The answer is: Moses

Exo 2:3

The story of Moses is one of the most poignant in the Bible, showcasing not only his destiny but also the incredible faith and courage of his mother, Jochebed. When the Pharaoh instituted a decree to drown newborn Hebrew boys, Jochebed knew she had to act to save her son. She carefully wove a ‘basket’ — the word used in Exodus is actually ‘tebah,’ which can also mean ‘chest’ or ‘box’ — covered it with pitch to keep it watertight, and set it afloat among the reeds of the Nile.

Jochebed’s daring decision was driven by a deep love, reflecting a mother’s instinct to protect her child against improbable odds. Interestingly, the Nile was a symbol of both life and death; it provided sustenance to the people of Egypt, yet became a device of oppression under Pharaoh’s orders. This duality adds layers of meaning to Moses’s story, showcasing the drama of struggle and redemption.

It’s fascinating to think about how Jochebed’s act of faith not only changed her family’s fate but impacted the entire nation of Israel. Moses went on to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt — a remarkable twist to humanity’s storyline that began with a mother’s desperation prompted by a brutal regime.

Moreover, Moses wasn’t the only figure in the biblical narrative with an indomitable mother; other women, like Hannah and Ruth, also played pivotal roles in shaping history. Their stories remind us just how vital maternal figures are not just in faith traditions, but in narratives that span cultures and time.