A Place In The Palace

Ezra 9:9a – For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. (NLT)

"Just remember, Moses was a basket case too," the sign in front of one of the churches in my town advertised this week. After I read it, I started thinking what I would tell the people on Sunday morning if I were giving that sermon.

Maybe I have the wrong idea, but to my way of thinking, being a "basket case" refers to people who go about their daily lives in less than a normal manner. Perhaps their actions are erratic because they are overly excited or extremely sad. For me, a mother of two precious children, I think I'd be a "basket case" if I'd had to place my baby in a papyrus basket, then put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River like Moses' mother did. I can't imagine standing on the shore and watching my precious child float amongst the bulrushes, moving with the currents, knowing that I might never see my little one again.

However, the exciting part of this story is that when Moses became a "basket case" and was alone and adrift in the world, God heard his cry. He provided protection for him by sending Pharaoh's daughter to the river bank that day. She found the child in the basket and provided for him. Then she went back to her home in the palace and made plans for Moses to become her child and follow her there.

In Moses' case, God sent Pharaoh's daughter to dry the baby's tears and provide protection and love. When our lives seem to be adrift and we resemble the description of a "basket case", floating amongst the reeds and bulrushes of life, God hears our cry too. In our case, God sent His Son, Jesus, to hear our cry and provide protection and love. Jesus died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sin, making it possible for us to become children of God. After Jesus' death, He rose again and is now back in His home, preparing a place for us in God's palace, heaven.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your love, in that while we were still sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us. Help us to come to You and ask Your forgiveness for our wrongdoing so that we can become Your children and live in Your palace when we die. Amen.