Article appeared Friday, October 20th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (497) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

In what ways does God protect or help? Sometimes, it may seem that lifes problems have
cornered us in such a way that there is no way out. Right at that moment, when all seems lost,
help comes from situations, places or persons never expected or even thought of. So, how
does rescue/help come at the right moment? Who knows the trouble that you are in and
arranges a timely solution?

Have we worked out the ways in which God helps us? Does God look after every human being?
Before taking stock and analyzing the things/events that happen in our own daily life, let us
study the ways in which God protected and helped baby Moses.

Was baby Moses in trouble? At the time when Moses was born, Pharaoh had issued an order
that all male children born to the Israelites be killed. A number of Holy Scriptures carry the story
of what happened during that time. Let us turn to the Holy Scripture Al-Quran to get an insight
into what Pharaoh was doing.
Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections
depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew but he kept alive their
females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief. [28.4]

Where did Pharaohs power come from? Having power is a gift and a test given by God. Being
directly accountable to Him, the test is whether such persons ensure justice for all the subjects.
Instead of ensuring justice, the Pharaoh had ordered that the male children of a small group,
i.e., the Israelites be murdered after birth. Pharaoh abused and misused the power given to him
by God. How was he a maker of mischief? He kept the females alive for the pleasure of the
Egyptians. So, under these circumstances, what would the feelings and fears of the mother of
Moses be?

Let us first look at what God had decided to do to help the oppressed Israelites and punish
Pharaoh and the oppressors with him, as given in the Al-Quran.
And We wished to be gracious to those who were being depressed in the land to make
them leaders (in faith) and make them heirs. To establish a firm place for them in the
land and to show Pharaoh, Haman and their hosts through them the very things against
which they were taking precautions. [28.5 28.6]

So, God launched His plan starting with the mother of Moses. What did He do?
So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: "Suckle (your child) but when you
fear for him cast him into the river but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to you
and We shall make him one of Our apostles." [28.7]

Inspirations are often dreams. The river carried the chest which held Baby Moses to the bank
beside the palace and,
Then the people of Pharaohs (household) picked him up (from the river):... [28.8]

The wife of Pharaoh said: "(Here is) a joy of the eye for me and for you (O, Pharaoh):
slay him not. It may be that he will be of use to us or we may adopt him as a son." And
they perceived not (what they were doing)! [28.9]
Having found a baby floating down the river, Pharaohs wife had got permission to let the baby
live and adopt him as their son to be raised at the palace. So God had not only ensured the
safety of baby Moses but also that he be raised in the richest household the palace of
Pharaoh! Now the problem was how to restore the loss that Moses mother was feeling?
But there came to be a void in the heart of the mother of Moses: she was going almost
to disclose his (case) had We not strengthened her heart (with faith) so that she might
remain a (firm) believer. [28.10]

Moses mother was a believer she had believed in the inspiration/dream God gave her. She
had put her baby son in a basket and put him afloat in the river. How many mothers, who love
their babies, are there in the present and in the past that can put their babies afloat? Now,
having let the baby go, she now had a feeling of utter loss and perhaps some feeling of panic.
So, God strengthened her heart further and guided her thoughts. She got Moses elder sister to
follow the progress of the basket down the river.
And she said to the sister of (Moses), "Follow him." So she (the sister) watched him in
the character of a stranger and they knew not. [28.11]

The sister saw the baby being picked up unharmed at the palace and reported this to her
mother. After all this time, the baby was obviously hungry and crying out of hunger. What would
Pharaohs wife do under the circumstances? As was the custom at the time, she got wet nurses
to try and feed and calm the baby. However, baby Moses did not accept any wet nurse.
And We ordained that he refused suck at first until (his sister came up and) said: "Shall
I point out to you the people of a house that will nourish and bring him up for you and be
sincerely attached to him?" [28.12]

The sister, being a stranger, offered to solve the problem of the baby having a wet nurse.
Having no other option, the baby having refused to take milk from all the wet nurses offered,
Pharaohs wife agreed to try the suggestion made by Moses sister.
Thus did We restore him to his mother that her eye might be comforted that she might
not grieve and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true: but most of them do
not understand. [28.13]

Moses mother became the wet nurse and got to raise and rear her own child right under the
nose of Pharaoh! Being in the palace, Moses also had good teachers to teach him the best of
Egyptian wisdom. So, was it right for Moses mother to follow through with her
inspiration/dream? Having trusted God, how did she now feel? Was her faith strengthened?
Despite all the happenings, Gods plan prevailed with Pharaohs household being unaware of
who they were raising.

So what can be said of God? Does this story bring out how He strengthens the faith of anyone
who puts their trust in Him? Had Moses mother not trusted her inspiration/dream what may
have happened? By giving her a dream God had created an opportunity for Moses mother to
demonstrate and prove her faith in Him. Being pleased, God rewarded her by making her the
mother of a great prophet Moses. How much do we, our self, trust God?