A Mother's Love

Happy Mother’s Day! When we think of our mothers, one thing that we can always say is our mothers would do anything for us. I often found it interesting that many of the meals prepared by my mother or grandmothers would be served, and when everyone would fill their plate then they would eat. Even though many of the meals had an abundance of food with more than we could eat in two or three sittings, they would always make sure everyone else was cared for before they took care of their own needs. You see, a mother would sacrifice herself before she would let anyone else go hungry.

I found an illustration of this from an unknown author called Pie and Mothers.

A teacher asked a boy this question: “Suppose your mother baked a pie and there were seven of you—your parents and five children. What part of the pie would you get?”

“A sixth,” replied the boy.

“I’m afraid you don’t know your fractions,” said the teacher. “Remember, there are seven of you.”

“Yes, teacher,” said the boy, “but you don’t know my mother. Mother would say she didn’t want any pie.”

Caring for others before caring for self is a trait of many mothers. They want to make sure their families are cared for above and beyond anything else.

In Exodus chapter 2, we see an example of this type of sacrifice. One that had to be extremely hard as it involved separation from a youngest child.

The Israelites had come into Egypt to escape famine, and God had allowed them to multiply and the nation to grow immensely. They had grown so strong that after Joseph and his brothers had died, and when a new king was seated he no longer saw the Israelites as helpful. He no longer saw Josephs wisdom in preserving the Egyptians during the drought, but instead saw them as a threat. Would they try to overthrow the Egyptians and establish their nation here? The fear caused Pharaoh to place them in bondage as a way to exert authority and keep them broken and in subjection. As they built cities for the Pharoah, God still continued to bless them. The more harshly the Egyptians were, the more it seemed God blessed them.

To control the expansion of the Israelites, Pharoah ordered the midwives to kill all newborn boys. The midwives feared God more than Pharaoh, and would not kill the male babies. Since they would not kill the Israelite babies, Pharaoh commanded all the Egyptians to drown every son that was born.

It was this decree that made for a mothers heart wrenching decision. What was Jochebed to do when she gave birth to a son?

The Decision to Hide

Exodus 2:1–3 ESV

1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.

As the midwives had already shown, the Israelites were blessed because they followed God. Jochebed was no different, when she gave birth to a boy she could not, and would not let any harm come to him.

Now, this would be hard to do as they were slaves. No doubt they were poor, had little opportunity to do their own thing, had few possessions, and could not better themselves. I am sure she would have been expected to work, even after giving birth. Not cleaning houses, or cooking for the king, but in the brickyards or in the fields tending crops or animals.

It would have been easy to convince themselves that they couldn’t care for another child. It would have been easy to use the excuse, ending the life of the son was the law of the land. It would have been easy to conform to the world in a situation where it seemed hopeless. Yet, God would use this mother for an extraordinary task, giving birth to one of the greatest leaders who has ever lived.

What made this mother so much different? She was willing to believe, follow, and rely on God. God was then able to use the faith of a mother for His glory. We see an example of a righteous woman, who already had two children - Miriam and Aaron. Now, Moses was born and there had to be concern, anxiety, fear, uncertainty - not the normal excitement and elation that normally comes to expecting parents. What would they do if the child was male? No doubt she prayed God would intervene.

God didn’t intervene in the way they may have expected, but He provided a way to preserve the life of Moses. This mother, a devout, God fearing mother, took it upon herself to protect her son.

Many mothers here know the feeling of love towards their children. They feel a duty and responsibility to protect their children as best as their abilities. But they would not be mothers if they did not value the sanctity of life and the pursuit of God.

When it got to a place when the child could no longer be hidden, Jochebed made a plan and trusted God. Why he could no longer be hidden isn’t addressed in scripture, but we can assume there was an increase surveillance, looking for male children, and maybe they felt they could no longer hide him. Whatever the reason, his mother realized she could not hide him any longer, but desired to save her child. No doubt many prayers had already gone up asking for wisdom and guidance. In the end, she made a watertight basket, put Moses in that basket and placed him in the reeds by the river bank. The point to see is the great wisdom and faith of Moses’ mother. She did all she could and she trusted God, trusted Him to use her efforts and bless them. She laid the best plans she could and carried them out. And in the midst of her plans, she trusted God to work everything out.

Mothers, never lose faith that God will work things out for your children. It is by trusting in Him, and being willing to follow Him in the smallest to the largest obstacles in life that He will work everything out for His glory.

God’s Protection

Exodus 2:4–7 ESV

4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

When the basket with Moses was placed in the reeds, she set her daughter out to watch and ensure the safety of the child. Of course she wouldn’t allow him to be left alone! When Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe, she found this basket and a servant went in to retrieve it. Of course, when the basket was opened, the baby started crying.

Isn’t it interesting that the crying may have been the reason Moses’ mother was concerned over him being found, but this crying may have been his saving grace. She took pity on the baby, even though she recognized him as being an Hebrew.

One thing that cannot be overlooked is God’s sovereignty in what has just occurred. There is no doubt God was with this child and the basket he was lying in. Think about what had to take place: The bulrush was readily available to make the basket, the pitch made the basket water tight, the reeds held the basket in place, no crocodiles or animals harmed the child, out of chance the camouflaged basket was seen by someone, the someone happened to be the daughter of Pharaoh, and her heart - maybe as a mother (or mother to be later on) had compassion on this child. She was so touched she convinced her father that she should keep this baby as her own.

No doubt Moses’ mothers prayers had been heard and God was looking after him. We are now able to witness God’s divine hand at work.

Miriam was right there, overlooking all that was taking place, and made the suggestion that she could go and find a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. God’s hand of divine intervention has just open the opportunity for His own mother to care for her son.

A Mother’s Love

Exodus 2:8–10 ESV

8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Now notice just how God allowed all this to unfold - worry and concern led to drastic measures, and those drastic measure led to Moses being found by Pharaoh’s own daughter, who sent Miriam, Moses’ sister, back to their mother to care for him…AND she was being paid to care for him. Instead of having to slave away in the fields or brick works as a slave, she was now being paid to care for her own child.

God has just provided for the ones who truly sought His will.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Moses’ mothers prayers had been answered. She would now be able to care for him, teach him about God’s promises, and no doubt recounting how God had interceded on their behalf. She was allowed to mother her own child, even though he was in the palace of Pharaoh.

Jochebed saw God work all things out for good: her son was not only saved, but he was adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh himself (under God’s sovereign, guiding hand). When Moses reached a certain age, his mother took him to the princess, and Moses became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

Pharaoh’s daughter named the child Moses which means “I drew him out of the water.” Note how God took the evil plan of Pharaoh, twisted it, and worked it out for good. God caused Pharaoh to give food, shelter, and clothing to the very child who was to take the lead in freeing the Israelite slaves, the very thing Pharaoh was trying to prevent.

Mothers, be faithful when things are going good in your family, and when things are not going good. I don’t know of many that have had to be concerned over someone coming to our homes seeking to harm our children. But mothers, do not let your guards down in praying for God’s direction, hand or protection, and wisdom for your children. Their life may just depend on it, just like Moses’.

Conclusion

As I conclude today, please know God chose you to be a Godly mother. He graciously and lovingly determined, before the world began, the child (or children) you would have. He knew their temperaments. He knew their strengths, their weakness. He knew what would make them laugh and what would make them cry. He knew what they would like for dinner and how they would like to play. He knew how they would learn best and what subject they would most enjoy in school. He knew what type of guidance they would need to become men and women who would one day be used of God… and He knew the mom they would need to make that happen. You are the woman God made to influence their moldable hearts.

He chose you for them, just as He chose Jochebed to be Moses’ mother.

God chose your children to be yours. He knew, before the world began, that you would learn from their childlike faith, simple wonder, and loving acceptance of others. He knew that you would need a toddler to rub food in his hair right before church, so that you could demonstrate loving patience. He knew that same toddler would melt your heart with a timely hug in the middle of a crazy day. He knew that your children would change you for the better, causing you to be less selfish and more sacrificial. He knew that you would be capable and strong, but that your children would test your capabilities and strength.  He knew that your children would make you depend on Him, cry out to Him, and seek Him. He knew that you would love them with an indescribable love, and He knew that love would give you a small glimpse of His love for you.

He chose them for you, just as he chose Moses for Jochebed.

But never forget, God had a great plan in place for Moses - and it took the faith of his mother to get him where God wanted him. Mothers, God has great plans for your children to. Stay the course, pray for God’s guidance, and God will see them too being placed right where He wants them to be.