A Mother's Faith

Introduction: (adapted from online)

When I think about my mother She taught me so much:

- My mother taught me RELIGION: When I accidently spilt a can of paint in our basement, she instructed, "You better pray that this mess is cleaned up before your father gets home."

- My mother taught me LOGIC: From her decisive words, "Because I said so, that's why."

- My mother taught me to always be PREPARED: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

- My mother taught me IRONY: "Keep laughing, and I'll give you something to cry about."

- My mother taught me about STAMINA: "You'll sit there 'til all those Lima Beans are Gone is finished."

- My mother taught me about the WEATHER: "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

- My mother taught me about THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

- My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: "Stop acting like your father!"

- My mother taught me to consider others: "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who would love to have those vegetables to eat!"

Thanks Moms for teaching us so much!

Today we want to celebrate the women in our lives who have given us so much.

PRAY

Background of the story

In Genesis chapter 42 Jacob sent his 11 sons into Egypt to try and buy food during a famine in Palestine.

His lost son Joseph, whom his brothers sold into slavery ,was now the 2nd in command of all of Egypt. and over all of the grain in the land. When his brothers came to buy food, Joseph recognized his brothers and revealed himself to them. He forgave them for what they did and requested that his father come to Egypt, to live during the famine. Jacob whose name became Isreal packed up all his family and they moved to Egypt, where God began to bless them all. After Joseph , whom the Pharoah loved, had died, a new king arose in Egypt—a king who had not known Joseph. This Pharaoh didn’t see the Hebrews as friends anymore, but now as enemies. He saw them growing in numbers quickly , and fearing that they might soon out number the Egyptians themselves, In his fear he made them His slaves, he robbed them of their liberties, and he put them to work in the brick yards under cruel taskmasters to keep them under submission

and now 400 years have passed and the Hebrews are still the slaves of Egypt. and at this point in their story they are in great bondage. They are oppressed they are hurting and they are tired!

Exodus 1:14 “and Pharoah made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.”

But in the midst of this dark place the people of Isreal trusted God, and God began to bless them even in the midst of their slavery.

Their land produced abundance of food -more than the Egyptians

their livestock was healthier than any of the Egyptian’s Herds

and their Children were stronger and healthier r than any of the Egyptian children

The Bible tells us that the they grew in numbers quickly.

Pharaoh was afraid that the nation of Israel was getting too Mighty for him to keep them enslaved, So he ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all the baby boys that were born to the Israelite women.

Exodus 1:17- tells us that the midwives chose to fear God over what Pharaoh could do to them, and so they saved the baby boys from death.

This made Pharoah so angry that he ordered all the Hebrew boys that were born to be thrown into the Nile river.

In order to obey the government the Women would have to disobey God’s law in protecting Human life.

To disobey Pharoah as a slave meant they would be given great punished and eventually killed for their actions.

Transition: and now we come to our story

Exodus 2:1-2 “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 beautiful child, she hid him three months.”

In Exodus 6:20- We see that this woman’s name is Jochebed- the Mother of Moses and Aaron.

Transition: Today we want to look at the faith of a mother.

Jochebed’s faith was grounded in God’s truths before the trial came.

As an expectant mother, She new that if she had a son the Egyptians would kill the baby. She also knew that if she went against the king that her own life was the cost.

But her faith was already grounded in Her God. She already had a relationship with God before her trial began.

In our story in Exodus we don’t see why she chose to keep the baby. but in Hebews 11 we can find the answer.

Hebrews 11: 23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

Jochebed feared God More than she feared the king.

Her faith was already grounded in the Lord.

Jochebed Hid her son in her home for three months, and then, when he couldn’t be hid any longer she hid Him in the reeds by the river.

The book of Hebrews tells us that Jochebed didn’t do this because she didn’t want her child to die, or because she loved him too much to cast him into the river.

Jochebed hid her son “by faith” , not by fear!

She saw her son as an image bearer of God, a beautiful child. and so, instead of casting baby Moses into the river, She hid him for three months, and then turned him over to God.

Jochebed’s faith in God was grounded before the trial came into her life. She had already purposed in her heart to trust God with her baby.

She was able to follow God in this difficult situation because she already had the faith that He was in sovereign control.

1st thing we see from our story is- Jochebed had faith that was grounded in God.

Jochebed’s Faith Entrusted Her child to God

Exodus 2:3-4 “When she could hide him no longer, she made a basket of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. Then She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.”

When this young mother had done all she could do, she laid her son in the basket that she prepared for him, and by faith she left Him in God’s care, trusting that God would take care of him. We see her faith in verse 4-"And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.

Jochebed expected God to do something with her child. She didn’t know what, or how, but she left her child in Faith, trusting in God’s Care.

Transition: as we read on in our passage we see that God had big plans for this baby.

Exodus 2:5-10 “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?” 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.”

God had a plan for Jochebed and her son.

Can you image They joy on Jochebed’s heart when her daughter Mariam ran into the house and tried to explain the story that just happened.

“mama your not gonna believe what just happened!

is my baby ok? Yes he is fine- we were down there and the baby was in the weeds and then Pharaohs daughter came down to take her bath and one of her maids happen to walk by and see the basket floating in the water, and when she opened it she saw my brother .

and it was so cute, when Pharaohs daughter looked at him he cried and her heart melted. But momma thats not the best part- I told them that you were a nurse and you could take care of the baby for them, momma they want you to raise him and be his nurse!”

Jochebed entrusted her child in Faith to the care of God.

She left her baby in the reeds, looked expectantly to what God would do.

When I think about trusting God with my kids its a hard thing to do isn’t it?

As a dad I have a hard time letting my kids do stuff that I think is a little dangerous, I know i get over nervous.

Illustration: I can’t imagine what all my mom must have went through raising a kid like me, Talk about trusting in God to protect her kids. - I had stitches in my head 6 times before I was 13 years old. I fell out of multiple trees, I have scars from head to toe from all the times I ran into the house bleeding and looking for my mom to fix it. In fact, I remember one time as a young boy I climbed to the top of my neighbors tree to see over the houses, and as i was swaying back and forth from the top of the tree, my neighbor came outside just as the branch I was perched on broke and I began to fall bouncing off of every branch on my way down. and all they heard me saw was superman.

I know I gave my mother many reason to have fear for her children.

but just like Jochebed she entrusted me to the care of God.

Jochebed saw God’s faithfulness in a real way that day! I can’t imagine what she thought would happen to her son, but I am sure that when it all played out she brought great rejoicing to Her God for His care of the child.

and I believe her faith in the Lord grew even stronger.

Jochebed’s Faith trained Her Son in God’s Word

Not only did Jochebed get to raise her son, and be his nurse, but she also took every opportunity to teach Him the Hebrew faith in God. She spent time imparting Spiritual good into her young child’s life.

She grounded His faith in the Lord.

She taught her son to trust in the almighty God.

and she believed that God would use him someday for His purpose.

Jochebed took every opportunity to pass her faith on to her children.

As mother’s you have the opportunity and the responsibility to pass on your faith to your children.

You get the privilege of imparting spiritual good into their lives.

As are story of this mother continues we see the reward of Jochebed’s faith

Jochebed’s Faith was Rewarded

Hebrews 11:24-29

24 By faith Moses,

-Jochebed’s faith was reward with the faith of her son.

She not only demonstrated her faith to her son But she taught her faith to her son.

“By Faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 and By faith the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea as on dry land.”

All of this happened because Jochebed passed on the most precious thing a mother could ever give her child.Her faith.

She grounded her son Moses’ faith in God, and when the trials came to Moses- He stood firm and followed God over the riches of this world.

The biggest gift Jochebed ever gave her son was the gift of Faith.

Conclusion

As a church we can follow the example of Jochebed and her faith.

I’m reminded of our passage in James 1:2-3 this morning

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness”

understand this morning: Our trials will grow our faith.

Jochebed’s faith was tested by fire.

She had to choose to follow God at the expense of her own life.

and Like her ,God will test your faith also. He will put you in situations that may seem hopeless, but know that this is were God wants to grow your faith..

we will go through great trials, but understand that God is good and He has a perfect plan for your life.

We can trust His sovereign leading in every situation- no matter how hard it may seem to be - why? because we know that through stories like Jochebed God is faithful.

When trials come into your life, remember He is growing your faith.

Ladies if you are looking for a Godly role model in your life, remember Jochebed the mother of Moses and her faith.

Her faith was grounded in God’s truths

Her faith entrusted her children to God’s care

Her faith was passed on to the next generation.

Her faith was reward with GOD’S BLESSINGS.

If I were To wrap it up with one sentence it would be this....

“A godly women spends time growing in God’s word, trusting in God’s Providence, teaching God’s truths, and rejoicing in God’s blessings.”

Ladies, On this mother’s day- choose to be a women of great faith and impart spiritual good into the lives of those around you.

Pray!