It Takes a Village: The Women Who Saved Moses | Mother’s Day Reflection

Motherhood is one of the greatest callings God gives a woman. To be entrusted with children - to nurture them, guide them, pray for them, and release them into God’s purpose - is both a privilege and a responsibility. Every mother desires to see her children grow into all that God intended them to be. Yet no mother can do it alone.

The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” could not be more true.

Growing up in a small town in Ghana, everyone knew one another. The adults around us knew our parents, our grandparents, and our family members. If you stepped out of line, another adult would correct you before you even made it home. It was normal. It was expected. And our parents were grateful because they understood the value of a village.

My brother, especially, was known for testing boundaries. He would skip school, keep bad company, and wander where he wasn’t supposed to go. There was a football pitch close to the office of one of my father’s friends, and during school hours, my brother and his friends would sneak there to play. This “Uncle” would leave his office, march to the pitch, discipline my brother, and send him straight back to school.

At the time, my brother thought this man was ruining his fun. But as an adult, he now understands something powerful: the village our parents built helped keep him on the right path.

When we look at the life of Moses, we see that it also took a village to save him - a village of women intentionally positioned by God to preserve his destiny.

The Women God Positioned to Save Moses

After Joseph and his generation died, a new Pharaoh arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph. Fearing the growth of the Israelites, he oppressed them, enslaved them, and eventually ordered that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile.

Imagine being Jochebed - a Hebrew slave mother - living under such a terrifying decree.

But before we even get to Jochebed, Scripture introduces us to two courageous women: the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah.

The king commanded them to kill every Hebrew baby boy they delivered. Yet Exodus tells us that because these women feared God, they refused to obey Pharaoh’s wicked order. Their reverence for God outweighed their fear of man.

These women became the first members of Moses’ village.

The Bible does not explicitly state that they delivered Moses, but it is safe to conclude that women like them played a critical role in preserving Hebrew sons during that season of destruction.

The enemy has always been after children and destinies.

If he cannot stop a child before birth, he will attempt to destroy that child through other means. In our generation, the “Nile” may look different:

• gangs,

• crime,

• addiction,

• depression,

• confusion,

• prison,

• hopelessness,

• and every system designed to pull children away from God’s purpose.

But mothers must rise up like Jochebed and declare: “Not my child.”

Seeing What God Sees

Exodus 2:2 says:

“She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.”

Jochebed looked at Moses and saw more than a helpless infant—she saw purpose.

Perhaps God had already revealed to her that this child carried destiny. Moses had been ordained to deliver Israel from slavery, and his mother discerned that there was something extraordinary about him.

The question for every parent is this:

What do you see when you look at your child?

Do you only see weakness, stubbornness, or limitation? Or do you ask God to reveal the destiny hidden inside them?

A mother who is in tune with God will often see purpose before the world does.

Jochebed protected Moses until she could no longer hide him. Then came one of the hardest lessons of motherhood: she had to release him.

Sometimes protecting what we love means surrendering it to God.

There are seasons to hide what God has given us, and there are seasons to release it fully into His hands. Wisdom is knowing the difference.

The Nile Became the Place of Deliverance

Jochebed placed Moses into a basket and released him into the Nile - the very river where Hebrew baby boys were being drowned.

What the enemy intended as a place of destruction became the place of preservation.

God has a way of using the very thing meant for evil as the vehicle for deliverance.

The Nile did not destroy Moses - it carried him into destiny.

And even after releasing him, Jochebed was not alone. Standing nearby was Miriam, Moses’ older sister, watching carefully to see what would happen. Jochebed needed help. She needed another member of the village.

Then came Pharaoh’s daughter.

She recognized immediately that Moses was a Hebrew child, yet instead of condemning him, she had compassion on him. God touched the heart of a woman within Pharaoh’s own household to preserve the very deliverer Pharaoh was trying to destroy.

What an incredible picture of God’s sovereignty.

And hiding nearby was Miriam, ready with wisdom and courage. She quickly suggested finding a Hebrew woman to nurse the child - bringing Moses right back into the arms of his own mother.

Exodus 2:9 says:

“Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.”

What a divine turnaround.

The same mother who had hidden in fear could now openly care for her son under Pharaoh’s daughter’s protection - and she was paid to do it.

When We Release What We Treasure to God

There is a profound lesson here:

When we surrender what we treasure most to God, He returns it with peace attached.

Jochebed released Moses in tears, uncertainty, and faith. But God returned him to her with provision, protection, and peace.

What the enemy meant for evil, God turned for good.

Moses was saved because God strategically positioned a village of women around him:

• Shiphrah and Puah,

• Jochebed,

• Miriam,

• and Pharaoh’s daughter.

Each woman played a role at a different stage of his life. Each woman became part of God’s plan to preserve destiny.

A Mother’s Prayer

As mothers, grandmothers, aunties, mentors, teachers, and spiritual mothers, God has called us to be part of someone’s village.

Some of us may not have control over every person who enters our children’s lives, but we can intentionally build godly villages around them. We can pray for wise teachers, godly friends, faithful mentors, and people who will help guide them toward purpose - not away from it.

Today’s reflection reminds us to remain in tune with God:

• to discern purpose,

• to protect destiny,

• to know when to hold on,

• and to know when to release.

May God help us to nurture our children according to His will and guide them away from every “Nile” the enemy has prepared for destruction.

And may He surround them with the right village - people ordained by God to help preserve their purpose.

Happy Mother’s Day to every mother, grandmother, spiritual mother, and woman helping to raise the next generation.

May the Lord strengthen you, guide you, and bless the work of your hands.