Let’s dive into the story of Jochebed and Miriam, and the desperate measures they took to save the infant who would become Moses.

Imagine the scene. Pharaoh’s decree hangs heavy in the air: all newborn Hebrew boys must be killed. Jochebed, Moses' mother, makes a choice. A heartbreaking, terrifying choice. She builds an ark – a small chest or basket – not of wood, but of bulrushes. Why bulrushes? Because, as the legends tell us, bulrushes float so well on the surface of the water. (Legends of the Jews).

She daubs it with pitch, that sticky, tar-like substance, on the outside. Did you ever wonder why only the outside? According to the legends, it was so the baby wouldn't be bothered by the unpleasant smell! It's these little details that make the story so human, isn't it? The lengths a mother goes to, even in the midst of unimaginable fear.

Then, she lines the inside with clay. And over the tiny babe, she spreads a tiny canopy. A canopy, a huppah, like the kind used for a wedding. It wasn’t just for shade. As she placed it there, she whispered, "Perhaps I shall not live to see him under the marriage canopy." A poignant, heartbreaking premonition. (Legends of the Jews).

And then, the unimaginable. She abandons the ark on the shores of the Red Sea – or, more precisely, the river, as the traditional texts sometimes refer to it. But he wasn't alone.

Her daughter, Miriam, that unsung heroine, she stays nearby. She wasn't just casually strolling along the shore. She was there with a purpose. A prophecy. Before Moses was even born, Miriam had declared that her mother would bring forth a son who would redeem Israel.

Now, isn't that something? A child, a young girl, holding onto such a powerful vision?

The story goes that when Moses was born, their house was filled with brilliant light. Amram, their father, even kissed Miriam on the head in celebration. But when Pharaoh’s decree forced them to expose the child, Amram, in despair, beat her on the head, questioning her prophecy: "My daughter, what hath become of thy prophecy?" Ouch. Talk about pressure.

Therefore, Miriam stayed. She watched. She waited. To see what would become of her little brother, and what would become of her prophecy. What a burden for a young girl to carry!

Miriam embodies faith, resilience, and the unwavering belief in a better future, even when all seems lost. The courage of a mother, the vision of a sister - this is a story not just of survival, but of hope. And it reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the smallest acts of faith and courage can change the course of history.

What prophecies are we holding onto today? And what are we doing to nurture them, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles?