Memo 1129: A Good Sister

Let's continue with our focus on young people of purpose in the Bible. This week, we'll look at the story of baby Moses and the role his older sister played in his rescue:

When she [Moses' mother] saw what a fine baby he was, she hid him for three months. But when she could not hide him any longer, she took a basket made of reeds and covered it with tar to make it watertight. She put the baby in it and then placed it in the tall grass at the edge of the river. The baby's sister stood some distance away to see what would happen to him.

The king's daughter came down to the river to bathe, while her servants walked along the bank. Suddenly she noticed the basket in the tall grass and sent a slave woman to get it. The princess opened it and saw a baby boy. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

Then his sister asked her, “Shall I go and call a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for you?”

“Please do,” she answered. So the girl went and brought the baby's own mother. The princess told the woman, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So she took the baby and nursed him (Exodus 2:1-9).

Their mother had devised this plan to save Moses that involved his sister who was probably named Miriam. We don't know exactly how old Moses' sister was, but she had to be very young, perhaps in her early teenage years or younger. After the mother floated her baby down the river, the sister watched it to see what would happen. And when the princess found the baby, the sister went up and talked with her. That took courage, don't you think?

The sister asked the princess if she needed someone to care for the baby and of course she did. So Moses's sister brought her mother to the princess as the care giver. This means that the princess paid Moses' mother to take care of him and it all happened because this young girl was brave enough to get involved and help her family, especially her baby brother. Instead of Moses dying as the king had commanded, the baby became a source of blessing and income to his family.

You may be young, but you're not too young to find a way to be a blessing to your family, just like Moses' sister was. Do you have an idea for a business that could make some money to help your family? Perhaps you are the one who can help your parents care for your brothers and sisters? Even though you're young, you may have the boldness and courage to do something that the rest of your family is afraid to do. What is it?

Ask God to show you who you are and what you have that may seem simple to you but that God can use to help and bless others, especially your family. And then don't think that you are too young to play an important role in God's plan for your life right now, where you are according to who God made you to be. It doesn't matter how old you are, you can still be a good brother or sister to your family—and to others. Have a blessed week.