“18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. 21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. 22 So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”” Exodus 1:18-22 NKJV
“And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. 5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”” Exodus 2:1-7 NKJV
Lord God,
These are real biographies and it is hard to shorten them to a couple of verses. They give us context and emotions. You promised Abraham and through Jacobs twelve sons, his family was becoming a nation of people. The Egyptians began to fear being overtaken.
Moses birth at this time is a well known story. The Hebrew midwives, bless them, feared You more than their Egyptian Lords. But then all Egyptian people were told to cast Hebrew babies into the river to die. Levi’s wife put him in the very river he should have died in, but with a prayer and a hope. This baby still cried and the daughter of Pharaoh was touched by the babies vulnerability. Moses began his childhood. With his real mother till he was weaned and then living wealthy, educated and comfortably.
He would come to a moment of decision, but his temper caused him to sin step over the line and he had to flee. Doubtless thinking himself rubbished for the rest of his life. I wonder if he looked over his shoulder all the time. Such a burden weighs heavy. Guilt is a terrible weight.
We too come to a moments of decision, and choose not run or rather run to You and lay our burdens down. You call us to You in Matthew 11: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” We do not have to stay in slavery to sin and guilt. Yes, we remember, but You God say the burden of guilt is lifted and we can rest in forgiveness.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 24th January 2026
I read that there is an interest in the Christian faith with the young adult generation. A good time to pray for revival and the laying down of burdens.
As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet
So you love this city and you love these streets
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor
Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
“Lay your burdens down, lay your burdens down”
“Lay your burdens down, lay your burdens down”
From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears
Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
“Lay your burdens down, lay your burdens down”
“Lay your burdens down, lay your burdens down”
Revive us, revive us. Revive us with your fire!
Revive us, revive us. Revive us with your fire!
Lyrics: David Mullen, Mark Gersmehl, Dale Oliver