Exodus 2:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He fell into the trap that he had set, or as it is stated, “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it” (Proverbs 26:27). It is an act of God's mercy to devise such a fate for the deceitful, allowing their own snares to ensnare them, so they might learn to avoid hostility and plotting against their neighbor. This was illustrated during the time of Moses, wherein the one destined for death was instead saved. Pharaoh, by his own schemes against the infants, ultimately led to his own ruin. In his decree to eliminate the children, he inadvertently compelled Moses' mother, fearing for her child, to place the infant in the river. It was there that Pharaoh's daughter discovered the basket containing the child and raised him, who later grew up to bring about the downfall of those who sought to destroy him. This aligns with the message of Psalm 7.

Consider the mother of Moses, who, upon Pharaoh's decree to eliminate all male infants, conceals her child. She places him in a basket made of reeds, secures it, and sets it adrift on the river. Miraculously, the daughter of the oppressor, visiting the same river, discovers the ark and, upon hearing the infant's cries, realizes he is a Hebrew child. She then entrusts him back to his mother, promising her a reward for his upbringing. What significance can we derive from this account? What sacrament ought to be recognized within it? Before our Savior's arrival, the male gender on earth was vulnerable to deceptions. By "male," we refer to those endowed with spiritual fortitude who bear fruit pleasing to God.

When the menace of the oppressor was finally vanquished, rather than simply throwing him into the Nile, he was placed in a specially crafted vessel, sealed with pitch and resin along its seams, and then set afloat in the waters, as reported by diligent historians.

Indeed, a shared will is essential not only to bring forth this courageous and noble offspring but also to nourish it appropriately and ensure its safe passage through the waters. Those who present their children as offerings to the tormentor, exposed and unattended, consign their little ones to the currents of life, turbulent with unrelenting desires. Those who fall into these waters sink and lose their breath beneath the surface.

Note that the Egyptians kept a close watch on the Hebrews, making it impossible for Moses' mother to hide her child any longer. Furthermore, recognize how God's benevolence meticulously protected the Hebrews, allowing them to exit Egypt with a multitude of six hundred thousand. In her desperation, Moses' mother placed her infant in an ark and returned home. There, she knelt and earnestly petitioned the God of Abraham with heartfelt tears against Pharaoh, lamenting, "You have blessed our people to multiply, and now they are indeed numerous as you have promised. Yet Pharaoh has done wickedly, seeking to decimate the children, leaving the land without workers, and by destroying those who are born, the seed that You have blessed is at risk of vanishing."

When Moses, the protector of his people, escaped from the foolish decrees of the evil Pharaoh, he foreshadowed Christ. A stringent decree was enacted that prohibited mothers from keeping their newborn sons. The wise midwife, courageously resisting the oppressor for the promise of future glory, cleverly preserved the life of the child, who would soon be chosen by the Creator of the universe to serve as a priest and convey the Law inscribed on tablets of stone.

The profound affection that God instills in mothers for their children is a remarkable gift, particularly when this innate love is deepened and refined by a vibrant faith, much like that of Moses' mother. The heart of a Christian mother is filled with immense bravery and selflessness when her child's life is at risk. She shows great diligence and takes every precaution to protect her child's purity. Dear child, be sure to express gratitude to the Lord for blessing you with a compassionate and nurturing mother. Strive to respond to her tender love with complete obedience, and seek to be a source of joy for her.

The Book of Exodus recounts how Jochebed, the mother of Moses, placed her son in a basket three months after his birth. Unable to conceal him any longer, she crafted a waterproof basket by coating it with tar and pitch before laying the child inside and setting it afloat in the river. In his Epistle to the Hebrews, the Apostle acknowledges this act as a joint decision of both parents. Hebrews 11:23 states that by faith, Moses was hidden for three months by his parents.

The term "Basket Fivin," originating from Egyptian, signifies a container and is sometimes used interchangeably with "Teb," which denotes a cradle. "Cane Cam" refers to papyrus, a type of reed that can grow between 10 to 15 feet tall, characterized by its triangular rather than cylindrical stem. The substance "resin," known as "osmolise," is indicated by Hebrew and Egyptian terms that share the same consonants but are arranged differently. In the context of Hebrew and Egyptian, it may be transcribed as "Merh." The material "asphalt" is referred to as "Sort" and is frequently found in Egyptian inscriptions.