What about Jochebed?

 

Yes, what about Jochebed? Who? JOK-uh-bed.

Haven’t you heard of Jochebed? It’s no surprise. Even though she played such a significant role in the exodus of an entire nation, her name is not mentioned until the sixth chapter of the Book of Exodus.

“And Amram married Jochebed, his father’s sister; and Aaron and Moses were their sons.” – Exodus 6:20 (TLB)

Please get over the “his father’s sister” and let’s move on.

And in Numbers 26:59 (ERV) we are told, “They also had a daughter, Miriam.”

Jochebed was the mother of Mariam, Aaron and Moses. Yes, that Moses. Moses who was instrumental in leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt.

Jochebed, virtually unknown, was used by God to fulfil an incredible purpose. She, after all, birthed destiny.

Technically the exodus begins with Jochebed, not Moses, for it is written,

“This is the list of the sons of Jacob who accompanied him to Egypt, with their families: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher.” – Exodus 1:1-4 (TLB)

You see, Jochebed was Levi’s daughter and therefore of the Tribe of Levi; she bore priestly heritage. Born into slavery in Egypt, Jochebed made, what must have been, a heart wrenching decision…okay,

Long story not so short…

The Hebrew women, enslaved in Egypt, were very fertile so there was a population explosion, and the Israelite nation grew exponentially, filling the land of Goshen.

Now Joseph, his brothers and the Pharaoh, who favoured them greatly, by this time had all died and unfortunately, the newly appointed Pharaoh was not so inclined. He felt no such obligation to the descendants of Jacob and did not appreciate this rapid increase of the Israelite population, so he put a plan in place to overwork them, in hopes of making the Hebrew slaves weak. 

But the more pressure that was placed on the Israelites, the more they reproduced. Pharaoh, in fear of the burgeoning numbers, devised a new plan and “commanded all of his people to throw the newborn Hebrew boys into the Nile River” (Exodus 1:22 TLB).

In a valiant act of defiance to save her newborn son, Jochebed kept him hidden. But after three months had passed, Jochebed, feeling that she could no longer keep him safe from harm, devised her own plan. She too would make use of the Nile.

Weaving reeds into a basket and slathering it with tar rendering it waterproof, Jochebed lovingly, and I imagine tearfully, placed her 3-month-old precious baby in it. Then she “set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile” (Exodus 2:3 AMP).

Miriam, stood nearby, watching to see what might happen to her baby brother.

This same Pharaoh’s daughter, walking along the bank of the river with her maids, saw the floating basket, had it retrieved, peered inside, only to see the “[especially] beautiful and healthy” baby boy. What shall she do with this adorable bundle?

Quick-thinking Miriam suggested that a Hebrew woman be wet nurse to the Hebrew baby and brought the child’s own mother to Pharaoh’s daughter who told Jochebed, “Take this baby and feed him for me. I’ll pay you to take care of him.” (Exodus 2:9 ERV)

Jochebed’s own son was returned to her, at least for a while for he was to be given back to Pharaoh’s daughter but he would return again at a later time.

In the midst of this tyrannical death decree, Jochebed acted in extraordinary faith and courage. Her priestly lineage was put to the test, she would have known that despite the possible outcome, God was able to save. Her faith in Him did not fail her.

Faith allowed Jochebed to place that basket in the Nile and let go of it.

Faith allowed Jochebed to take an unimaginable risk.

Faith allowed Jochebed to see beyond the current circumstances.

Faith allowed Jochebed to courageously step out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary.

Faith allowed Jochebed to perceive this baby, not just as her child but as a child of God, to be used by Him to save an entire nation.

Faith allowed Jochebed to act on divine calling.

Beloved, faith transfers things from one realm into another dimension. Standing firmly in faith adds super to the natural.

This amazing woman, whose name appears only twice in Scripture, has left an indelible mark and each of us can learn much from her.

The same river that had taken so many innocent lives, silencing male potential, was the same magnificent river from which deliverance was drawn.

Beloved, when you take God at His word, act in faith, are obedient and surrender to His will, God will provide a means of escape. Even if you are unnamed, like Jochebed, yield yourself to God and He will use you to manifest His purpose on earth.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “What about Jochebed?” © 2025 July 30, 2025