JOCHEBED: To Be Mother and Not Mother

The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt;

and she bore to Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. – Num. 26: 59

As a waiting expectant mother who adopted children, the story found in Exodus 2: 1-10 is full an overwhelming array of feelings. I am reminded of my jealousy, and the fall out on the children’s part, when letters were received from their birth mother, wishing them all the love in the world, and a promise of some day being together again to start from the moment they were taken. I recall having to explain (with a heavy heart) again and again, that the birth mother loved them, but, due to horrendous life experience and trauma, she was unable to fully care for them.  My heart aches as one is currently living in precarious circumstances (having disowned me)-  and is more akin to the birth family. I am proud that the children have grown into wonderful young adults and carry with them, even exhibit from time to time, the faith and wisdom I tried to impart.

For mothers (parents) who adopt children, and for birth families from whom children have been taken; it becomes a mess of what it means to be mother and not mother.

For the princess to adopt Moses and let Jochebed be his nurse; to be mother, and not mother…

For Jochebed to wet-nurse Moses, her own son, for another woman to see him grow into adulthood; to be mother, and not mother…

Exodus 2 tells the story of Jochebed, a holy mother of faith and wisdom.  She births a son at the time when the powers that be were eradicating life – genocide via the slaughter of children. Jochebed’s faith and wisdom recognized the baby was destined for greatness.  Her faith and wisdom are seen in the ingenuity to hide the child for three months. With careful planning she saved the child (knowing the papyrus was protection from the crocodiles, plaster would smooth the inside for the comfort of the baby, and bitumen would make the basket waterproof). Jochebed placed the basket in the area where the princess bathed and her daughter kept an eye on the basket, ready to run and find a wet-nurse for the princess.

As wet-nurse, mother and not-mother, I imagine that Jochebed sang her faith-songs as lullabies, and whispered her God-stories into the baby’s ears. She treasured these moments in her heart.

Jochebed, suppressed her own maternal need to keep the child, out of such motherly love that she selflessly gave child to others (the world) for higher purposes – purposes which at the time were unknown.  She had faith in what was to be.

By living in the paradox, of being mother and not mother; Jochebed was the Mother of Israel, a mother to a myriad of children– her son Aaron founded the Hebraic priesthood and served as priest for 40 years; her daughter Miriam was leader of worship; and Moses made it all possible by being liberator and leader of the Hebrew people out of Egypt through the desert.

To be mother, and not mother, meant being every mother.

God,

Give us all – women, men; old, young;

Hearts with the capacity for selfless love.

That we might be mother, and not mother,

To those around us.

That faith and wisdom are shared

through love, shown, regardless of relationship,

Making us be every mother ---

A mother who sings faith songs as lullabies,

And whispers God-stories in the ears of those in our care.

For the healing of the world,

Amen.