Moses' parents respected life and God's will more than the decree of Pharaoh. 

Amram and Jocabed had a baby boy. It was not a good time to have babies. They were slaves in Egypt, and babies would spend life under the whip. But it was worse to have a baby boy. The king of Egypt had decreed that all boys born to the slaves were to be killed.

That's how Amram and Jocabed find their way on to the list of heroes of faith in Hebrews. "By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict" (Hebrews 11:23). They defied Pharaoh's law and kept their baby alive. They are heroes of faith because they knew about life.

MOSES' PARENTS TREASURED LIFE

It is hard to get into the mind of Pharaoh. We know that the Israelites were becoming a potential threat in Egypt, so Pharaoh had the baby boys killed. But who kills innocent babies? What was he thinking? Perhaps he thought, "I want to preserve the lives of my people and this will help" or "I want to keep my power" or "They are just babies; they aren't really human yet." Maybe it was ego: "I'm king here, and I get to choose who lives and dies."

Pharaoh did not understand the truth about life. Amram and Jocabed did. God gives life to each baby. He never relinquishes his authority over it. Amram and Jocabed knew that, and they would protect the life God had given their baby boy. They were heroes of faith.

But they knew something else about life. By faith they knew that God had a plan for every life that he gives. The writer to the Hebrews says, "They saw he was no ordinary child." Do you think any parent looks at their child and thinks, "This is an ordinary child"? Parents see their children with hope and expectation. As a matter of fact, God never makes an ordinary child. His plan is unique and good for each one.

Amram and Jocabed knew about life. They knew that the life of their baby was from God, and they did all they could to protect it. They knew that God had a plan for this child, and that made them heroes of faith. Faith is knowing that life comes from God, and each life has a powerful purpose.

GOD DIRECTS THAT LIFE

Christians have another dream. It's a dream that rests on God's deep love for every human being. Jesus expressed it when he spoke to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14). Believers want their children to know Jesus. They bring them to his arms in Baptism and then teach them by word and example.