Exodus 1:22-2:10; Hebrews 11:23
~18 min read
💭 Consider this: If you died today, how do you honestly think you will be remembered by your children? What “risky” actions do you need faith to perform at the moment?
TRANSCRIPT
Today is Mother's Day, and in view of this special occasion, I thought it would be good to share a message about a woman and her faith in God, and she was none other than the mother of Moses.
Our text is taken from Exodus 1:22 to 2:10. The title of our message is ‘The Faith of a Beloved Mother.’
But before we consider this passage, let me read for you Hebrews 11:23: “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.”
Allow me to give you the context or background. At this point in time, the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. The Pharaoh was afraid that the Hebrews would become a military threat and join forces with any potential enemies of Egypt, so he commanded the midwives to kill all the male babies born to the Hebrews.
But there were two midwives who feared God more than the Pharaoh, so they reported to the Pharaoh that the Hebrew women were quick and strong, and by the time they arrived, the babies were already born.
Some people believe that was a lie. While that may be true, there is also the possibility that they deliberately delayed in arriving at the place of delivery to give more time for the babies to be born. Well, the Bible is silent. But in any case, when the Pharaoh realised that the babies were already born, he openly declared that all the male babies had to be drowned in the sea.
Look at Exodus 1:22: “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” So this murderous plot was no longer a secret; it was a public declaration.
Notice there were two threats in the Pharaoh's command. One was explicit, which means every Hebrew male child had to be killed. And the other is implicit, which implies if anyone disobeyed the command, he or she would risk his or her own life. In other words, all Hebrew parents would have two choices. They could either kill their sons and save themselves, or they could try to save their sons and risk their own lives. There was no middle way.
Then the scene moved to a particular family from the tribe of Levi, where there was a certain woman, and she was the mother of Moses. Most people are familiar with the name Moses, but few would know the name of his mother.
According to Exodus 6:20, her name was Jochebed. Exodus 6:20 says, “And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.” So Amram was the father, and Jochebed was the mother of Moses.
I have not come across any girl named Jochebed. Although few people would remember this name, and she may be insignificant in the eyes of the people, but indeed, she was an amazing woman of great faith. Her faith in God was articulated in two aspects, and this is what we want to learn for today's message: firstly, her faith in making the right decision, and secondly, her faith in trusting God no matter what happened.
I. Her Faith In Making The Right Decision
Let us begin with Exodus 2:1: “And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.” This was a reference to Amram and his wife Jochebed.
Verse 2: “And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.” The mother of Moses, Jochebed, and of course including his father Amram, had to make a decision. And whatever decision they made, it was clear that that decision pleased the Almighty God, and it was recorded in the Holy Scriptures for our edification.
In life's journey, we often find ourselves at the crossroads whereby we are put to the test. We have to make decisions—to go or not to go, to do or not to do, to say or not to say. Some have made the right decisions. Others have failed. Sometimes the consequences could be very serious. That was exactly what Proverbs 14:12 says: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
In this world of sin and compromise, it is so difficult for us to make the right decision. Oftentimes, our decisions are based on our own humanistic ideas, intellectual reasonings, and emotional feelings. We can be very sincere but yet at the same time sincerely wrong.
There is only one way for us to make the right decision, and that is to use the Word of God as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path—to humble ourselves and believe in the Almighty God, who says: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
When Hebrews 11:23 says: “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,” the faith that was mentioned was the faith of his parents, because Moses was just born. He could not have exercised his faith. It was his parents’ faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. So by faith, Jochebed made that godly decision to save her son at the expense of risking her own life.
Can you imagine if Jochebed had decided like all the other Hebrew women to obey the king's commandment and drowned the male babies? Today, there would be no Moses. We would not read of the amazing stories of Moses, and certainly she would not be known as a woman of faith.
As parents, you and I may or may not be called to make a life and death decision for our children like Jochebed. But nonetheless, we still need to make certain decisions for our children, or help them to make the right decisions for their lives. But on what basis do we make decisions for them—based on faith, or based on the ideologies and philosophies of this world?
What good is it if our children are making lots of money, driving fanciful cars, living in good neighbourhoods, but their lives have nothing to do with faith? What does it matter even if they can gain the whole world, but then lose their own souls? Like Jochebed, we must exercise our faith in God, and He will direct us to make the right decisions—not only for ourselves, but for our children as well.
The most amazing part of this story is that when by faith Jochebed made the right decision to trust God, God gave Moses back to her.
Let me briefly read for you from Exodus 2:3–10. “And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.” - who was none other than Jochebed - “And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.”
So by God's providence, the Pharaoh's daughter found the baby, took pity on him, and adopted him into her family. More than that, the Lord used Moses' quick-thinking sister to arrange for Jochebed to nurse and care for her own son. This is not a fairy tale but a tremendous story of faith in the Almighty God. As great and noble as Jochebed’s love for her son was, let us not forget that there was this greater love and power of God who was controlling the situation.
Dear friend, let's say you were Jochebed, and you were given the opportunity to take care of your child on borrowed time, so to speak, because very soon the Pharaoh's daughter would want the child back—what would you teach your child with the little time you have with him? With the little time you have with the child, would you teach the child, “Son, work hard, aim to be rich, be successful, and always be number one”? Or would you rather teach your child about salvation and the eternal things of God?
The formative years of a child are the most crucial. It is the time whereby the child's character, personality, and belief are being shaped and instilled. That is why some parents regret that they had not brought up their children in the ways of the Lord while they were still young. And now that they are much older, it seems impossible to change them. Please do not give up, but continue to be a testimony and share with your children about God and His Word. For man is it impossible, for God all things are made possible.
Jochebed was given the opportunity to teach Moses, and I believe she would have taught him all the valuable lessons about faith in God. She would have taught him the wonderful lessons about the promises of God: though we may still be in Egypt, one day the children of Israel would inherit the promised land; Israel would become a great nation, and she would be a blessing to the other nations.
Jochebed would have helped to instil in Moses the faith in God that would later characterise his life. How do we know? Well, just look at the life of Moses. Only two verses down, when Moses had grown up, he killed an Egyptian who was smiting a Hebrew because he considered the Hebrew as one of his brethren. That was the reason why he was willing to obey God, who appeared to him in a burning bush, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt—and all the wonderful stories of Moses and the opening of the Red Sea, life in the wilderness, the manna that came from heaven, and the water from the rock, etc. Most certainly, the Pharaoh's daughter would not have taught him to do all that. So who did? Jochebed.
Dear friend, what can we learn from here? Let us remember that we do not have all the time with our children. Like Jochebed, we are just living on borrowed time. Perhaps soon our children may leave us, or we may leave our children. If God gives us another 10 years to nurture our children, how will we live this 10 years? How will we teach our children? Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." That was exactly what Jochebed did.
II. Her Faith In Trusting God
The second thing we can learn from Jochebed is her faith in trusting God no matter what happened. Most parents who love their children sacrificially, even risking their own lives—interestingly, if you notice, Jochebed's natural love for her son was not mentioned—it was her faith in the Almighty God that she was commended.
Jochebed must have loved her child as much as any mother who loved her child. But it was not the love and natural affection for her child that caused her not to be afraid of the king's commandment. No doubt that natural love would have moved her, but there was something more than that. She saw that the baby was a goodly child, which means a beautiful and pleasant child. There was something very special about the child. Every child is a blessing from the Lord.
One theologian said, ‘The beauty of the Lord set upon the child,’ and Jochebed saw how the one living and true God has given to her this goodly child, and she was willing to do all she could to protect the child.
It takes a lot of faith to protect a child against the king's commandment. Take a moment and consider the scenario: how do you hide a newborn baby? You may be able to hide the baby from the eyes of the enemies, but how do you hide him from their ears—that distinct cry that every newborn baby has? Every baby will cry, and each time the baby cries, the mother's heart will skip a beat. Will the soldiers hear him? Will the neighbours hear him? Will the people tell on him? It was not easy.
Those of us who are parents, we know that it is already difficult to take care of a newborn baby. But on top of that, if you have to take care of the baby secretly, I submit to you that it takes more than just strength, more than just endurance and perseverance. It takes a lot of faith to protect the child.
Again, let us not forget the intervention of God. If God did not intervene, Jochebed would not be able to protect the child for one day, how much less for three months. When Jochebed protected her baby, she was very aware of the dangers lurking around. She was very aware of the surrounding situations and circumstances. For three months she was able to hide the baby secretly.
Parents, we love our children. We want to protect them from the sins and evil that are so ever prevailing in this world. We must be aware of the dangers that our children are facing—whether it be in school, in the workplace, in the society, or amongst their friends and peers. We are living in these perilous last days. This world is filled with sin and immorality, and it is getting from bad to worse. The world will show no mercy to our children. If the world can consume our children, the world would consume our children like the waters in the river. Therefore, we must be alert, vigilant. We must not be ignorant. And ultimately, we must be faithful.
THE BOOK OF HEBREWSChrist, The Living WordChrist, The Living WordHebrews 1:1-2a
The Sevenfold Supremacy of ChristThe Sevenfold Supremacy of ChristHebrews 1:2b-3
The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 1)The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 1)Hebrews 1:4-6
What Child is This?What Child is This?Hebrews 1:4-6
The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 2)The Greatness of Jesus Christ (Part 2)Hebrews 1:7-14
The Danger of Drifting AwayThe Danger of Drifting AwayHebrews 2:1-4
What is Man, that Thou Art Mindful of Him?What is Man, that Thou Art Mindful of Him?Hebrews 2:5-9
The Captain of Our SalvationThe Captain of Our SalvationHebrews 2:10
Jesus, Our Sanctifier and ConquerorJesus, Our Sanctifier and ConquerorHebrews 2:11-15
Jesus, Our High PriestJesus, Our High PriestHebrews 2:16-18
Jesus is Greater than MosesJesus is Greater than MosesHebrews 3:1-6
Start and Finish WellStart and Finish WellHebrews 3:7-11
Harden Not Your HeartHarden Not Your HeartHebrews 3:12-19
Enter into God’s RestEnter into God’s RestHebrews 4:1-11
Encountering the Word of GodEncountering the Word of GodHebrews 4:12-13
Sola Scriptura: Scripture AloneSola Scriptura: Scripture AloneHebrews 4:12-13
Through The Priests Or To God Directly?Through The Priests Or To God Directly?Hebrews 4:14-16
Christ, Our Great High PriestChrist, Our Great High PriestHebrews 4:14-16
Jesus, the Superior Great High PriestJesus, the Superior Great High PriestHebrews 5:1-10
Dull of HearingDull of HearingHebrews 5:11-14
The Tragedy of Falling AwayThe Tragedy of Falling AwayHebrews 6:1-8
Things That Accompany SalvationThings That Accompany SalvationHebrews 6:9-12
Things That Accompany SalvationThings That Accompany SalvationHebrews 6:9-12
The Anchor of Our SoulThe Anchor of Our SoulHebrews 6:13-20
The Greatness of MelchisedecThe Greatness of MelchisedecHebrews 7:1-10
The Sufficiency of MelchisedecThe Sufficiency of MelchisedecHebrews 7:11-19
The Superiority of MelchisedecThe Superiority of MelchisedecHebrews 7:20-28
A More Excellent MinistryA More Excellent MinistryHebrews 8:1-6
The New CovenantThe New CovenantHebrews 8:7-13
The Tabernacle Fulfilled in ChristThe Tabernacle Fulfilled in ChristHebrews 9:1-7
The Time of ReformationThe Time of ReformationHebrews 9:8-14
The Reasons Why Jesus Had to DieThe Reasons Why Jesus Had to DieHebrews 9:15-26
An Appointment None Can EscapeAn Appointment None Can EscapeHebrews 9:27-28
The Perfect SacrificeThe Perfect SacrificeHebrews 10:1-18
We Preach Christ CrucifiedWe Preach Christ CrucifiedHebrews 10:1-18
Introductory MessageIntroductory MessageHebrews 10:19-25
What Shall We Do?What Shall We Do?Hebrews 10:19-25
A Living FaithA Living FaithHebrews 10:24-25
It is a Fearful Thing to Fall into the Hands of the Living GodIt is a Fearful Thing to Fall into the Hands of the Living GodHebrews 10:26-31
A Call to PerseveranceA Call to PerseveranceHebrews 10:32-39
Message 1: The Nature of FaithMessage 1: The Nature of FaithEphesians 2:8, Hebrews 11:1
Message 1: What is Faith?Message 1: What is Faith?Hebrews 11:1, Jude 3
The Faith of AbelThe Faith of AbelHebrews 11:4
The Faith of EnochThe Faith of EnochHebrews 11:5-6
The Faith of NoahThe Faith of NoahHebrews 11:7
The Faith of AbrahamThe Faith of AbrahamHebrews 11:8-16
The Faith of the PatriarchsThe Faith of the PatriarchsHebrews 11:17-22
The Faith Of A Beloved MotherThe Faith Of A Beloved MotherExodus 1:22-2:10; Hebrews 11:23
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedHebrews 11:23
The Faith of MosesThe Faith of MosesHebrews 11:24-29
The Faith of Joshua and the PeopleThe Faith of Joshua and the PeopleHebrews 11:30
How Have You Been Running The Race?How Have You Been Running The Race?Hebrews 12:1-2
How to Run the Race FaithfullyHow to Run the Race FaithfullyHebrews 12:1-2
Let Us Run The RaceLet Us Run The RaceHebrews 12:1-3
The Christian RaceThe Christian RaceHebrews 12:1-3
Despise Not Divine ChastisementDespise Not Divine ChastisementHebrews 12:4-11
Guard Against Stumbling and FallingGuard Against Stumbling and FallingHebrews 12:12-17
Follow Peace and HolinessFollow Peace and HolinessHebrews 12:14
From Untouchable to ApproachableFrom Untouchable to ApproachableHebrews 12:18-29
True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 1)True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 1)Hebrews 13:1-3
True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 2)True Faith Leads to True Living (Part 2)Hebrews 13:4-6
Remember Our LeadersRemember Our LeadersHebrews 13:7, 17
Jesus is The SameJesus is The SameHebrews 13:8
Do Not Be Carried About by Divers Strange DoctrineDo Not Be Carried About by Divers Strange DoctrineHebrews 13:9
Are You Willing to Stand with Christ?Are You Willing to Stand with Christ?Hebrews 13:10-16
Pray for UsPray for UsHebrews 13:18-19
Blessed AssuranceBlessed AssuranceHebrews 13:20-21
