"Moses Father" (Part 1)

NOTE: I have written Morning Devotionals long enough to anticipate questions. If you are already married, and your spouse is not a Christian, don't be discouraged over the principles below. The Bible is also full of examples where God’s people married outside of their “tribe.” You may just have to work harder to have a godly family. But God's grace is sufficient.

So, with that being said, and Father’s Day near, let me spend a little time in the study of Moses’ father. While we don’t know a lot about him the following verse give us some basic principles that we can apply in our lives that will lead us to a better family.

Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. (Exodus 2:1-3 NIV).

You know the story. The Egyptian Pharaoh was concerned about growth in numbers of the Israelites, so he ordered every newborn boy to be put to death. His fear was rooted in the fact that Israel could have become stronger and turned on him, ultimately taking over the kingdom. His plan could have worked had it not been for God’s sovereignty and grace. Can you imagine a baby, hidden for a few months; then placed into a basket to float in the river; and, then being found and raised by none other than the Pharaoh's daughter? Only God could make that happen! Pharaoh's own law worked against him! Pharaoh's household raised it’s someday opposition. Moses would one day oppose this same Egyptian government so that God could deliver the Israelites from slavery. But, back to Moses’ father. In our reading today we are introduced to Moses' father. In one verse we learn a couple of things about him.

 First, he was from the tribe of Levi. Levi, one of the sons of Jacob, became the namesake for the tribe of priests. They were in charge of the tabernacle. They were keepers of the holy articles. They were to be set apart from the rest of the tribes.
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Second, we learn that Moses' father married a Levite. In other words, he stayed within his own “tribe.” He would have been free to marry an Israelite from any other tribe, but he chose to marry a Levite, which meant his wife came from a priest's family. She understood the demands of the calling to care for the Holy places of God.

It says to me that Moses' family was different. Each of his parents came from the clan God had set apart. This had to have had a major impact on Moses and all that happened to him in life. God promises that righteousness blesses the generations that follow for thousands of years. Surely a part of Moses’ blessing was because of the faithfulness of his parents. Also, it reminds me that Moses' father was careful who he married. There is a reason God says we should not be unequally yoked! Date only Christians! Marry only a Christian! If you want a successful family, and to raise great kids, it sure helps to start with the blessings of God!