When Mom’s Walk by Faith

When Mom’s Walk by Faith

Hebrews 11:11-12; 23; 31    

 

Illus. Learning to walk.

 

Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

Faith is a willingness to trust in, rely on, and cling to God. It is the conviction of things not seen. If you have the substance before you, or you can already see the outcome, there is no use for faith. The translation of “the conviction of things not seen,” can actually be read, the “conviction of things not yet seen.”

 

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

 

When it comes to our faith personally, there is no doubt that putting our faith and trust in Jesus for our steps forward require great faith. Faith requires us to look beyond what is seen and take to trusting the Lord daily…Though faith itself is displayed when we put our trust in God beyond what is seen, there is no doubt that our faith is strengthened and built up when we see the people of faith walk by faith!

The title of the message this morning, this Mother’s Day morning is “When Moms Walk by Faith.” We will turn to Hebrews chapter 11, which is a chapter in the Bible that highlights many “heroes of faith” from Scripture. In this chapter, there are three moms referenced, three moms highlighted for the way they walked out their faith. From their stories, I want to offer three observations drawn from these moms and their walk by faith, that help not only moms, but all of us as we do the same.

 

1. They Depend on God for “Expiration Dates”

 

Hebrews 11:11-12, By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

 

• The key to understanding Sarah’s struggle is that for much of her life, she was barren. It looked as if she would have no children.

 

• When we are introduced to her in Genesis 11:30, we are given the details of the struggle, she was unable to conceive.

 

• Her husband was Abraham, and Abraham was given some specific instructions from the Lord that would put even greater pressure on her struggle…

 

Genesis 12:1-2, the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing…

 

• If you or I were told today that we were going to become a great nation, we might think we were being called to run for office, but in ancient Near East, becoming “a great nation” meant having MANY children, wealth, and influence.

 

• The promise presented some problems, however, because Abraham was already 75 years old and was childless. Additionally, Sarah, or Sarai at the time, was unable to have children. 

 

• With that promise in place, they moved forward, yet it would be many years before that promise was fulfilled.

 

• Sarah would struggle with not being able to have children, yet the Lord continued to tell Abraham that a nation would come from him, he would have a son from is own body. He told Abraham look at the stars, can you count them? Your descendants will be like that, too many for you to count! (Genesis 15:5-6)

 

• The promise was there, but there was no proof and in Genesis 16, we learn that Sarah began doubting.

 

• Sarah began thinking that there was no way the promise could be fulfilled through her and faltered in her faith.  

 

• She told Abraham to take her maid and have a child with her..And Abraham does. (Genesis 16).

 

• And the struggle only becomes greater. Hagar has a son named Ishmael, born to Abraham when he was 86 years old.

 

• But when Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord came to him again.

 

Genesis 17:15-19, Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, you shall not call her by the name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man a hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth to a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

 

• Though hearing this from the Lord, Abraham did not tell Sarah, I would imagine it was a sore subject. In chapter 18, however, Sarah hears the news.

 

• The word of the Lord came to them in verse 10, “at this time next year, your wife Sarah will have a son.”

 

Genesis 18:11-15, Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, am I to have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

 

• In Genesis chapter 21, we see that the Lord did as He had said and promised. Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time that He has spoken of.

 

Genesis 21:6-7, Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son in his old age.”

 

• We hear it, and we laugh today, she was 91 and Abraham 100, God kept His promise, she had a child.

 

Genesis 18:13-15, But the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it, however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

 

• Though she laughed, from Hebrews we know that she believed God to be faithful, and it was through her faith, she received that ability.

 

• She tried to take matters into her own hands and make it happen another way, in disbelief became upset, bitter, burdened, unable to see her desire could ever come to pass, but what she learned was that there is no expiration date on what God promises to do.

 

• Many mom’s display this type of faith, often personally, and most often toward their family.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 

Illus. Powerful Belief.

 

1. Their Dedication Impacts Generations

 

• The mom I want to circle in this section is the mother of Moses.

 

• We know the name of Moses’ mother from Numbers 26:29, her name was Jochebed.

 

•  The decision she made is mentioned in Hebrews 11.

 

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.

 

• Moses was born in a time of great difficulty in the nation of Israel.

 

• There had been an order given by the Pharaoh (the king) in Egypt that every male child born to an Israelite was to be thrown into the Nile River. Daughters could be kept, but not sons.

 

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.

 

Illus. The most precious thing you’ve ever seen!

 

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

 

Exodus 2:3-4, 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 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 in knowing the story of Noah’s faith, she understood a thing or two about the Lord making a way by using an ark.

 

• 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.

 

• She put the basket in the water, among the reeds by the bank of the water. She put her child in the Nile, where she had to, but in placing him there, she gave him the best chance at survival, finding a way to make a way for her son.

 

• Jochebed held on as long as she could, prepared him and what would support him the best she could, then she sent Moses down the Nile river.

 

Illus. The best.

 

• From verse 4, we know that Moses’ sister, Miriam followed at a distance, watching the entire scene. Whether it was on her own accord, or at the instruction of her mom to follow the basket and intervene, she would play a significant role in what was going to happen next.

 

• The daughter of Pharaoh would see Moses floating in the river and would have compassion on him. His sister would be right there suggesting she find someone to nurse him and Jochebed would be hired by the daughter of Pharaoh for the next three years, or there abouts, to nurse Moses.

 

• Ultimately, she would then release him into the hands of the Lord and the hands of Pharaoh’s daughter. But her dedication would have an impact on not only Moses, but on the generations to come.

 

• 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 lead the Israelites out of the Egyptian oppression.

 

• Being adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses was in the royal family. Moses was put in a position of being the likely heir to the throne of Egypt.

 

• He was raised with the best education, and anywhere he went he was royalty.

 

• He had the best education, living situation, and equipping that could be afforded to anyone in his day.

 

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’ mother had an incredible influence on him, he knew the heritage of his mother. His heritage would not be lost on him.

 

• 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 in their time on earth, it was their faith that made a way. They played an integral and essential role in his birth, and who he would become.

 

Illus. Dedication and Translation.

 

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

 

• Train in the way they should go. There are both objective realities to this, as well as subjective.

 

• Objectively, the way they should go is toward “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” that is Jesus…He is the Way they should certainly be trained up in. The subjective part is discerning, praying for insight from the Lord, and then agreeing with the Lord for what is best.

 

• Though the time Moses’ mother had with him was short, Hebrews 11:23 indicated that she was a woman of faith and the way she approached her short time with her son was by faith. She was not afraid of what was happening with the king, because her faith was in the Lord.

 

• Their Struggle is Not the End of Their Story

 

• The final mom who walked by faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, is a mother by the name of Rahab.

 

• She, life the others, had a struggle, but it seems her struggle came about through a combination of her circumstances, and her choices.

 

Hebrews 11:31, By faith the prostitute Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

 

• It is in Joshua chapter 2 that we read about Rahab. The Israelites were getting ready to cross the Jordan river and into the promised land, and Joshua sent two spies to spy out the land, particularly Jericho.

 

• The king of Jericho found out that there were spies in the land, so he began a search for them.

 

• The men went to the home Rahab, and what we know from Joshua 2, is that she hid them.

 

• The king’s men came to her house looking for the spies but she had hidden them.

 

• After covering for them, she revealed to the spies that she knew that the Lord was with them. That she, and all of Jericho had heard about them. They had been concerned about them for some time.

 

• In verses 12 to 14, she asks the men to spare her household when they conquer the land, and that is exactly what happened when they conquered Jericho, Rahab was spared.

 

• Why? She had faith and believed, even though she had was troubling history. She had a struggle.

 

• Rahab, up to that point, was a prostitute.

 

• Rahab had a struggle, but she responded to the Lord in faith and she was saved, and once she was saved, we get glimpses of how her faith changed her story.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

• In Matthew chapter 1, we read Jesus’ genealogy…

 

Matthew 1:1-6, The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram. Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse. Jesse fathered David the king…

 

• Rahab listed in Jesus’ genealogy. Though her life was defined by sin, she would choose faith and be listed in the in line that Jesus would came through.

 

• Rahab is also noted as the wife of Salmon who fathered Boaz by her. Boaz came through the line of Salmon and Rahab.

 

• Boaz is noted as a wealthy man from Bethlehem, and he is one of the main characters in the book of Ruth. Everything we see about him in Scripture is good. He shows himself to be kind, generous, and honorable. Boaz is noted as Ruth’s redeemer husband in the book of Ruth.

 

• Ruth had lost her husband and she ends up working in a field that belonged to Boaz (Ruth 2:3). He had heard of Ruth’s care for her mother-in-law Naomi, and he assured her that she would be provided for in his field.

 

• Ultimately, he would marry Ruth. I mention this story, because Rahab had a backstory, but here we see strong indication that she was an excellent mother. 

 

Illus. Shaping.

 

Romans 15:4, For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 

Illus. As You Walk…

 

Hebrews 11:11-12; 23; 31   

11By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.