I ran across this scripture the other day, and it literally brought me to my knees.
Exodus 2:3. 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.
Why did this scripture convict me so much? Well, it was a courageous act of a mom saving her child. Jochebed, the mother of Moses, was placing her baby in a basket and letting it go downstream so that his life would be spared. If you recall the story, this was when Pharaoh had put out a decree to have all the firstborn sons cast into the river because God had blessed the Hebrew women to conceive, as the children of Israel were multiplying more than the Egyptians.
I imagined her meticulously weaving the basket, making sure it was sturdy and water-resistant. Did she want to do this? I don’t believe so. But she trusted God and had to let go.
I say all this because one of my daughters has strayed away from her Christian faith. We used to be Catholics. In 2019, during Covid, when most churches closed, I started reading the Bible from beginning to end. It took me two years, two months, and two weeks. It was a beautiful and convicting experience. We were also watching different pastors online.
We learned good things as a family, but we also encountered man-made doctrines we should have investigated further and compared them to Scripture. I take full responsibility for leading my family into some dark waters with lots and lots of unanswered questions. When Covid was over, we attended various churches. Some were okay; others were not. As of today, we don’t have a real “home” church.
My daughter has been confused. As a growing disciple of Christ, I haven’t been able to answer those really difficult questions. So, I reached out to Bible scholars and biblical counselors for help. All good resources. She has read her Bible, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, and countless other faith-based writers. And now she has stopped altogether. Deciding to read secular books and online secular newspapers, which some can be filled with propaganda.
It took a matter of six months or so, even though my daughter struggled with her faith prior, to renounce her Christian faith altogether and become agnostic. She reminds me daily that she’s doing great.
I, on the other hand, am grieving. Knowing full well her salvation is at stake. I go back to Jochebed and what she might have felt wading into the water, pushing out the basket that held her beloved child in the river. She let go.
I recall the story of The Prodigal Son, in Luke 15:11-32. The younger son wanted all that belonged to him and left his dad and older brother. What did that father feel? Did he pray for his son every day? Did he think about him? He let go.
What about Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1- 28? She couldn’t conceive, and then she bore Samuel, one of the greatest Prophets of the Old Testament. Hannah bargained with God to bear a child, so she could give him back to the Lord. She let go.
Let go, huh? That’s a heavy thing to do. I’ve prayed for my daughter, I’ve explained the Gospel using Scripture, and talked to her about her salvation. She’s not listening or hearing. Doing life her way, not God’s Way. John 9:31 and Hebrews 10:26.
And now… It’s time I step back and let God do His work. There’s that scripture in Psalms 115:14-15 talking about trusting God fully, the One who provides the increase. I have to have faith and believe in that because I’m not going to stop planting the seeds of God’s Truth; I’m going to be there like the father of the Prodigal Son, and the mothers, Hannah and Jochebed.
I’m going to let go and let Him. I’ve prepared my home as best as I can, just like the basket. It’s been a difficult terrain to trudge through, but I believe that as my daughter journeys to find herself in this big, amazing, chaotic world that God created, I will wait in expectation of her renewed return to the Lord.
God, grant me the patience to do just that. In your Mighty Name, Jesus. Amen. (Psalms 27:14)
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Photo by Shovan Datta: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-woman-standing-on-beach-at-dusk-38706796/