A Royal Adoption

​From the bleak prospect of drowning in the Nile River to the beautiful palace of Pharaoh, Moses’ life story took an unexpected turn at the very beginning.  Because of his birth mother’s courage and ingenuity, he was given a second chance on life.  And God directed his floating basket straight into the arms of a compassionate princess.  

“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 took it.  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​

What possessed the princess to disobey her father’s command and adopt this Hebrew baby?  What was her father’s reaction?
 
We will never know the answers to these questions.  However, we do know that Pharaoh’s daughter was immediately aware of Moses’ heritage.  She knew that he was a Hebrew baby and that they were commanded to be thrown into the Nile.  Nevertheless, she took pity on baby Moses and decided to welcome him into her home as her own son. 
 
According to the Bible, it doesn’t look like Pharaoh responded negatively when he found out that his daughter adopted a Hebrew baby boy.  But I wonder what that conversation was like?  What was Pharaoh’s reaction to the news that he had a Hebrew grandson?
 
There are many questions and things we can consider when pondering Moses’ unlikely adoption into the royal household.  However, before his formal adoption into royalty, God has a special gift for his birth mom.

“Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and call you a nurse
from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’  And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,
‘Go.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother.  And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,
‘Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took
the child and nursed him.  When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter,
​and he became her son. She named him Moses, ‘Because,’ she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’”
~Exodus 2:7-10

​Moses’ mother had the unexpected gift of seeing her beloved baby again.  She was able to legally take care of him as a baby and watch him grow.  I’ve always wondered if Pharaoh’s daughter ever suspected that the woman so quickly chosen to nurse Moses was actually his birth mother.  Either way, this was a special gift to Moses’ birth mom and one I’m sure she treasured greatly.
 
Once Moses was weaned, he was formally adopted into Pharaoh’s household and became a prince of Egypt.  He grew up as royalty with all the privileges, education, and comfort due one of Pharaoh’s grandsons.  However, Moses grew up knowing that he was a Hebrew and never forgot his people, a fact that would get him in trouble down the road.  However, that’s a story for another day.
 
Today, as we consider and ponder Moses’ adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter, we see God’s hand at work.  Nowhere in Egypt would he learn more about leadership, government, economics, and over all knowledge than in Pharaoh’s palace.  God was preparing him and divinely placed him in Pharaoh’s household.
 
So what about us?  Can we see God’s divine hand in our lives?  God never does things on accident or makes mistakes.  We have been placed exactly where we are for a reason.  We may not see it yet, but it is our job and responsibility to look for and pursue God’s specific purpose in this season. 
 
Unlike Moses, we may not have been adopted into royalty, but just as God directed the floating basket to the right spot at the right time, so also, He guides and directs our lives to accomplish His great purposes.  Therefore, let’s open our eyes and seek to discover what God is trying to accomplish in our lives right now.

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​Your turn:  in what ways have you seen God’s hand at work in your life?