As we live and grow in this thing, we call life. We often experience joy, laughter and happiness but there are also times of hardship and difficulties. Seasons where we just want to give up. Where we just don’t want to carry on anymore. These are the seasons I like to call the “wilderness”.
I found this really good series by John Bevere called “The Wilderness”.
When we were in the process of moving 2 years ago, it was hard. It felt so much like a “wilderness” season. The housing market was a mess and honestly like a battlefield. It brought a lot of emotions. I was also pregnant at the time with our third, Evelynne. We had planned that she would be our home birth baby and she was. However, I had my mind made up that I wasn’t going to give birth in our house, but that I would give birth in our “new” home. I chuckle now because that wasn’t God’s plan. Sometimes our plan isn’t what is best for us. Sometimes it doesn’t align with what God already has planned for us. He is the one who truly knows what is best. When we walk in faith and obedience to him, he opens doors that can change our lives.
“Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Ahh, that thing called trust. That’s a hard one! When we were in that season my best friend Heather told me to “put it in the basket”. I’d never heard the phrase before. She went on into the details about it. My heart melted and the word surrender came to mind.
Put it in the basket comes from the book of Exodus, which is found in the torah section of bible. It’s the story of a woman named Jochebed and her act of faith.
Now a new king arose over Egypt, he saw how much the Israelite nation had grown. He became fearful that they would one day overthrow the Egyptians. He ordered that all the newborn Hebrew boys be executed at birth. (Exodus 1)
“Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.” – Exodus 2:1-4
If we think about it, Jochebed and her daughter probably made the basket by hand each woven strand, piece by piece. The scripture says, “they covered it in pitch.” What’s amazing is that word for basket is תֵּבָה it’s Strong’s H8392 – tēḇâ. It’s the same word that is used to describe Noah’s ark. These are only two places in scripture where this word is used, this basket and Noah’s ark. Both hand crafted with love and precision.
When I think about the Nile River so many things come to mind! Crocodiles, snakes, boats, people, the murky things in the water and water currants. Can you imagine the feelings Jochebed felt as she laid her infant son in the basket, knowing she might never see him again. The faith she must’ve had.
“Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 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?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So, the girl went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So, the woman took the child and nursed him. The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” – Exodus 2:4-10
The beauty that God blessed her for her actions. That she was chosen to be his nursemaid. Jochebed was able to still be a part of his life in some form. God used her act to fulfill his promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:12-14. We see the fulfillment in Exodus 12:34-38. Through her action of placing her son in the basket God saved the entire nation of Israel.
If you’re in a season where life is hard or you’re struggling, ask yourself, what can I put in the basket? What can I release and let God take ahold of? The beautiful thing about God’s basket is that nothing is too big or hard for him.
When we were in the season with our house. I remember telling Heather, “the 40-acres and the home is just too much to ask for.” Heather pulled up a picture of the longaberger basket headquarters building. It’s this MASSIVE basket shaped building. She said,” just picture this! That basket can definitely hold the 40-acres and the house. He has a beautiful and perfect plan for your family. That it won’t just bless your family, but it’ll bless others. Just let God take it and stop worrying.” So, I let go and let God work, he spoke, and things happened just like he said they would. It was a beautiful season in our life.
The hard thing is letting go and not jumping back into the water to grab the basket that you’ve set up for him to take. The more you surrender, letting God take your hard things, the easier it can get to rely on and trust in him.
He is El Roi, the God who sees. He already knows what you need. He is ahead of you fighting your battles. Simply surrender and walk with him.
“But the Lord is worthy of trust; he will make you firm and guard you from the Evil One.”
– 2 Thessalonians 3:3
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