Mindy Lee Hopman

“…For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…” ~Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

The bond between sisters begins at birth. Even though I was only three, I remember the moment my parents brought home my baby sister from the hospital. To this day, regardless of how far apart my sister and I live, our bond remains steady. Throughout our lifetime, we have laughed, cried, and rejoiced as we journeyed through family events: holidays, divorces, engagements, marriages, birthdays, and babies.

Miles and miles of running bonded us together when we lived close enough to squeeze in weekend runs. I will always remember and treasure how she held my hand to pull me across the Disney Marathon finish line. We trained for the race together, and we promised each other we would finish together. When I hit the wall at twenty-four miles, with two miles left to go, she encouraged me, and she held my hand until the end. Today she continues to push me to be my best, and I am grateful.

Moses’ sister wanted her brother to survive, so after her mother placed him in the basket, she watched him float right down the Nile River into the Pharaoh’s palace. Pharaoh’s daughter drew Moses out of the water, and Miriam found the perfect woman to nurse the baby for her—their mother. 

Moses grew up in the palace, but he killed an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew, one of his own kind and fled to Midian when held accountable. 

In the wilderness, God met Moses face-to-face through a burning bush and God used Moses to deliver His people by the blood of an unblemished lamb. 

Today’s Scripture:

Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” ~Exodus 2:7, NIV

When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” ~Exodus 2:10, NIV

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” ~Exodus 3:13-15, NIV

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith, he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. ~Hebrews 11:24-29 NIV

Today’s Snapshot: The Strategic Sister

The Israelites thrived under Joseph’s leadership in Egypt. However, when Joseph died, the new Pharaoh condemned the brothers and their families to slavery. The Israelites quickly increased in size, and the new Pharaoh felt threatened. To weaken the Israelites, Pharaoh killed all the Hebrew baby boys by throwing them into the Nile. But by the grace of God, one Hebrew boy survived. The baby’s basket floated out of bondage and straight into freedom.

Who would have known that a few years later this baby would lead the entire Hebrew nation out of bondage and straight into freedom?

God got his attention in a burning bush and told Moses that He was the God of the Patriarchs and He was going to deliver His people from their affliction and suffering. The one who was delivered would soon become the deliverer.

Moses returned to Egypt to beg Pharoah to let God’s people go. When Pharoah refused, Moses guided the Hebrew people through ten plagues. During each plague, the Hebrews were protected while the Egyptians were affected. After God delivered the Israelites by the blood from the unblemished lamb, Miriam sang and praised God. Through her brother’s life, Miriam saw God’s fingerprints.

The life of Moses provided a way for joy to come to the world, one quiet night, in a manger over 2,000 years ago.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. 
~Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Family Discussion:

• What’s the best thing about your place in the family birth order?
• What is the worst thing about your place in the family birth order?

Closing Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise You for sweet sisters and bonds which begin at birth. Regardless of the space between siblings, the bond is always there. Miriam looked out for her brother and encouraged him as the deliverer. She knew there was something special about that baby. We praise You for the deliverance of the Hebrew nation by the blood of the lamb which allowed for the lineage to be preserved through the tribe of Judah. We praise You for this Christmas season as we anticipate the arrival of Your Son, who became our own sacrificial lamb. May we continue to prepare our homes and our hearts for His arrival.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray,

Amen

This devotional is adapted from Faith Roots: An Advent Family Devotional available for purchase on Amazon.