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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Every Dark Cloud has a Silver Lining" (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (02/28/08)
The crying woke her.

“Shhhhh…hush, little one.” Jochebed picked up her baby and held him to her breast to soothe him. He latched on, gulping greedily, and relaxed against her.

Jechobed glanced at Amram, her husband. She did not want to wake him, as he had only another hour or so before having to rise and prepare for another hard day of work. Although, his loud snores indicated that even a stampede of wild horses likely wouldn’t cause him to stir.

With that thought, Jechobed walked to the window and peered out at the darkness. The full moon provided enough light for her to see the gentle breeze blowing through the trees. Other than that, all was quiet.

But for how long?

She looked down at her son, still busy filling his belly. He was a beautiful little thing. God had great plans for him. She knew it when he was still in her womb and she knew it now.

She trusted God. She really did. But in the early morning hours, like now, when everything was dark and motionless, fear coincided with her faith. She knew they couldn’t keep him hidden here, forever. God had protected them for the past three months, but Jechobed felt He was telling her the time had come to release her son into His hands.

A tear slid down her cheek as she considered the possibility of never seeing her son again. Never again holding him, feeding him, watching him grow into a man. She hugged her son closer, wanting this moment to last forever. If only she could freeze time…

A rustling came from the back corner and Jechobed turned. She smiled at Miriam, who rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“Mother?” Miriam’s brow creased with concern; her daughter knew her well.

“It’s time, child.”

Sadness folded over Miriam’s face. But she nodded. “I’ll get dressed.”

Jechobed set her now sleeping son down in his bed and busied herself with the final touches on the basket she had prepared for this day. She inspected the bulrush and papyrus as she had many times before to ensure it was water-tight. Then she picked up the soft blanket she had sewn with care and positioned it inside.

Her husband stirred and stumbled out of bed. Jechobed brought him their son. Perhaps because he was a strong man and knew what needed to be done, or maybe because men just did not allow their emotions to pour forth, Amram kissed the child firmly on the forehead and passed him back to his mother.

Miriam reappeared and waited graciously as her mother said her goodbyes. Jechobed’s body racked with silent sobs as she rocked her baby for the last time. Reluctantly, with great sorrow, she gently placed her son in the basket. He looked up at her and cooed, his trusting eyes locking with hers. She quickly handed the basket to her daughter and fled.

She heard the door close as Miriam left to carry out her instructions to put the basket in the reeds of the Nile then stay close by to see what would happen. And Jechobed crumpled in the corner and wept, crying out to God in desperation. God, why? Why must it come to this? Please...if there is any way I can see my baby again, let it be. But not my will, but yours, Lord.

The morning dragged on and it took all of her strength not to go and check on the child, herself. Two hours passed. Then three. Her son must be hungry by now. She could imagine his cries as his tummy begged to be filled again. Perhaps he was soiled and needed to be dried. Oh, how her heart ached!

Another hour came and went. And just when she thought she could bear it no longer, Miriam came rushing through the door, breathing heavily, cheeks flushed.

“Mother. Come quickly! The Pharoah’s daughter appeared with her maids to bathe in the Nile. She came upon the baby in the reeds and was moved with compassion. She has elected to keep the child and raise him as her own. I offered to call a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. Your child, Mother.” Miriam’s laughter bubbled over. “You are able to nurse your own baby for the Princess.”

The tears flowed again, but this time in joy. God had proved His faithfulness once more.

Jechobed grasped her daughter’s hand. “Come! Take me to my child whom God has spared.”
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This article has been read 3181 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Beth LaBuff 
03/08/08
You've written this story so beautifully, describing what Jochebed MUST have been feeling as she felt she had to hide Moses. You've brought out so many important details in your writing too (it was Moses' cries -- possibly from hunger-- that caused the princess to have compassion -- the same cries that tore at Jochebed's heart) . I love this sentence, "when everything was dark and motionless, fear coincided with her faith." How many times has that happened to us? I like your word choice (which is so remiscient of words of another Deliverer hundreds of years later), "is there any other way...not my will but Yours"?
Patty Wysong
03/08/08
I feel as if I'd been there with Jochabed, crying in the corner and watching time slowly pass. Wonderful job. This is a great example of the topic!
Karen Wilber
03/12/08
That paragraph where she thought about how her son might be hungry or soiled really got to me. As the mother of an infant, I don't want to imagine how she must have felt letting her son go. Excellent descriptive writing that drew me in emotionally. Wow.
Seema Bagai 
03/12/08
I felt like I was right there in the middle of this story. Great job capturing the MC's thoughts.
Lauryn Abbott
03/12/08
What a beautiful re-telling of this Bible story. It truly brought tears to my eyes. And it is a great way to illustrate the topic!
Deborah Engle 
03/12/08
Wonderful, descriptive writng. You put me right there and I worried that the moonlight might expose her as she held her babe. Nice job.
Sara Harricharan
03/12/08
Jochebed comes to life here. I love this close up on her and what must have happened as she made that hard decision. It's so real and I loved the bit on Miriam's return, how she laughed. That was neat. Great job. ^_^
Holly Westefeld
03/12/08
Lynda, this was my favorite Bible story from this week. As others have commented, you drew me right in to her heart.
Mandy White
03/12/08
This has always been one of my favorites. I love this take on it. Perfect for the topic!
Jan Ackerson
03/12/08
Just wonderful, Lynda, and welcome back--you've been missed! This is such a perfect story for this week, and you've added so many wonderful details.

Maybe--think about a different title? It's very modern-sounding, and doesn't seem to match the setting of your story.
Henry Clemmons
03/13/08
Ah, Faith in a Basket, Faith Floats, Secret of the Nile. A great life's breath into this wonderful Bible account. Your writing is very touching. Masterful for sure.
Sherry Hoffcastel 
03/13/08
This is one of my favorite bible stories and you told it beautifully. I was absolutely enraptured and glued to each word. For someone who has been "gone" for a long time, you sure hide it well. This was exquisite.
Amy Michelle Wiley 
03/13/08
Awesome, I love it! We picked different parts of the same story to tell this week. :-) There were a couple of minor spots where you had an overabundance of adjectives (imho), but otherwise superbly written.
Joanne Sher 
03/13/08
Just EXCELLENT, Lynda - I feel like I REALLY got to know Jochebed (and I'm glad I didn't pick this Biblical account for my own story this week - you definitely would have outshone me ;). Excellent.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
03/13/08
Lynda, I loved your retelling of this story. You made it so real I could feel a mothern's grief and a father's stoic acceptance and giving up a child. Great writing.
Sara Harricharan
03/13/08
****Congratulations on your EC!**** Awesome writing!
Sheri Gordon
03/13/08
Congratulations on your EC. Your writing is so beautiful--wonderful storytelling.
Shelley Ledfors
03/13/08
This is incredibly beautiful. Capturing not only the story, but giving such a picture of the emotions involved...your EC is so well deserved!
Beth LaBuff 
03/13/08
Lynda -- Congrats! (on placing with this)!! I've loved it since first reading it.
Dara Sorensen
03/14/08
Great story! It reminds me a bit of the version of this biblical story that I wrote awhile back--only yours is much better! ^_^ Congrats on your win!
Debbie Wistrom
03/20/08
You made this story fresh to me with your emotions and word pictures. Wonderful!
Darna Bedwell Gutter 
12/22/08
Thank you for contributing to the substance of these characters Jechobed, Amram, little Miriam and baby Moses; Your story has served to show how much of their characters we take for granted.

The Lord’s divine will manifested because they were willing and had the faith, not without fears, not without pain, agony and grief. But yet and still enough faith to “Let Go and Let God”.

Thank you for bringing these emotions so beautifully to the forefront of this story: Sensitive and compelling.