God's Sovereignty in the Pity of Others

"...she saw the child...she took pity on him..." - Exodus 2:6

These simple words of the story from an early day in Moses' life ring profoundly concerning the sovereignty of God.  The one who saw the child and took pity on Moses was none other than Pharaoh's daughter.  But why should she care in the least bit about yet another Hebrew baby?  Likely she has been close enough to the Hebrew people that she has seen their increasing numbers.  Surely she's heard of what her father decreed concerning the destruction of all the Hebrew baby boys.  But apparently she didn't fully agree with it.  At least during this moment in time, for this one baby, Moses.  

Make no mistake about it, God was the one who had designed and appointed Moses to be the one to deliver His people from the oppression, slavery, and polytheism of the Egyptians (Stephen in Acts 7 develops this).  God ultimately hand-selected Moses.  His training in the elite schools of Pharaoh's house would go to serve him well years later.  The leadership characteristics accrued from his position in Pharaoh's house would go to serve him well years later.  And even throughout Moses' life, God was growing in him a heart to save, protect, and eventually deliver his fellow Hebrews.  You can't help but see how considerable it was the way God positioned him.

But what if...?  What if this story never quite panned out?  What if Moses' basket was overtaken by the current of the Nile?  What if Pharaoh's daughter never saw Moses?  What if she only saw him and thought nothing of him?  And what if upon seeing him she was moved for a moment, but upon bringing the baby back to her father he wouldn't allow her to keep this baby?  

Of course we have to pause and reflect a bit to further appreciate the depths of the necessary details of this story.  We would rightly argue that God's sovereignty kept the basket upright.  We rightly argue that God's sovereignty made for certain that Pharaoh's daughter would turn at just the right time to see this floating basket.  We somehow though cross over these words, "she took pity on him," and think little of it.  

Let us make much of God in this.  He did not leave the story of this floating basket down the Nile River up to chance, but up to His sovereignty.  He did not leave the selection of Moses up to chance, as if to say, "Well, if he makes it, he's my guy," but up to His sovereignty.  And so too in a most necessary part of this story, the very pity of Pharaoh's daughter, we rightly conclude that it was God's work in her heart to cause her to pity him and save his life.  

I am reminded of the unsuspecting nature of so many out there who are being used of God in a plethora of ways.  And as we continue to make efforts to make the name of Christ known in our community, at our work, where we play, even to see God plant Redemption Church, I am mindful that we are every bit relying not on chance, not on ourselves (though He does involve us), but most greatly upon the sovereignty of God.  He is the very One who for His own good purposes even causes those who are our enemies to show us pity.  That manifests just another dynamic perspective of His sovereign rule.  I look forward to watching God unveil the sovereign rule of His choosing in and among people believing and unbelieving to ultimately make the greatness of Christ known through us.