Miriam had seen it all and knew that this was her chance to help her brother. She boldly went to Pharaoh’s daughter and asked, “Shall I go away and call an Israelite nurse to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, and Miriam ran quickly to her mother and brought her over.
The little boy’s mother came and was given the task of breastfeeding and raising him. Pharaoh’s daughter told her to raise the boy and she would make sure that everyone was well cared for. So the little boy could be safe with his real mother until he got older.
When he was big enough, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She gave him the name Moses, because she said, “I pulled him out of the water.”
Message of history
God protects us, even in difficult times. He cares for us and finds ways to save us, just as He saved Moses. Trust that God always has a plan, even if you can’t see it right away.
Bible passage
The story of how Miriam saves Moses can be found in 2. Moses 2:4-10:
“But his sister stood at a distance to find out what was going to happen to him. And Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe in the Nile, and her servants walked along the bank; and she saw the basket in the midst of the reeds, and sent her maidservant to fetch it. And when she opened it, she saw the Infant; and behold, there was a weeping boy. Then she took pity on him and said, “It is one of the Hebrew children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a Hebrew nurse to nurse the baby for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” Then the girl went and called the mother of the Infant to her. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this little child with you and nurse him for me; I will give you your reward! And the woman took the child and nursed it. And when the child grew up, she brought it to Pharaoh’s daughter; and there was her son, and she called him Moses; for she said, ‘I have pulled him out of the water.'”
