It sounds like something out of a fairy tale, but the story of Jochebed, the mother of Moses, begins in just such a way.
According to Legends of the Jews, even though Jochebed was quite old, she experienced a remarkable rejuvenation. Her skin softened, the wrinkles vanished, and she regained the radiant beauty of her youth. And then, she became pregnant. Can you imagine the mix of emotions? Joy, perhaps, but also fear, given the decree of Pharaoh.
Her husband, Amram, was understandably uneasy. He knew the terrible fate that awaited newborn Israelite boys. What was he to do? He turned to God in prayer, begging for compassion. He pleaded for deliverance from the misery they endured under Egyptian rule, and for God to foil the plans of their enemies, who desperately wanted to see the Israelite nation destroyed.
And God heard him.
God, in his infinite mercy, appeared to Amram in a dream. He reassured Amram, urging him not to despair. He hadn't forgotten their piety, their unwavering devotion. Just as He had favored their ancestors, He would reward them now. "Know, therefore," God continued, "that I shall provide for you all together what is for your good, and for thee in particular that which shall make thee celebrated."
The message was clear: the child whose birth the Egyptians so dreaded, the one they sought to destroy, would be Amram’s own son. This child would be miraculously hidden from those who sought to kill him, and when he grew up, he would deliver the Hebrew nation from their suffering at the hands of the Egyptians.
His memory, God promised, would be celebrated forever, not only among the Hebrews, but among strangers as well. All of this would be a testament to God's favor toward Amram and his descendants. And, as if that weren't enough, God added that Moses' brother would secure the priesthood for himself and his descendants for all time.
This, of course, refers to Aaron, who would become the first High Priest. It's a powerful promise, a divine reassurance in the face of overwhelming adversity. It sets the stage for the miraculous events to come, the story of a baby destined for greatness, a leader who would change the course of history. A story born from faith, fear, and the unwavering belief in a power greater than Pharaoh.