A Good Mother

A Good Mother Ex. 2:1-10

“The sweetest sounds to mortals given are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.” William Brown. What is a mother? Well I think we get a good view in this story. We are told in Ex. 6 that Moses’ parents were Amram & Jochebed, we are told in other places that he had some older siblings as well, a brother named Aaron, and a sister Miriam. When I think of Jochebed I think of Proverbs 31:13 where it lists a virtuous woman’s attributes. And also Titus 2:4-5 where the older women are taught what to teach to the younger women, they are to be; 1.)Discreet, 2.) Chaste 3.)Keepers at home, 4.) Good, 5.) Subject to husbands, So God will not be blasphemed. (Don’t spend a long time here but maybe give a little definition of each) I remember well when Angie & I first found out we were expecting a little one. Fear, worry, excitement, joy, happiness, anxiety, planning, preparation, over and over again. The rollercoaster ride of emotions was amazing. I have a feeling that Jochebed was going thru some of the same feelings only maybe with some added pressures. You see Jochebed was a Jew living under Egypts evil ruler and bondage. The decree had been given all boy babies were to be done away with. The mid-wives had been instructed and probably the Pharoah’s soilder’s reinforced. Jochebed had probably tried to hug away the tears of many a young mother who happened to have a boy. How they prayed night and day for a girl, not for selfish reasons like we might today, but for the baby’s protection and salvation. Finally the time came, the children were sent next door, the mid-wife was called in and Amram began pacing the floor. Oh, tensions must have been high, as the labor progressed time getting closer and closer, then there was the gasp as the little child was born, then the cry, the mother anxiously awaiting the word, when she heard, look at the cute little boy, in those few words all of Jochebed’s hopes and dreams of the future crashed to the floor. I am not sure how she got the mid-wife out of there but she did, and as soon as she did she immeadalty hid the child. Now this is not exactly how the story started, it started with a marriage, may I just say here that this is the way it is always supposed to start. We find that a good mother;

1. is Prudent & Careful of the husband and father to be of her children Verse 2:1 A. They were both Levites of the same tribe 1. It is important for a couple to be on the same page of music or you get discordant sounds. 2. It is important who you marry

2. Protects & Loves her children Verse 2:2-4 A. Hid him for three months 1. Have you ever tried to hid a child?

3. Prays & instructs her children Verse 2:5-6 A. Jochebed prayed for children ( Bible doesn’t say but Jew’s were praying people)

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln

Alfred Edersheim tells the story, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had 4 sons and they were all preachers. Someone once came into the drawing room when all the family was there. They thought they would see what Howard, one of the sons, was made of so they asked him this question: "Howard, who is the greatest preacher in your family?" Howard had a great admiration for his father and he looked straight across at him and then without a moments hesitation he answered, "Mother."

4. Provides for her children 2:7-10

Susannah Wesley's Rules For Raising Children: Had 19 children 9 died in infancy.

1. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul. 2. Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak. 3. Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. 4. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. 5. Commend and reward good behavior. 6. Strictly observe all promises you have make to your child.

Susannah Wesley.

A. Best education in her means B. Instills character traits and Biblical training. c. Daily needs

When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other said, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll did not explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain my mother’s life I will stand by my mother’s God.”

God give us some good mothers, whose life will be so great it will forever ruin the children for the world.