2024_01_24 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Exodus 1, Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59, Hebrews 11:23
Last year Becky and I updated our wills. Updated is a serious understatement… the originals were so out of date that they included guardians for our children who are now adults! Working through our wills led me to think beyond whatever material goods I leave behind, and also think about what my lasting legacy might be. The word legacy can mean inheritance of things (money, property, etc…) but also values, beliefs, and character qualities that are of value. I know I want to leave a legacy of the surpassing value of knowing and following Jesus Christ.
This week, we read about Moses’ mother, Jochebed. She and her husband, Amram, defied Egyptian law by refusing to kill their infant son. Their risky act of faith played a significant role in God’s plan to rescue the Israelites from generations of slavery.
There is more to this than just his parent’s legacy of faith though. Jochebed and Amram were descendants of Levi, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The snapshot we get of them surrounding Moses’ birth and subsequent adoption gives us a picture of a couple who are courageous, deliberate, prayerful, and strategic. When they realized they could no longer hide their young child, they trusted God and placed him where Pharoah’s daughter would discover him hoping she would have mercy on him. That is an amazing example of love, faith, and initiative.
Now fast forward 80 years. Moses had led the people out of Egypt into freedom and was facing serious opposition from a growing group of dissidents. Moses’ brother Aaron had abandoned his leadership role and now there was a serious threat of widespread rebellion.
“Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “All of you who are on the Lord’s side, come here and join me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.” Exodus 32:25–26 (NLT)
Demonstrating similar faith and courage as Moses’ parent, the Levites stood against evil for God and His purposes. Later the Levites became the tribe that oversaw Israel’s worship and sacrifices. They are the only tribe that didn’t receive property in the promised land, but were compensated with support from the other tribes and designated cities to live in. The Levites were fully devoted to God’s work and worship. A legacy that continued for generations, up to and including the parents of John the Baptist.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor