Thursday, July 3, 2025
Lay it Down, Let it Go – Hebrews 11 & Exodus 2 Submitted by Kay Crumley
Years ago, it was common to have an ‘alter call’ at the end of each church service. People were invited to come to the front of the church to pray as the closing song was sung. Often several would kneel or stand near the platform where the podium was and pray. We were encouraged to lay our burdens at the altar. However, many of us would go there to pray, to ask His help to resolve the problem but then leave with the same resolve to solve it ourselves that we started with. We didn’t ‘let it go’ rather we laid it down only to pick it up again and keep stressing over it. Hebrews 11 is a list of those in the Bible who have demonstrated great faith. Included in that list is one verse about the parents of Moses.
Hebrews 11:23 - By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
Moses’ mother was Jochebed who married Amram. They had Miriam and Aaron as well as Moses. Both Amram and Jochebed were of the tribe of Levi who was the tribe of Priests. That might suggest they had a deeper trust in God than the other Israelites. At the time that Moses was born there was an edict, an order, from the Pharoh, that all Israelite boys born would be killed upon delivery. However, as you see from the verse above, they did not follow that command. The mid-wives participated in the rebellion. The courage of Jochebed was amazing, she hid the infant for three months and then built an ark, basket, that she covered with waterproof material so it would float. She placed ark in the river so that Pharoh’s daughter could find and rescue him. Imagine, if you can, that you take your most prized possession, placing it where that enemy’s family will find it so it can survive. That is truly laying it down, letting it go without knowing the outcome. That is the faith of Jochebed and Amram that is celebrated in Hebrews. Here is how God answered her prayers for her infant son Moses. His big sister, Miriam, watched to see what would happen to Moses. When the Egyptian princess found him, she recognized he was an Israelite boy but wanted to have him for her own. Miriam came out of hiding and offered to find a woman who could nurse him. Of course, his mother was not far away and readily offered to care for the infant, her son, Moses. She laid him down, let him go, but God had a different plan. It was common for women of that time to nurse children until they were about 3 years old or more. Then, she was forced to return him to Pharoh’s daughter. Jochebed had to let him go again.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
God’s purpose for Moses was not revealed until he had grown into a man and became the one who would free the Israelite people from slavery. It all started by his parents having faith strong enough to trust God with the outcome. Moses didn’t die in the infant slaughter that should have ended his life at birth. He was nurtured and educated as an Egyptian until adulthood.
I am sure that his parents had no idea what the result of their faith and trust in Him would end. Yet, they are included in the list of those who had Great Faith because of their actions. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. We are taught in scripture to not worry about tomorrow but to live one day at a time trusting that our Father will be true to His promises. Our fears are not from God, Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Lay it all down, your fears, your hurts, your anger, and your anxiety at the feet of Jesus. Then, maybe most importantly, let it go. We are not meant to carry our burdens but to give them to Him. He is trustworthy.
