The Basket on the Nile
Jochebed knelt by the edge of the Nile River, her heart pounding in her chest. Her hands trembled as she gently placed the small woven basket onto the water, her precious baby boy nestled safely inside. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision, but she forced herself to be strong. This was the only way to save him. If she kept him at home, the Egyptian soldiers would surely find him, and his fate would be sealed.
With a final, trembling push, she released the basket into the current, watching as the gentle waves carried it away. She clasped her hands over her mouth, stifling the sobs threatening to escape. The pain of letting him go was unbearable, yet she clung to the hope that God would protect him.
Nearby, hidden among the tall reeds, Jochebed’s daughter, Miriam, watched anxiously. Her sharp eyes followed the basket as it floated downstream, carried by the slow-moving water. She crept along the riverbank, staying out of sight, determined not to lose sight of her baby brother.
As the basket drifted closer to the grand palace, Miriam’s breath caught in her throat. Ahead, Pharaoh’s daughter and her attendants were bathing in the river. Would they see the basket? Would they take the child in or send him away? Miriam held her breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Bible Verse:
“Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.” — Exodus 2:3