Giving a sermon on Mother’s Day would be hard. You want to thank mother’s for what they’ve done in caring for their families. But there is so much more to consider. The mother’s that are no longer with us and the loss that may be felt due to them passing. Of course we want to remember the way they made us feel. Hopefully, that’s good. I know that there are people that haven’t had mother’s that were strong in their faith. Families are a mess sometimes.
That being said, there are many women who never had children. Maybe they chose not to have children or they tried and weren’t able to conceive. But there are women who don’t have children of their own and every child they come in contact with that feel the love poured out on them. Maybe an aunt, a neighbor, a family friend. I know that I’ve had several women in my life that were great role models and taught me much, besides my own mom.
But this sermon was about the mother of Moses. She’s probably not been a woman that gets preached about a whole lot, so I learned things that I never realized about her.
In 1500 BC, the world was a cruel place. Life was hard for an Israelite in Egypt. The Pharaoh had put an edict in place requiring the midwives to put to death all boys that were born, but to let the girls live. The midwives, however, feared God. So they told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women often gave birth before they got there. God showed favor to the midwives.
1Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Exodus 2:1-4
The Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing in the river and she saw the basket and sent her slave girl to get it. She took the baby to raise as her own. Moses’ sister offered to get one of the Hebrew women to nurse him. So, she got her mother to nurse the baby. She even paid her to nurse the baby.
When Moses was older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter to raise as her own.
It was with great love and courage that Jochebed, Moses’ mother (Exodus 6:20), ignored the edict given by the Pharaoh and saved her son in a way that put him in the hands of Pharaoh’s daughter.
Jochebed didn’t know that Moses would become a great leader who emancipated his people from Egypt. But God has a way of seeing His plan to fruition.
In these verses we find 3 important qualities that mothers exhibit.
1. Mom’s love courageously and recklessly.
Mom’s make a way. Moses’ own mother defied the king’s edict and his daughter did as well by raising him.
2. Mom’s love influentially.
Baby Moses grew up to be a great leader of the faith. Where would Christianity be without him? Where would have been without the influence of his “moms”? I’m sure God would have made a way, but this seems to have been plan A.
God works in ways that we may not even realize. Ways that today may seem insignificant. But, we influence everyone that sees the way we live our lives.
It’s hard to see as a mom that what you do makes a difference. Influence does make a difference!
3. Mom’s love faithfully, relentlessly.
Where does one get the courage to hand over their child? Perhaps faith in God, who is in control of all things. Faith that he’ll work all things out for the good of those who love him.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. It’s required as a mother. You speak into children their potential.
Our pastor had a few observations along the way.
1. The midwives, Shiprock and Puah feared God and let the boy babies live. (Exodus 1:14-17)
Even though they were not “mothers” to the babies they took compassion on them because of their fear of God. (And we know “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Pro. 1:7)
2. Moses spent 3 months with his own family then Pharaoh’s daughter took her as his own. (Acts 7:20)
Not all who give birth are mom’s and not all mom’s give birth.
We live in a time when gender and gender roles are a hot topic.
Pastor says he will never be a mom, it’s hard enough being a decent dad!
Patriarchy is not necessarily a good thing. We need to celebrate womanhood.
Moses’ mother was also his great aunt. Wrap your head around that one. Perhaps the reason his parent’s names weren’t given earlier. This was before the laws were given to Moses. (Exodus 6:20)
None of us have a perfect family tree. There are secrets, skeletons in every family. But, look at the people God has used to further his kingdom. They are not perfect people. None of us are.
3. Our past doesn’t equal our future.
Nothing can stop God’s plans for you.
He doesn’t care where you’ve been, it’s where you’re going that matters.
God is the writer if we put ourselves in His hands.
What has been done to you in His hands?
My personal reflection: I am a mother and I love my children very much. Being a parent isn’t always easy. Trust God to help you through it. I trust God to write my story…it’s not what I would have expected at the age of 64, it’s so much more! I am thankful for the people God has put in my path that have prepared me and many who are still influencing who I am.
I hope your Mother’s Day was a good one!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 