Pharaoh’s Daughter
Pharaoh’s Daughter – When Compassion Leads to Courage Scripture Spotlight:
Exodus 2:5–10 This Week’s Theme: We’ve been walking with some lesser-known women of the Bible—women with grit, with heart, with faith. Today, we pause to consider a surprising hero: Pharaoh’s daughter. We don’t even know her name, yet her small act of compassion rewrote history. Her story teaches us that sometimes the most world-changing moments come from doing what’s right, even when it’s not what’s expected.
Historical Context: Pharaoh’s brutal decree to kill every Hebrew baby boy was in full force. Egypt was the superpower of the world—wealthy, educated, powerful—and ruthless. And right in the heart of the palace, amidst political cruelty and royal privilege, a teenage princess walks to the Nile to bathe. She has attendants with her. Maybe they’re gossiping or brushing her hair. She’s living in the most opulent environment on earth. In today’s world? This would be the equivalent of slathering on suntan oil, blaring Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer on a Bluetooth speaker, and sipping something bubbly poolside while your personal glam squad stands by. She wasn’t looking for a revolution. She was looking for a refresh. And then… she sees it.A papyrus basket floating in the reeds. Crying. Let’s pause here. This girl is a princess. The daughter of the man who made the kill order. What should she have done? Turned away? Reported it? Looked the other way? She did none of that. She opened the basket, saw the baby, and had compassion. That moment—an emotional reaction deep in her gut—changed the entire course of history.
What About Pharaoh’s Wife? Interestingly, we hear nothing about Pharaoh’s wife in this story. Was she absent? Silent? Uninvolved? Or perhaps her role was erased over time, as women's voices often were in ancient texts. Regardless, we know Pharaoh’s daughter had the kind of sway with her father that allowed her to break protocol. Some of you know exactly what that kind of father-daughter bond looks like. I see it in my own home — my husband would do absolutely anything for our daughters. It’s their superpower. And it gives me pause. I didn’t have that with my own father. I didn’t grow up with that kind of safety. It’s a loss I still grieve. But it also makes me treasure the love of our heavenly Father even more. While His answer isn’t always yes, it is always for our good. Teenage Rebellion or Holy Defiance? Many scholars believe Pharaoh’s daughter was quite young—possibly even a teenager. Which makes sense. Teenage rebellion can be fierce. And sometimes, holy. She didn’t want to raise the child herself. She wasn’t equipped. She knew she needed help. Enter Miriam (Moses’ sister), who bravely steps forward and suggests a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby — Moses’ own mother, Jochebed. Coincidence? No. Divine choreography.
A Word About Adoption: So many of us have brought children into our lives in unexpected ways — adoption, fostering, blended families, or just being a safe haven for someone else’s child. Pharaoh’s daughter reminds us that compassion requires action. It’s not enough to feel something. You have to do something. She used her position and privilege to protect a life others discarded.
A Personal Reflection: One of the deepest wounds in my life is the absence of a father. I only had a few brief interactions with mine. Watching my husband father our children has given me glimpses of what I missed—and also of what God’s fatherly love can look like. There’s security in it. Tenderness. Power. That same love picked up a crying baby from the river and said, “This one is mine.” What’s in a Name? We don’t know hers. Pharaoh’s daughter is nameless in scripture, but some Jewish traditions call her Bithiah, meaning “daughter of Yahweh.” Whether that was truly her name or a later tradition, it’s powerful. She stepped out of her culture, her comfort, and her expected role to follow the God of the Hebrews—and raise the deliverer of His people.
Reflection Challenge: Think of one small act of compassion you can take this week. Something that may not make the headlines but could change someone’s life. Maybe it’s a text. A meal. A donation. A “yes” when it’s easier to say “no.” Reflection Questions: When have you had to do the right thing even when it wasn’t easy? Have you ever used your position, privilege, or power to protect someone else? How do you see God’s fatherly love in your life today?
Closing Thought: You don’t have to be well-known to make an eternal impact. Pharaoh’s daughter wasn’t aiming for greatness. She just said yes to compassion. And the ripple effect of that one yes led to rescue, redemption, and ultimately—revolution.
