Amram, Moses’s father, wasn't just any man. He was a skilled doctor, so renowned that he served Pharaoh himself! The text in Tree of Souls tells us of his wisdom, and of God's hand in his life. But, as always, shadows lurked. A sorcerer named Pilti, skilled in reading the Book of Signs, foresaw a monumental shift. He saw the rise of a child who would liberate the Israelites from their suffering, but also bring turmoil to the Egyptian kingdom. Think about that – imagine having the weight of destiny revealed to you in a vision.
Pilti warned Pharaoh of an ascending "star of Israel," a sign of impending doom for Egypt. According to this sorcerer’s visions, this "Apostle of the Jews" would be cast into the sea, and through him, the entire people of Israel would cross the parted waters. Pharaoh, understandably terrified, flew into a rage. For forty days, he forbade the Israelite men from being with their wives, hoping to prevent the birth of this prophesied liberator.
Even Amram was banished from his own home, forced to remain within the palace. But can human decrees truly stand against the will of God? The answer, as we know, is a resounding no.
One night, Amram and his wife, Jochebed, managed to meet. In secret, they conceived a child. When Pilti saw the signs – a star blazing with the child’s future – he knew that Pharaoh's efforts were in vain. The wheels of destiny were already turning.
Fueled by desperation, Pharaoh issued a horrific decree: every Hebrew boy born should be cast into the Nile River, while the girls would be spared. Talk about a brutal attempt to control fate. But the midwives, fearing God more than Pharaoh, secretly defied the order, allowing the male children to live.
As the Israelites continued to multiply, Pharaoh intensified his oppression. But the people found ways to resist. When a Hebrew woman was about to give birth, she would retreat into the wilderness. If the child was a girl, they would return openly. But if it was a boy, he was left in the wilderness, where, according to the story, God miraculously protected him, even providing honey from the rocks to sustain him. These children, raised in the wild, developed an unwavering faith in God, never forgetting how they were saved.
Finally, in the seventh month, the great prophet Moses was born. And, as the story goes, God declared to the celestial hosts that this was the child for whom the world itself was created! This detail, almost casually dropped, emphasizes the immense significance of Moses's arrival.
It’s a powerful image, isn't it? A baby born into a world of danger and oppression, destined for greatness. A reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope – and the promise of liberation – can be born. What do you think this story tells us about faith, destiny, and the enduring power of the human spirit?