The Hebrew Woman | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Hebrew Woman | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jillian Hill
09/12/05
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The Hebrew woman knelt down by her bed in prayer. The great swell of her stomach made the effort difficult, but each day she came to give praise to the Lord and to ask for protection upon the child that was growing inside her. As she said amen a sharp pain in her stomach caused her to cry out. Grasping her stomach she struggled to her feet. Walking to the doorway she called out to her daughter. Miriam came quickly “What is it Momma?”

“Help me to the bed and begin preparations just as I showed you.” Hours later she lay in the bed exhausted but happy. In her arms was a beautiful baby boy. “Miriam,” she called her daughter to the bed “everyone must think that I lost him in childbirth. It will be dangerous for us otherwise.” The woman held back a sob of course her daughter understood; everyone had heard the anguished cries of mothers whose sons had met an early death because of the pharaohs’ order. All baby boys born to the Hebrews were to be killed only the girls could be spared. Looking down at her new baby she made a vow “with God’s help you will live”.

Two months passed and the Lord had provided each day a place for the new baby to hide while his mother went to work. She was thankful for Miriam who protected him while she was away. Each night they listened closely for the sound of the guards coming to check for babies. And as each night passed into morning the new mother knew she could not hide him forever. So she would ask the Lord for one more day of protection.

As the third month drew near the mother was kneeling in prayer when she heard a whisper in her heart. Crying out she pleaded with the Lord “You gave him to me why take him from me now?” Her heart filled with peace and she stood to obey the command of the Lord. That night she toiled over the tiny ark that would carry her son by the Lords command. Sweat, tears, faith and love kept her fingers working. When she finished she walked to the cradle where her son lay sleeping. Gently picking him up she cradled him in her arms. She sat trying to memorize everything about him the nose and chin that belonged to his father, the eyes that always held such joy and peace, the tiny hands that would grasp her finger when drifting off to sleep, and the mouth that would gently nurse nourishment from her body. Her soul ached with the loss even though she still held him in her arms as the sun peeked over the horizon.

Rushing out to the river she struggled to carry the healthy baby in the ark of bulrushes. Behind her she heard a shout “Momma, where are you going?”

“Go back home Miriam.” She yelled over her shoulder as her pace increased. Young Miriam refused to turn back concern filled her eyes. Reaching the riverbank the mother knelt beside the ark and lovingly gave him a kiss. Miriam’s’ eyes widened in horror.

“Momma, please what are you doing?”

“God has spoken to me Miriam this is his will.” her voice broke as she looked back to the baby.

“God would not have protected him from the soldiers to have his own family sacrifice him to the river!” Miriam tried to reach the ark.

“Please Miriam! Somehow he will be our deliverer. God has given me this promise.” Stepping back to her baby she gently pushed the ark in to the river. “Bon Voyage, my little one. May God keep you safe always.”

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