Making the Most of Mom-fluence

Making the Most of Mom-Fluence

Exodus 2:1-10

Intro: Mothers!

 

This morning we are going to look at the story of a mother in the Bible named Jochebed. She was the mother of three children named Miriam, Aaron, and Moses (Numbers 26:59). As we turn to Exodus chapter 2, the text centers around the birth story of Moses, who was born during a time of great difficulty and affliction toward the Israelites. From these verses, which center on Jochebed, we will learn of the way she influenced her family and walk by faith in order to make a way for Moses, when there seemed to be no way.

Jochebed trusted the Lord, chose faith over fear, and entrusted her child into God’s hands in a situation and circumstances that would have been hard to comprehend. That said, my prayer for mom’s this morning, as we make much on honoring you, is that Jochebed’s story would help you make the most of your mom-fluence with the family the Lord has given to you.

 

Read: Exodus 2:1-10

 

As the chapter begins we are introduced to a couple we learn later in the book of Exodus are named Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20). This couple had two children already, however, the circumstances surrounding the birth of the third child, Moses, are different than the previous two. Specifically, he was born in Egypt when Pharaoh the king had made an order that if a male child was born to a Hebrew family, that child was to be thrown in the Nile River where they would drown. We will look into why this order was made, but also the decision Jochebed made to allow the insights God had shown her regarding her son, to determine the direction she would go in.

 

1. Let God’s Insights Bring Direction to Your Life

 

• The text in Exodus chapter 2 is a bit challenging to understand fully without knowing the backstory.

 

Exodus 1:6-8, Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

 

• We learn of Joseph in the end of the book of Genesis. Joseph was the great leader who helped save Egypt from extreme famine by interpreting the dream of a previous Pharaoh (Genesis 41).

 

• Joseph was then lifted to second in command in all the land of Egypt due to his wisdom, but when he passed away, the status of and favor for the Israelites had also passed.

 

• Though he passed away, the Israelites remained fruitful and were multiplying massively!

 

• The new Pharaoh became afraid that the Israelites would be stronger than the Egyptians and that they might overtake them.

 

• Due to this worry, he appointed the Israelites to hard and intense labor, they oppressed, were violent toward, and afflicted those in Israel, but in Exodus 1:11, we learn that the more they oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied.

 

They kept having kids!!

 

• Since increased oppression and labor didn’t slow them down from having children, the king called the Hebrew midwives in and told them that when they were helping the Israelite women give birth, they were to put to death any male boys that were born.

 

• But in verses 17 to 19 of Exodus 1, we are told that the midwives chose God over the command of Pharaoh because they were being asked to put the male children to death and knew that the kings order was in conflict with the will of the Lord.

 

Exodus 1:17-19, So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.”

 

• The Israelites continued to multiply and became even stronger (Exodus 1:21).

 

• Finally, the king issued the command to the people directly, letting them know that they can keep their children if they are female, however, the male Hebrew children were to be thrown into the Nile to be drowned.

 

• And this is the timeframe when Moses was born. To have a son, would have historically been a great joy, but at this time, to have a male child would have struck terror in the lives of the child’s parents.

 

Exodus 2:2, And the woman conceived and gave birth to a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.

 

• Despite the time in which Moses was born, his mother had him, and upon looking at him, she saw that he was beautiful and was not afraid.

 

• Like most mothers, Jochebed thought her son was beautiful. The scripture reveals more than just beauty on the physical level.

 

• The indication is that his mother looked upon him with an understanding of God’s calling and will for her child.

 

• The word “beautiful” here is also “favorable, good, prosperous, or valuable.”

 

• When she saw him, she was given insight into what to do in his life. She understood what the God has given her, and the Lord brought insight to her regarding His will for Moses’ life.

 

• Jochebed would then allow that insight to bring direction to her own life.

 

Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he grows older he will not abandon it.

 

2 Corinthians 2:9-10, As it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

 

Jeremiah 33:3, Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

 

• If a vision from the Lord is something you don’t have, you can ask the Lord for it, and I believe he will give it to you. When He does, let those insights bring direction to your life as well as your child’s. Remember, you are the great influencer in their lives.

 

Illus. Asking, Receiving, Encouraging, Walking.

 

Illus. Insights from God!

 

1. Keep Faith as the Why to Your Ways

 

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

 

• By choosing to walk by faith after being given insight, Moses’ parents put at risk, the very lives of the rest of their family, but they were willing to make the sacrifice because they understood that the Lord had a future and a hope for their child’s life.

 

• They were willing to put their lives, and their family on the line for the steps of faith they knew God had defined.

 

• It is one thing to see with the eyes of faith, to know something, and it is another to go according to that something.

 

Exodus 2:3-4, But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and covered it with tar and pitch. Then she put the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. And his sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.

 

• After three months Jochebed could no longer hide her growing infant, so she got him a wicker basket and covered it with tar and pitch. She then set her 3-month-old son in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile.

 

• In a literal sense, Jochebed did as Pharaoh said, placing her son in the Nile river, however, she took care to put him in a waterproofed basket.

 

• The word for basket is the Hebrew word translated “ark.” This particular Hebrew word (Ta-va) is used only one other place in all of scripture. It is used to reference the ark of Noah.

 

• Like Noah, Jochebed made an ark and covered it with pitch ( 6:14).

 

• Perhaps knowing the story of Noah’s faith, she understood a thing or two about the Lord making a way by using an ark.

 

Proverbs 2:7-8, He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones.

 

• She put her child in a waterproofed ark and entrusted the child’s welfare and future to God alone. Not knowing the outcome, took steps of faith in what was not yet seen.

 

• From verse 4, we know that Moses’ sister, Miriam followed at a distance, watching the entire scene.

 

Exodus 2:5-6, Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her female attendants walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave woman, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 

 

• As Moses floated in a basket in the Nile, Pharaoh’s daughter was headed to bathe in the Nile and she saw the basket, immediately sending her maid to retrieve the basket. Seeing the boy, she had pity, or compassion on him.

 

• Her disposition through her culture and upbringing would have caused her to reject a Hebrew child, but she had compassion, her heart was melted, and she decided to spare Moses’ life.

 

• Her compassion would lead her to adopt Moses as her very own. One issue, however, how would this child be fed and nursed?

 

Exodus 2:7-9, Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a woman for you who is nursing from the Hebrew women, so that she may nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So, the girl went and called the child’s mother. Then 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.

 

• Miriam watched closely and came near, offering to go and find a Hebrew who could nurse the child.

 

• From there, Miriam goes to get Jochebed and Jochebed ends up being paid to take her child away and nurse him.

 

• How could any of this arrangement be possible? Faith.

 

• Jochebed set faith as the why to her ways.

 

Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

 

• The faith we have in God is our belief, trust, and devotion to God.

 

• Biblical faith means more than just believing something, it means acting on the basis of our believing.

 

• When Moses’ mother let go of the tiny ark, she released something precious into God’s hands, trusting that God would take care, guide that box.

 

• She did her very best and had no other choice than letting God do the rest.

 

Illus. This way.

 

2 Corinthians 5:7, We walk by faith, not by sight.

 

• According to the writer of Hebrews, Moses’ parents were walking by faith, and because their faith was in God, they were not afraid of the king’s edict. They trusted that God would take care of them.

 

Illus. Impact on Faith.

 

III.   Do Your Part Today, Trust God with Tomorrow

 

Exodus 2:9(b)-10, So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

 

• Jochebed did the best she could do. She gave him a chance by preparing a small ark for him. God made a way for her to nurse him until he grew.

 

• The typical age a child would be nursed until is somewhere between 3 and 5 years in that day.

 

• Once Moses was too old to be nursed, Jochebed again had to let go of her child, and entrusted him into the Lord’s hands.

 

• On the surface, she was sending her son to the household responsible for her oppression that day, but the Lord had a plan for tomorrow.

 

• Moses was born and nursed by a Hebrew and educated by Egyptians.

 

• He was initiated in two worlds. Uniquely situated for what the Lord would have him become. He would be the leader who would one day lead the Israelites out of Egyptian oppression.

 

• Being adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses was in the royal family. Some suggest that Moses could have even been the heir to the throne in Egypt at one point.

 

• As he grew, anywhere he went he was royalty.

 

• He had the best education, standard of living, and equipping that could be afforded to anyone in all the land.

 

Acts 7:22, Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in speaking and action.

 

• Despite it all, Moses’ did not forget where he came from, he knew the heritage of his mother. His heritage would not be lost on him.

Acts 7:23, When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.

 

• And God would use him, his equipping, education, and skill to be the one to lead God’s people and point them toward His revealed will.

 

Hebrews 11:24-26, By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

 

• Moses wasn’t interested in being the “Prince of Egypt.” When he was 40 years old, he began to understand his purpose. Ultimately, it wasn’t until he was 80 that he went to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

 

• At 80 years old, we aren’t told if his mother or father ever knew of his decision. We aren’t told if they got to see him pursue all the Lord had called him to.

 

• God saved Moses for something, to be the one who would help deliver a nation out of slavery.

 

• He received the 10 commandments, is credited as the one who wrote most of the first five books of the Bible.

 

• God had a reason for Moses’ education beyond just the days in which he lived.

 

• While his parents may never have seen the ultimate outcome of his life in their time on earth, it was their faith that made a way.

 

• His parents did their part, the best they could do. They allowed God’s insights to bring direction in their life, kept faith as the why to their ways, and when it was time to let Moses go, they could know they had done their part in those days, and could trust God with tomorrow.

 

• They had insight to understand that God had plans, to prosper, for a hope and future, they understood that their own understanding was limited, and they did their best by leaning on the Lord and leaving what they could not do in His hands.

 

• The circumstances surrounding the surrender of their son were not great, but they were determined to look to the Lord, trusting Him in their lives.

 

• They were willing to let go, and trust God with tomorrow, and in so doing, they played a powerful role in preparing a path for one of the most powerful people in all of Scripture.

 

Illus. Today, Tomorrow.

Isaiah 41:13, For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’

Abraham Lincoln: “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

 

DL Moody, “The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long. Perhaps when you are dead and gone their prayer will be answered.”

 

Illus. Powerful Prayers.

 

Exodus 2:1-10