The Daughter of Pharaoh Adopted and Raised Moses
Biblically the Daughter of Pharaoh who adopted and raised Moses is unnamed.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:24-27; Acts 7:21-23).
Exodus 2: 1-22
Here is a woman who was born into royal blood who had her every need met and yet remains nameless. There is speculation as to what her name was. Because the Bible does not call her by name except the daughter of Pharaoh that is how we will also identify her. The Pharaoh’s daughter risked her life by defying her father in rescuing an Israelite boy baby and by adopting and raising him as a prince of Egypt.
The Pharaoh commanded all his people that every son that is born to the Israelites would be cast into the river, and every daughter of the Israelites shall be save alive. (Exodus 1:22).
This act did not go un-noticed when the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river her maidens walked along by the rivers side she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
The daughter of Pharaoh had compassion on the crying baby. She did recognize the baby as being a Hebrew child. Miriam, the sister of Moses, had been hiding in the bulrushes and told the daughter of Pharaoh that she could call a nurse of the Hebrew women so she may nurse the child for her. The daughter of Pharaoh agreed and called the mother of the child.
The daughter of Pharaoh told the woman to take the child away, and nurse him for her and she would give her wages. So the mother of Moses took her child and nursed him. Once the child grew up the mother brought him unto the daughter of Pharaoh and he became her son. She called the baby Moses; because he was drawn out of the water.
Moses was educated for 40 years as an Egyptian and with all the privileges the daughter of the Pharaoh could give him. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. (Acts 7:23). It came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. Once Moses made sure no one saw him he slew the Egyptian then hid him in the sand.
Moses went back the second day and two Hebrew men struggled together and told Moses that he did wrong and asked why he killed the Egypt. Moses feared that his deed had been found out. When Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
The daughter of Pharaoh risked everything to make the righteous choice to save a baby who had been order to drown in the river as ordered by her father. She defied her father in rescuing this Israelite boy baby and by adopting and raising him as a prince of Egypt. These acts of bravery and self-sacrifice are the qualities we should be willing to do for the glory of the LORD. The daughter of Pharaoh was not the only women who risked everything in defiance of the Pharaoh. There was the Hebrew midwives who feared the LORD God and risked their lives to save Israelite children, the mother of Moses who defied Pharaoh by making the basket and saving her son, Miriam was also brave to watch over her baby brother when he was place in the waters of the Nile. The daughter of Pharaoh felt compassion for the crying Hebrew child. Her father, the Pharaoh had a hardened heart and felt no compassion for the suffering of the Hebrew people.
We can assume that the daughter of Pharaoh was a kind and tender hearted person. She was brave in defying her father. She helped her adopted son, Moses, to fulfill the mission that the LORD God had for him to do. She had saved Moses from the order to throw all Hebrew baby boys in the Nile. She teaches us to be willing to help those who are in trouble even if that person is of a different culture or race.
The daughter of Pharaoh was an Egyptian or a pagan woman who saved a Hebrew baby from a terrible death. She taught Moses and laid a foundation for him so he could go on and service the LORD God. How did she accomplish this since the daughter of Pharaoh was an idolater who worshiped the sun?
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoice; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save your people, and bless your inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up forever. (Psalm 28:7-9).
A baby is a miraculous gift from the LORD God, no matter how one receives it. Some are given the ability bear them, others the ability to rear them. This does not take away the great blessing a baby is in the lives of the parents. The daughter of Pharaoh is an example that any child you take for your own becomes your own if you give of yourself to that child.
Moses was rescued from the River Nile by the daughter of Pharaoh who educated him in her Egyptian culture. Blended families have become the norm in our society today. This is due to many different reasons such as; the increased divorce rate, second marriages, people waiting later to get married, and having children while single. The LORD God places a high value on families and taking care of and supporting each other in that family.
We know we are adopted by the blood of Jesus Christ into the family of the LORD GOD.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:3-7).
We as Christians are not the same as our Jewish families. Yet because we are adopted we belong to the LORD God. We are not second class children; we are not less loved by the Father God. The reason for this is simple and I missed it we who are adopted are born again. Simple words yet the full meaning have been lost and not entirely understood. We understand our lives have changed and our focus has been changed and yes even our hearts have been changed because we have been born again by the blood of Jesus Christ. It goes deeper! Because of the blood of Jesus Christ our DNA has changed. That means we no longer have a different blood type from Jesus it is the same. We share that same precious blood that Jesus Christ shed for us. It is like have a complete blood transfusion, we are washed in His blood, and we have his same DNA. We no longer have the sinful nature, we now try to accomplish His Will not our will, we strive to follow His teachings not the teachings of the world or of other men, most of all we share that close oneness that our Savior Lord has for His Father the LORD GOD.
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19).
Jesus learned from His Father, our Heavenly Father, and He emulated the LORD God. Jesus was obedient to His Father and loved Him so much that He gave up His life for us. With that being said; what does it matter the type of blood that courses through your vein? It is the blood of Jesus Christ that was sacrificed for us.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Daughter of Pharaoh Adopted and Raised Moses:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2111,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “The Daughter of Pharaoh Adopted and Raised Moses:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2111,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Daughter of Pharaoh Adopted and Raised Moses:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2111, (accessed).
Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
