What Did Pharaoh’S Daughter See That Made Her Have Compassion For Moses: Expert Tell You

"The story of Pharaoh's daughter's compassion for Moses in the cradle unfolds as a divine intervention that changed history."

The Divine Intervention: Moses’s Birth and Secret Escape

Moses’s birth and survival as an infant involved direct divine intervention. When the Pharaoh of Egypt ordered all Hebrew baby boys killed, Moses’s mother Jochebed placed him in a cradle along the Nile,and Pharaoh’s daughter found him. The child’s sister[Miriam] had been following close to protect him, and when Pharaoh’s daughter expressed her desire to adopt moses in cradle, Miriam approached her and identified a Hebrew woman who could nurse the baby. This nurse turned out to be Moses’s natural mother Jochebed. In this way, Moses was able to survive Pharaoh’s decree.
More comprehensive information and care guidelines can be read here.

moses in cradle, cradle, a tree stump covered in moss in a forest
Photo by Christian Bass / Unsplash

The Fateful Encounter: Pharaoh’s Daughter Finds Moses in Cradle

One day, as Pharaoh’s daughter bathed in the Nile River with her attendants, she saw something unusual—a basket amid the bulrushes. She sent one of her maidservants to fetch it, and upon opening it, discovered a Hebrew infant boy. The baby cried, evoking compassion from Pharaoh’s daughter who decided to adopt him as her own.

The infant’s sister Miriam had been watching nearby and now approached Pharaoh’s daughter. Miriam said,”Shall I go and call for you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter replied, “Go.” Miriam ran and fetched the baby’s biological mother, Jochebed.

Jochebed became the baby’s nurse and Pharaoh’s daughter paid her wages to nurse her own child. However, the baby remained her adopted son, and she named him Moses, explaining “I drew him out of the water.” Thus a chance encounter resulted in Moses’s rescue from the death sentence decreed upon the Hebrew boys by Pharaoh:

  • Moses found in cradle by Nile
  • Miriam arranges for his biological mother to be nurse
  • Jochebed continues to raise Moses while being paid by Pharaoh’s daughter
  • Moses given name Moses meaning drawn out
moses in cradle, mercy, a very tall tree with lots of leaves on it
Photo by Cameron Mourot / Unsplash

A Motherly Bond: Pharaoh’s Daughter’s Compassion for the Helpless Child

When Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby Moses in the cradle by the Nile river, she was moved with compassion for the helpless infant. Seeing his crying evoked maternal feelings in her and she decided to adopt him as her own son.

She arranged for Moses’s biological mother, Jochebed, to nurse him and even paid her wages for doing so. This demonstrated Pharaoh’s daughter’s motherly care and compassion for the infant Moses. Though Jochebed continued raising Moses, Pharaoh’s daughter viewed him as her adopted son and named him Moses, meaning ‘ drawn out’ of the water.

Pharaoh’s daughter’s decision to save Moses likely arose from a natural maternal instinct towards the defenseless infant. As a woman, seeing a crying baby evoked in her feelings of nurturing and caregiving. Moses’s need for a mother’s love touched her heart despite his being a Hebrew child – an enemy in her father’s eyes.

Pharaoh’s daughter’s saving grace allowed Moses to survive what would have been certain death under Pharaoh’s decree.Though she could not raise Moses herself, her compassion ensured he received proper motherly care from his birth mother, while she provided financial support. Her maternal mercy shaped the course of history by sparing the life of the man who would lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

moses in cradle, cradle, brown tabby cat on bed
Photo by kyeong ju ra / Unsplash

Unveiling the Mystery: What Made Pharaoh’s Daughter Choose Mercy?

Several factors likely contributed to Pharaoh’s daughter‘s decision to show mercy to baby Moses.

First, her maternal instinct played a role. Upon seeing the helpless infant crying in the cradle, her natural compassion as a woman was aroused. The baby’s need for a mother’s care touched her heart.

Second, Pharaoh’s daughter may have been reluctant to inflict the same cruelty on an innocent child that her father showed the Hebrews. Though she came from a privileged background, she seemed unaffected by the prejudice against the Hebrew people.

Third, divine intervention likely softened her heart. The Bible says Moses’s survival as an infant involved “direct divine intervention.” God orchestrated the events to ensure Pharaoh’s daughter would find Moses and take pity on him.

Finally, pure chance was a factor. Had Pharaoh’s daughter not chosen that exact time to bathe in the Nile, she may never have discovered Moses. But the seemingly random encounter led to her decision to save his life.

In summary, Pharaoh’s daughter’s unusual act of mercy toward a Hebrew child likely arose from a combination of maternal instinct, her own compassionate nature, a sense of the infant’s innocence, as well as God’s providential leading. Chance also played a role in Moses’s rescue, though ultimately God’s purpose in sparing his life prevailed. Her decision changed the course of history by allowing Moses to fulfill his role as Israel’s deliverer.

moses in cradle, mercy, a person sitting on the floor
Photo by Imad Alassiry / Unsplash

The Ripple Effect: How Pharaoh’s Daughter’s Decision Changed History

Pharaoh’s daughter’s decision to save baby Moses had profound ripple effects throughout history. By sparing the life of one Hebrew child, she set in motion a chain of events that would:

  • Reshape the future of the Israelite nation. Moses grew up to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land, fulfilling God’s purpose for his life.

  • Change the course of Egyptian history. The plagues, parting of the Red Sea and later defeat of the Egyptian army at the hands of Moses forever altered Egypt’s trajectory.

  • Contribute to the spread of monotheism. Through Moses, the Israelites received the law and commandments from God, laying the foundation for Judaism and later, Christianity.

  • Impact the development of Western culture. The Bible, which contains Moses’s story, has profoundly influenced Western art, philosophy and government.

  • Unfold God’s plan of redemption. The Bible traces salvation history from Abraham through Moses to ultimately, Jesus Christ – God’s ultimate provision for a fallen world.

In short, Pharaoh’s daughter’s compassionate choice to save baby Moses, though from a human perspective seemingly insignificant, became a catalyst that advanced God’s redeeming purposes in history. Her intervention allowed Moses – who would become Israel’s great deliverer from slavery – to live and fulfill his role as the Israelites’ lawgiver and prophet. Pharaoh’s daughter could not have imagined how her decision to show mercy to one helpless Hebrew infant would impact the course of history for millennia to come.

moses in cradle, cradle, a man sitting on a bed holding a baby
Photo by Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

More Helpful Guide

Frequently Asked Question

What is Moses in the Cradle?

Moses in the Cradle is a tropical plant with broad green and white striped leaves that grow in a rosette shape.

Should Moses in the Cradle be grown in full sun or partial shade?

Grow Moses in the Cradle in partial shade in hot climates and full sun in cooler areas. It needs some shade protection.

How do you propagate Moses in the Cradle?

Moses in the Cradle can be propagated by division in spring or from stem cuttings in summer.

Is Moses in the Cradle toxic to pets?

Moses in the Cradle is non-toxic to pets according to the ASPCA.

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