Mothers Day Isaiah

Isaiah 49:15 & Isaiah 63:13

Introduction-

What is a mother

Mom: The woman who loves you unconditionally from birth, the one who puts her kids before herself and the one who you can always count on above everyone else

Someone asked some kids these two questions

Why did God make mothers? She's the only one who knows where to find the scotch tape.

How did God make mothers? Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

What are some things in your life that tell you motherhood has truly set in?

Motherhood has truly set in when you see these things take place:

-You offer to cut up other people’s food -You hide in the bathroom to be alone -You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it’s the only one your kids will eat -You read that the average five-year-old asks 492 questions a day and you feel proud your child is above average -You use your own saliva to clean your child’s face -You count the sprinkles on each kid’s cupcake to make sure they’re all equal -You hear your mother’s voice coming out of your mouth -You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you -You hire a sitter because you can’t remember the last time you went out alone with your husband, but then you spend half the night checking on the kids -You say at least once a day, “I’m not cut out for this job,” but you wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Problem-

And in our current culture it hasn’t gotten any easier

With the rise of mothers needing to work

With the cost of raising children

With the complexities of our culture

There has never been a more difficult yet more essential time for godly mothers

Context-

The Bible emphasizes the Fatherhood of God but there is a motherhood side of God that should not be forgotten.

For all the mothers here this morning, we celebrate Mother's Day.

What a wonderful thing that God's Word has so many messages just for moms, messages for parents really, for moms, dads, and grandparents. There are also those listening who will one day be in the delightful company of parents, and there are single adults who have such profound influence on our homes.

Transition-

I would like to take us to the book of Isaiah to take a different perspective on motherhood

Isaiah 49:15

I. Present and Compassionate 49:15

Explain-

What we see in this verse is that God is present with His children like a mother is for her children

The specific picture here is a nursing mother

This pictures Israel as a nation just being born and still needing the presence and nurture of God.

This also pictures the total dependence of Israel on God

Not only is he present in verse 15 he is also compassionate.

When an infant is in need no one in their right mind would correct the infant

“Snap out of it, grow up, get with it”

These are not things that we would say ti a growing and maturing child

And God does not expect us to have it all figured out, that is why he is present and compassionate

Because we need him

Illustrate-

A mother was putting her son to bed on the evening of his fifth birthday. She was trying to communicate that birthday idea to him. "Kevin," she said, "this is the last night of your fourth night. Do you understand that?" Kevin was ready to communicate with his hands. For a full year, he had shown people four fingers for his four years, and now he was ready to add a thumb. Seeing his four fingers, his mother nodded, and said: "When you go to sleep tonight, you'll still be 4-years-old. But do you know how old you'll be in the morning, when you wake up?" Kevin nodded enthusiastically, added his thumb to his four little fingers and said, "Tomorrow, I'll be a handful!"

Bridge-

This is precisely why we need mothers who are present and compassionate.

Because children are little sinners with a great need to a godly and compassionate presence in their life

A Spanish proverbs says An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest.

Charles Wesley- “I learned more about God from my mother than from all the theologians in England.”

Charles Spurgeon- “I cannot tell how much I owe to the prayers of my good mother.”

At any age a mother can have an immense amount of influence on their children

It doesn’t end when we leave the home

A mother’s influence never ends

A mothers influence never loses value

Transition-

II. Provision 49:15

Explain-

The second picture we get is that of a provider

The suckling child pictures one who needs someone to provide everything for them

And the end of the verse says that God will not forget them…

This doesn’t mean to not forget their existence but to not forget to provide for their every need.

Illustrate-

We could look in society and find parents who don’t care for their children as they should

But for the majority of parents…they will not forget the needs of their children

They won’t forget that the diaper needs to be changed

They won’t forget to feed their children

They won’t forget to bath the

Like the teacher who 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.”

Bridge-

And as I have watched my wife as a mother and the pressure and the stress and the sleeplessness of having young children and to not forget any of those things was impressive.

Apply-

What is more impressive is all that God does and provides for us

The sheer number of things that he provides for us every day that we know about and then there are the things he provides we don’t even know about.

I feel as though I need to thank my mom for all the sacrifices she made that I never knew about

The times I ate extra and she ate less

Or I got the toy or new clothes and she went with what she had

Why do mothers do this?

Because they love their children and want to provide the best for them

That is how God responds to His children…like the hungry mother who dishes the last of the food to her child to keep them happy and healthy.

Transition-

III. Comfort 63:13

Explain-

As a mother comforts

Again, in our society we can find parents who neglect their children physically and emotionally

But this is the picture of a mother who consoles her children

She grieves with them

Often in the prophets the word repent is much like the word merciful

It is used in the sense of changing of the mind about a punishment

This reminds me of a job description I came across for mothers...

Illustrate-

Position: Mother, Mom, Mama

Job description: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings, weekends, and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

Responsibilities: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toy's, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

Possibility for advancement and promotion: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

Previous experience: None required. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Wages and compensation: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

Benefits: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays, and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life.

Mom’s I want to encourage you at whatever checkpoint you are at

If it’s your first and you are a new parent

If you have a house full

Or if you have an empty nest

You are valuable

You are essential

You are a huge part of God’s plan for your children

Go to His word

Pray

He will guide you

He will direct your steps

As his child he will be with you and provide and protect you with the same tenacity you would for your children

Closing Hymn-

147- Amazing Grace