Throat raw, head throbbing, Jochebed curled into a knot and groaned without words for the loss of her son and what could never be, for injustice and what might have been. She had lost so much. Would it ever stop?
She did not know how she continued to breathe. Not knowing if she’d ever have the strength to move again, she wanted nothing more than to sink beneath the sand, disappearing forever. Releasing the final shred of tattered hope, Jochebed moaned in anguish, no longer caring if the voids inside of her caved inward and killed her.
And then, like a cool breeze slipping around each palm branch, an unexpected calm wove itself through her shattered soul and wrapped each shard with its gentleness. She lay still, almost afraid to move, soaking up its comfort, a parched land welcoming river waters into its barrenness.
Wrongs were not righted. They hurt. But something—no, Someone—began to smooth a healing balm into the depths of her turmoil and soothe and still her.
The intensity of her pain eased—as slowly as the sun unmistakably, imperceptibly melts a shadow. Hiccuping slightly, her spirit bruised, she rested in its tenderness. A sweetness, like jasmine-scented breezes, surrounded her, and Jochebed began to breathe evenly.
Opening her cramped fists, she thought of Moses’s hands—such big hands for a little boy. Would they be hands that hurt or hands that helped? She would never know the choices he’d make in his life.
All she’d known to do had been done. She had given him everything within her power to give. She was left with two children and two choices—to live or linger in the past.
True, she had lost what no mother ever should. Those scars defined her, and she’d forever wish it were different, but she had been given much.
Jochebed had known love. Although Amram might never return—there were no other messages from him—they had shared love. She had received a second chance with a lost child. And most of all, the Lord had guided her. He had guided her through her mother. He would guide her children.
The early morning breeze carried the sounds of the palace even this far away, and she knew it was time to move on … in more than one way. She could huddle safely in memories of the past or turn to the uncertain future, could step out of fear and speak hope, stretch out of her comfort into others’ despair. Jochebed smiled as she rubbed tears from her eyes, almost hearing Mama saying, “Come on now, you can do it. I know you can.”
Rubbing her swollen eyes and breathing in the chilly air, Jochebed looked up. She cringed. Two veiled figures moved rapidly toward her. Staggering to her feet, she stared hard before recognizing them in the dim light. Lili. Shiphrah.
Without thinking, Jochebed stepped back, hoping the shadows concealed her. This newfound peace was too fragile, too precious to risk disruption.
If only … Was it an ache or a prayer surfacing?
If only it was possible to start over, go to the beginning—before bricks of hurt built impenetrable walls, before misunderstandings scabbed into scars, before the hot winds of khamsin erased all traces of friendship.
They had seen her. She could tell by the unfaltering way they approached. Was it time to stop running, time to face the fear? With one deep breath, Jochebed stepped forward.
She could hardly believe her eyes. Lili and Shiphrah grabbed each other’s hands and circled her with their arms. No one spoke in this moment too sacred for words—a moment of healing and wholeness, of acceptance given and received, a moment of commitment and rebirth.
The three women stood, arms entwined, drawing and receiving comfort from each other. And then, as if it were the beginning, as if they were one, they turned and began the long journey home.
When they were almost out of eyesight of the town, Jochebed stopped and looked back to the palace where she had left her son. Two single strands remained like slender reeds tying him to his people forever: the stories of the Almighty One—Elohim—God of the Hebrews—her God, his God; and her prayers.
Shiphrah squeezed her hand. “The Lord has a plan, Bedde.”
She nodded. “This seems so wrong, but…”
The women stood silently, waiting for Jochebed to continue.
“While it is yet dark, God is at work.”
“And,” Lili whispered, “God keeps His promises.”
About the Author
Yes, Texie is her legal name, and no, she’s not a Texan. North Carolina born and bred, she holds master’s degrees in Religious Education and School Counseling. Although Texie Susan has served as a teacher, chaplain intern, and church drama director, her favorite calling is being a mother.
As Texie Susan taught her children of the Lord and Savior, she became aware of the incredible influence mothers have and of the rippling effect of their words for future generations. Intrigued by who and what shaped the great leaders of the Bible, she began to write the stories of unknown mothers in biblical times.
She and her husband are empty nesters missing their two young adult children who live on opposite sides of the country. Since they all love to travel, she’s thankful they are on the same continent.
Chapter Discussion Questions
1. Has a decision been made for you that changed the course of your life?
Jochebed felt lonely and different. Do you believe these feelings are universal? How does your viewpoint affect the way you interact with others?
2. When tragedy has occurred in your life, what brought you comfort? How do you comfort others? Do you ever comfort others with words you aren’t sure you believe?
What choices and chances did Elisheba want Jochebed to consider?
3. What do you know about Shiphrah from this chapter? What motivates her?
4. Secrets. Everyone has them: Jochebed, Shiphrah, Ramses, Seti, Elisheba, you, me. Is it more harmful to keep secrets or to share the truth?
What life “spokes” have shaped you? Have they been used to form a thing of beauty? What do you think of the statement “Hate grows out of fear”?
5. Shiphrah blames Amram, but what is truly causing the strain in the girls’ friendship? How do you mend a broken friendship?
Amram tells Jochebed she is the one whose “thumbprint” he wants on his children. What does that mean?
6. How do relationships change once someone marries?
“Stop borrowing trouble.” It has been said that we have a choice to either worry or trust God. Which is harder to do?
7. What did you learn about yourself during a time that showed you “who you are, what you are made of”? Were you surprised?
8. Pharaoh is a master controller. Do you think Nege realizes he is being manipulated? Was the manipulation mutual, or was Pharaoh in complete charge? What emotions did you feel when Nege referred to Shiphrah?
9. How are you like or unlike your mother? How do mothers influence children?
Jochebed dreaded the flooding season as a “fear anniversary.” What “fear anniversaries” do you have?
Are feelings of inadequacy universal?
What stories did you learn as a child that you pass on to others?
10. Do you think Shiphrah identifies more with the Egyptians or the Hebrews? Have you ever been forced to do something that goes against your core values? How has Elisheba influenced Shiphrah?
11. Ramses enjoys attempting the impossible and inconceivable. Does he truly believe himself to be a god?
12. Our hands reveal much about us. What do yours show about you?
Lili has held on to her hard feelings toward Jochebed. Could Jochebed have done anything differently? What do you think could bring about reconciliation?
13. Have any of your decisions been defined by your birth? Do you think Shiphrah regrets her decision to live with the Hebrews? Was Jebah kind or cruel to leave Shiphrah with her father?
Lili’s desperation caused her to disregard the basic faith tenets of the Hebrew people. What do you think about Shiphrah’s decision to fulfill Lili’s request?
14. Foreigners, including the Hebrews, were forbidden to eat at the same ta
ble as Egyptians. What might be some of the ramifications of this practice? How did the foreigner offend his hosts? What are some of our customs that could offend a foreign host?
Ramses is highly protective of his wife. Can you love someone too much?
15. If you could unravel and rework a relationship, how would you change it?
What emotions did Shiphrah experience when she heard of Lili’s pregnancy?
Elisheba has faith in God’s promises. What is the difference between belief and faith?
16. How did you respond when you discovered someone was very different than your perception of them? It could be a negative difference or a positive difference. Did it change how you saw your ability to discern character?
Can you be “a deliverer” and never know it?
Does knowing Nege’s background change your opinion of him?
How does hate stain?
17. Pharaoh’s home was designed to impress and intimidate. Have you ever been in surroundings meant to overwhelm you? How did you respond?
Puah’s name means “splendid.” How did you see her living up to her name?
18. Do you believe that good can result from difficult and painful situations? If so, how?
What do you think Jochebed learned from her interactions with Sarah and Shiphrah? Was Shiphrah justified in challenging Jochebed?
19. What memories of friends and family do you especially cherish? Share a time that skills learned in your past had an unexpected benefit years later. Are there skills you would like to renew?
20. Nefertari believes only good about her husband. Do you think that affects the way he treats her?
How has your perception of Ramses changed?
21. Jochebed realizes that while part of her died with her mother, part of her mother lived on in her. From your experience, is that true? What are you building into others that you hope will live on?
22. What did you think about Joseph’s response to Shiphrah’s news about Ella?
Ati said Nege was angry with himself when he hurt Shiphrah. Do you agree?
Have you ever been asked to accept someone else’s responsibility? How did you feel about it?
23. Ramses believes his eternity and the existence of his people are threatened by the Hebrews. If he asked your counsel, how would you have advised him to resolve this threat?
24. Have you ever said, “Somebody ought to…” and realized you needed to be the “somebody”?
“While it is yet dark, God is at work.” When have you seen that be true in your life?
25. Shiphrah is guilty by association. Do you think the villagers were justified in mistrusting her?
When tragedy strikes a community, how does it change relationships?
26. Do you ever wonder why your life intersects with others? How are you connected with people outside your family? Is there a deeper reason than happenstance? Whose life would have been vastly different if they had not known you? Other than your family, whose life made a difference in your journey?
27. What does it mean to ask yourself, “What is my why?”
When advice conflicts, how do you determine whose to follow?
28. Jochebed has endured multiple losses. How have these losses altered her life? When you have experienced loss, how did you cope? Where did you find the strength to keep going?
29. Shiphrah was a frightened child the last time she saw Ati. How has she grown as a person? Would you have stopped to help someone you believed pushed you away because they didn’t care about you?
30. How did Ramses’s mother influence him?
31. Jochebed was quick to suspect that Shiphrah was a danger to her family. When trust is broken, can it ever be completely restored? How?
32. Puah’s story about Elisheba gives a new definition to the concept of the Good Samaritan. Could you open your home and heart to someone you knew was indirectly responsible for causing your loved one great harm?
33. “Ask your husband for everything, and he will give you nothing. Ask him for nothing, and he will give you everything.” Ramses called Nefertari wise. Do you believe she is wise or manipulative?
34. If you could step back to a specific time in your life, when would it be?
One of the central themes of Slender Reeds is how God weaves our experiences and knowledge into His master plan. How has this played out in your life?
35. Some dreams come true. How do you determine when to continue pursuing a dream and when to surrender it?
36. Ramses carries a tremendous burden for Egypt’s well-being. Is it harder to be an all-powerful “god” or a slave? How is Ramses Egypt’s slave?
37. What holds Jochebed back from trusting God with her son?
If Ramses understood what he had set in motion, would he have granted Nefertari her heart’s desire or, for the first time ever, denied her wish?
38. Jochebed again faces choices and chances. How do you imagine the girls’ relationship will be in the future? What choices and chances lie before you?
Slender Reeds: Jochebed’s Hope Page 29