“About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.” Exodus 2:1-10 NLT
Has anyone ever told you that you’re special? That your life has purpose, that God has a plan for your life? Moses’ mom had three children, Aaron, Miriam and Moses. Yet this was the child of significance. He was born during a time of unrest, when pharaoh had called for the slaughtering of all Hebrew males, but for some reason this mother knew instinctively that there was something different about her youngest son. By now you should all know that there are no coincidences with God. Every child that is born, has purpose built into their DNA. God has a plan for every child that is conceived, no matter how the conception took place. This is why abortion is such a devilish and godless act. Jeremiah 29:11
God has hidden figures within every generation. Even Hitler had a purpose. Judas was born a betrayer. The compounding of certain traits and attributes will eventually be brought out depending on the family dynamics. If the parents are God Fearing people, they will discern like Moses’ mother, that God has a specific purpose for a particular child which is different from the other children born to them. Or the Lord will reveal His purpose to the individual through different ways. He’ll use dreams, vision, prophecy, words of knowledge, His Word or He’ll communicate directly with the individual or their parents as in the case of Samuel, David, Sampson, Gideon, Jeremiah, Elizabeth and Mary. God’s hidden figures are never movie stars but ordinary people called to do extraordinary things.
Except for the opening verses, nothing else is mentioned about Moses’ parents. But her willingness to risk everything to save her son’s life paid off. By protecting her son, she ended up saving an entire people group who would later be known as the Israelites. Moses was born at the right time to a discerning mother. It wasn’t his father that constructed the basket that would serve as a boat that ended up in the same spot that the enemy’s daughter was taking a bath, it wasn’t his father that kept watch to see what would become of his son. It was his sister who watched from a distance and with the wisdom of God, volunteered his mother to be his nurse. It was also the Lord who caused Moses’ cry to tenderize the heart of both pharaoh’s daughter and her father to take in a Hebrew baby boy slated for destruction.
Moses became God’s hidden figure in the house of pharaoh. God is the only one who can hide us in plain sight. The enemy provided the best possible education and provision for Moses. Everything he needed was granted without inhibition. When the time for his purpose had come the Lord called him from Sinai, where he was tending Jethro’s sheep to go back to Egypt and deliver His people. Mary was a simple Jewish girl who was engaged to be married to a young carpenter. God’s plan for redeeming mankind had come. He sent the angel Gabriel to deliver His message to His hidden figure. Mary had no idea how radically her life and that of her future husband was about to change. Of all the girls in the world, why her? All we know is that she was born into the lineage of king David. Never underestimate your Creator and never despise your birth, God has a plan that includes you.
Some of us may not realize our calling until later on in life others may be operating in their gifting so seamlessly that it may require someone discerning to point it out. But God knows who we are and where to find us. Hidden figures are humble and unassuming. They’re possessors of a servant's heart. They’re never seeking the limelight and they recognize that their promotion comes from the Lord. Hannah had no idea that by dedicating young Samuel to the Lord he would become Israel’s prophet leader, David was tending his father’s sheep writing love songs to Jehovah. He had no idea or even desired to be king. Gideon was hiding out in a winepress, Jeremiah wasn’t aspiring to be a great prophet, Samson’s parents were childless, why were they chosen? Elizabeth and Zechariah were old and had given up on having children, yet God had chosen them to carry the forerunner to Jesus. We’re all destined to fulfill a purpose, His purpose. We never know the how and when of our destinies but our wise Creator does.
So are you feeling as though you’re serving no real purpose in life and that time is running out? Be still and know that He is God. I had no idea I’d be writing these messages. I may never be on the world’s stage, but these messages are being spread far and wide. Only the Architect knows the design of His plans. You may be doing the most menial and mundane tasks like David, but God sees a king in you. A Sunday school teacher to rambunctious kids, but God sees a leader, a homemaker, but God sees a chosen vessel to give birth to His future hidden figures. You may run away from your purpose but God will call you back to fulfill His. Greatness is embedded in us all. But only the One who has put it there can draw it out. You were not only born, you were chosen and hidden for such a time as this. Hidden figures like precious gems are discovered. And only the One who’s hidden you knows the time of your reveal. Are you one of God’s hidden figures?
Go deeper: Exodus 3; 1 Samuel 1-3; 1 Samuel 16; Judges 6; 13; Jeremiah 1; Luke 1; Matthew 1
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
September 3, 2021
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