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A GODLY MOTHER
LIKE NO OTHER
Exodus
2: 1-10
Pastor
Steve N. Wagers
Mother’s Day 2004
Sermon
Outline
1.
The Confidence in God’s Provision of Her Son!
A.
The Rejoicing in Her Home!
B.
The Recognition of Her Heart!
2.
The Commitment to God’s Protection for Her Son!
A. A
Willingness to Turn to God!
B. A
Willingness to Trust in God!
3.
The Comfort of God’s Providence over Her Son!
A.
The Hand of God is Seen in the Boy’s Discovery!
B.
The Heart of God is Shown in the Mother’s Recovery!
1.
A young preacher was preparing to
preach his very first sermon. Knowing that it was his first sermon,
he wanted it to hit a home run, and wanted to have a smashing
introduction to set it off. He went to an older pastor, and asked
him if he had a great introduction guaranteed to grab everyone’s
attention.
2.
The pastor did, and said, “Son, I have an illustration that works
every single time. I have used it for years, and it is guaranteed
to work. When you get into the pulpit, make this statement, ‘Some
of the greatest days of my life I spent in the arms of another man’s
wife.’ Then, wait a moment, and say, ‘My mother!’” He went on to
say, “Remember, don’t forget to pause for a moment, and whatever you
do, don’t forget to say, ‘My mother!’”
3.
Finally, the Sunday came that the young man was to preach. He
walked into the pulpit with two problems; one, he was scared to
death; and, two, he had forgot to tell his wife what he was going to
open his sermon with. So, the young preacher cleared his throat,
confident of his smashing introduction and said, “Some of the
greatest days of my life I spent in the arms of another man’s
wife.” He waited for a moment; but, about that time, his wife, who
was a hot-tempered lady, got up out of her seat and headed toward
the pulpit.
4.
He said it again, “Some of the greatest days of my life I spent in
the arms of another man’s wife.” He waited, again, for a moment;
but, by this time, his wife was walking up onto the platform. He
said it again, “Some of the greatest days of my life I spent in the
arms of another man’s wife.” He paused and said, “And, for the life
of me, I can’t remember who that woman was!”
5.
I trust that on Mother’s Day, or any day, you have no problem
remembering and recognizing your mother. Abraham Lincoln once said:
“Behind every great man, is a great mother!”
6.
The once powerful leader of France, Napoleon said:
“Let
France have great mothers, and France will have great sons!”
7.
Rudyard Kipling expressed it beautfully:
“If I
were hanged on the highest hill,
I know
whose love would follow me still:
Mother, o mine; Mother, o mine!”
8.
The great evangelist, D. L. Moody said:
“All
that I have ever accomplished, I owe to my godly mother!”
9.
Let’s look at the biography of a godly mother from Exodus 2. Her
name is Jochebed, and she is the mother of Moses. Her name is not
specifically mentioned in Exodus 2, which tells of Moses’ birth, but
in Exodus 6: 20 we’re told that:
“Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare
him Aaron and Moses…”
10.
The first Mother's Day observance
was a church service in
Philadelphia, in 1908 requested by Anna Jarvis to honor her deceased
mother. Jarvis, at an early age, had heard her mother express hope
that a day to commemorate all
mothers would be established. Her mother had also expressed the
sentiment that there were many days dedicated to men but none for
mothers. Two years after her mother's death, Jarvis and friends
began a letter-writing campaign to declare a national Mother's Day
observance to honor mothers. Finally, on May 9, 1914, President
Woodrow Wilson officially designated the second Sunday in May as
Mother's
Day.
1
11.
I recently came across a little article entitled, “You Know
You’re A Mother When…” It reads, “You know you’re a mother
when….”
·
You want to take out a contract on the kid who broke your child's
favorite toy and made him/her cry.
·
You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
·
You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
·
You child throws up, and you catch it.
·
Someone else's kid throws up at a party, and you keep eating.
·
You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance.
·
You can't bear the thought of your son's first girlfriend.
·
You hate the thought of his wife even more
·
You use your own saliva to clean your child's face
·
You hear your mother's voice coming out of your mouth when you say,
"Not in your good clothes!"
·
You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
·
You say at least once a day, “I'm not cut out for this job,” but you
know you wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
12.
Bob Greene, in the
Detroit Free Press,
cited a study by attorney Michael Minton on the monetary value of a
mother’s services in the home. First he listed the various functions
she performs: chauffeur, gardener, family counselor, maintenance
worker, cleaning woman, housekeeper, cook, errand runner,
bookkeeper/budget manager, interior decorator, caterer, dietitian,
secretary, public relations person, hostess. Using this impressive
list of household duties, Minton figured the dollar value of a
housewife’s work in today’s (2004) labor market. He came up with the
amount of $885.07 a week. That’s $46,023.64 a year!
2
I’m sure many of you mothers feel extremely underpaid.
13.
Without question, mothers have a powerful influence on our lives,
emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically; but, especially
spiritually. Mothers are the very crucible in which much of our
character is formed. Personally, I thank God quite often for the
influence of a godly mother on my life. I am convinced that I would
not what I am, who I am, or where I am WAS it not for the grace of
God, as well as a godly mother.
14.
With that in mind, let’s look at the godly mother named Jochebed. I
want us to examine her resume, and if you are a mother, I want you
to see how you would measure up to a godly who is like no other.
First, as we look at Jochebed, I want you to notice:
1.
The CONFIDENCE
in God’s PROVISION
of Her Son!
1.
As we read the first few verses of Exodus 2, we catch a glimpse into
the heart of this godly mother. It’s easy for us to see that she
was confident of the fact that God had provided her a wonderful
son. Her confidence is God’s provision is seen by:
A.
The
REJOICING
in Her
HOME!
1.
Notice verses 1-2.“And
there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter
of Levi. (2) And the woman conceived, and bare a son…”
2.
In a Jewish home, there was great rejoicing when a male child was
born. On the one hand, a man desired to have a son so that his NAME
and legacy might be carried on. On the other hand, a woman desired
to have a son to prove that her life was not barren, but fruitful.
3.
Thus, you can imagine, the rejoicing that filled the home of Amram
and Jochebed once God had provided them with a beautiful baby boy.
I can just see Amram passing out cigars to all the othe men. I can
see Jochebed flipping through the pages of Maternity magazine
showing all the clothes she had picked out for her son.
4.
Of course, any mother knows the unspeakable joy that comes when you
first hold that new born baby you have been carrying for those 9
grueling months. You are overwhelmed by the responsibility that has
been placed into your hands; but, you are overjoyed, as well, by the
rejoicing that will be brought to your home. There is nothing like
the joy, laughter and happiness that children bring to a home.
5.
I think of the little boy who
tugged on his mother’s sleeve in church, and asked, “What’s the lady
next to me singing?” His mother said, “She’s singing Alto!” The
little boy blurted out, “No wondered she sounds so funny. We’re
singing ‘Joy To The World!’”
6.
I think of a mother who said to her small son, “I don’t care if our
basement wall is cracking. Stop telling everyone that you come from
a broken home.” One mother asked of another, “Are you troubled by
your children telling lies?” The mother replied, “No so much as I
am by their telling the truth at inappropriate times!”
7.
When God provided Jochebed with this baby bor, there was, no doubt,
wonderful rejoicing in her home. However, not only was there the
rejoicing in her home, but:
B.
The
RECOGNITION
of Her
HEART!
1.
The birth of this boy to Jochebed was no ordinary birth. In fact,
this mother’s heart recognized that fact, and we read in 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.”
2.
Many have translated the word “goodly” to mean “handsome, or
beautiful.” However, the word “goodly” is used in the widest
sense of the word, and literally speaks of “favor, or prosperity.”
3.
In other words, when Jochebed looked at her newborn baby boy, she
knew that there was something altogether different about him. She
recognized in her heart that this was no ordinary son, but an
extraordinary son. In Hebrews 11: 23, we’re told that:
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his
parents, because they saw he was a proper child…”
4.
The word “proper” means, “exceedingly favored.” She
recognized that there was something different about the birth of
this son. I can’t help but think that Jochebed realized, and
recognized that the hand of God rested upon the life of her son.
5.
By the light of an oil lamp, a
mother of the last century wrote a letter to a son on his 43rd
birthday. She wrote: “Your father and I go to sleep this evening
deeply grateful that our hopes, our dreams, and our ambitions for
you have all been abundantly fulfilled. You have been more to us,
and have done more for our Lord than we even dared to pray for.”
Her son was Dr. E. Y. Mullins, president for many years of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
3
6.
A little third grade boy came home one day from school with note
that read, “Teaching your son is an impossible task. He will not
listen. He will not obey. He has no learning ability. I doubt he
will ever grow up to become anything.” The mother wrote back to the
teacher, “You do not understand my son. I will teach him at home
myself.” The mother’s son was Thomas Edison, and the rest, as they
say, is history.
7.
In the heart of every mother is a radiant hope for their children.
Their hope is that someday this precious life may be influential in
our society. Their hope is that someday this tiny baby may grow up
to significantly change a community, a class of people, or even a
future generation.
8.
A mother has the ability to look through the window of anticipation
and dream great dreams for her children. No doubt, every mother in
this room began to dream big dreams when you first held your
children. Perhaps you envisioned them as a lawyer, a policeman, a
fireman, a doctor, or a veterinarian. Whatever the case may be, you
knew that bigger, brighter and better days were ahead of them.
9.
When Jochebed looked down, for the first time, to her new bundle of
joy she recognized the fact that God had not only provided her a
son, but God had big plans for her son. Thus, she was confident in
God’s provision.
9.
Secondly, let me say a word about this godly mother, Jochebed, and:
2.
The COMMITMENT
to God’s PROTECTION
for Her Son!
1.
The resume of this godly mother, Jochebed, not only tells of her
confidence in God’s provision, but of her commitment to God’s
protection. These were dark days in the land of Egypt for the
people of God, the children of Israel.
2.
God had wonderfully provided Jochebed with a baby boy, which
produced rejoicing in her home, as well as a recognition of her
heart. However her rejoicing would be short-lived, because an order
had just been handed down by King Pharoah. Since the Israelites
were multiplying so quickly, he ordered that all of the new-born
male children be put to death to cut down on the population
explosion.
3.
Thus, Jochebed is now faced with a decision. Either she take her
new son and run, and undoubtedly face execution herself; or, she
could be willing to commit the matter to the protection of God’s
mighty hand. Let’s notice what she does. First, we see:
A.
Her Willingness to
TURN
to God!
1.
After Pharaoh’s order was announced, Jochebed hid her son for 3
months on her own. However, after those 3 months were up, we’re
told in verse 3:
“And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of
bulrushes…”
2.
The word “bulrushes” is a very interesting word. A ‘bulrush’
was a very common sight along the banks of the ancient rivers. It
was not uncommon to see a ‘bulrush’ grow to the height of 15
feet or more. They were papyrus reeds which were used for all sorts
of purposes, such as mats, baskets, ropes, sheets, sail cloth, and
even paper.
4
3.
However, the most interesting thing about this ‘bulrush’ is
that the word literally means, “willingness.” And, what a fitting
word it is to describe this godly mother’s willingness to turn her
son over to the protection of Almighty God.
4.
This matter of her son’s protection was completely out of her
hands. She had done all she could do for her son. For 3 months,
she had nursed him and nurtured him. For 3 months, she had caressed
him, and coddled him. For 3 months, she had pampered him, and
protected him. However, now, the matter of his protection was far
beyond her reach. She must turn him over to God.
5.
I mentioned earlier how grateful to God I am for a godly mother. My
mother is my spiritual hero. I don’t know of anyone who walks
closer to God than my mother. If she prayed for me to die tonight,
I would go tomorrow and order my casket. I was brought up in
church, and have known anything but church. However, as so many do,
when I got old enough to get out on my own, I made the most of it.
And, every time I would come home, my mother would not have to say a
word; but, simply by the look on her face, I knew that I had broken
her heart by the things I was doing, and the life I was living.
6.
There came a day, and I remember it well, when my mother looked to
me and said, “Son, I have turned you completely over to the Lord. I
have done all I can do for you. You’re a grown man. You know
what’s right, and you know what’s wrong. I have taken it out of my
hands, and put it into God’s hands!” I was soon to find out that I
would much rather be in her hands, than I would in God’s hands.
7.
Do you a son or daughter who is away from God? Have you done
everything in your power to bring them to God? If so, then like
Jochebed, there may come a time when you will have to willingly
place them in your own basket of ‘bulrushes’ and turn them over to
God.
8.
I not only see her willingness to turn to God, but:
B.
Her Willingness to
TRUST
in God!
1.
Get the picture. Jochebed has enjoyed the birth of her son for 3
wonderful months. A decree has been given by Pharoah that all of
the new born Israelite males would be killed. So, this godly
mother, knowing that the matter was now out of her hands, not only
turns to God, but she trusts in God for the protection of her son.
2.
In verse 3, we read that:
“…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.”
3.
It’s interesting that we’re told that she put him in an “ark
of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch.”
The word “pitch” could be better understood as “asphalt, or
tar.” It was often used as a covering. In fact, Noah spread
“pitch” on the inside, and outside of the ark.
4.
The most interesting thing about the word “pitch” is that it
is translated 70 times, in the Old Testament, as the word
“atonement.” It spoke of, and represented the ultimate covering for
man’s sin, the blood of Jesus Christ.
5.
Simply put, this godly mother, Jochebed, trusted God with the
protection of her son. The “pitch” was but a picture of her
undaunted, unchallenged and unwavered faith and trust in God. God
trusted Jochebed to give her a son; and, now Jochebed trusts God to
give Him back to Him. In Hebrews 11: 23 we read of her faith:
“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.”
6.
Human authority had said that the boy would die. But, Heavenly
authority said, “You turn him over to me, and trust Him with me, and
I’ll protect him!” Martin Luther said of faith:
“Faith
is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. It is so sure and
certain, that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”
5
7.
Amram and Jochebed trusted God with what they had, and we can trust
God with what we have as well. We can trust God with our mates. Do
you have an unsaved husband, or wife? Like Jochebed, you should
turn them over to God, and trust them with God.
8.
We can trust God with our son. We can trust God with our daughter.
We can trust God with any member of our family, that He will do for
them, with them, in them, and to them what only He can do. The
truth of the matter is that God can only use what we have trusted to
him.
9.
If we trust him with our finances, God can use them to
meet our needs. If we trust Him with our family, God
can provide for them, protect them, and make our homes a shining
example of His grace, love and mercy. If we trust Him with our
future, God can “order our steps,” and “lead us
in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.” But, it is
only when we trust God with what we have that He can take it, and
use it.
10.
The first faith that operated in the life of Moses was the faith of
his parents, Amram and Jochebed. They taught him by example. They
had turned to God and trusted in God, and he knew that he could do
the same. Jochebed was a godly mother who lived the life before her
son. It wasn’t a “do-as-I-say and not as-I-do” attitude that raised
this boy. It was a life of faith, of turning to God and trusting in
God, that formed and fashioned the life of Israel’s future leader.
11.
I think of four preachers who were
discussing the merits of various translations of the Bible. One
like the King James Version best because of its simple, beautiful
English. Another like the New American Standard Version best
because it is more literal, and comes nearer to the original
language. The third like Moffatt’s translation because of its
up-to-date vocabulary.
12.
The fourth preacher was silent. When asked to express his opinion,
he replied, “I like my mother’s translation the best. Mother
translated the Bible into everyday life, and it was the convincing
translation that I ever saw!”
13.
Mother, does your children see your life as a living translation of
the Scriptures? Does your children see that what you profess on
Sunday, and what you possess on Monday, is the same thing? Do they
see you turning to God, and trusting in God to lead them, guide them
and protect them? What a great example this godly mother, Jochebed
serves for all mothers!
14.
Finally, let me say a word about not only the confidence in God’s
provision of her son, and the commitment to God’s protection for her
son; but:
3.
The
COMFORT
of God’s
PROVIDENCE
over Her Son!
1.
G. Campbell Morgan refers to the Nile River as “the river of
Death!” Once Jochebed placed her son in the basket of bulrushes,
dropped him into the Nile River, and turned loose of the basket, the
life of her son was out of her hands. Yet, what would seem to be a
fearful time, turned out to be a peaceful time, because, we get the
idea that she was comforted by God’s providence over her son’s life.
2.
The events that unfolded once the boy is placed into the river is
nothing but an absolute miracle, and testimony to the sovereignty of
God. In fact, notice how:
A.
The
HAND
of God is
SEEN
in the Boy’s
DISCOVERY!
1.
Notice verses 5-6.
“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. (6) 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.”
2.
It just so happened that after Moses was lowered into the waters of
the Nile River that Pharaoh’s daughter came, to the waters, to take
a bath. She sees the ark, sends her maid to get it, and looks
inside to see a newborn Israelite boy.
3.
Pharoah had just declared that all the newborn males were to be
destroyed. If anyone was aware of this national law it was surely
Pharaoh’s own daughter. However, we do not see her with a heart
full of cruelty, we see her with a heart full of compassion. There
is no doubt that the hand of God had guarded the basket, guided the
basket and graced the basket carrying Israel’s future leader.
4.
Jerry Vines had given the greatest definition of the providence of
God I have ever heard. He said:
“The
providence of God is the hand of God in the glove of history!”
5.
I can look back over my life and see God’s hand leading, guiding and
directing through the good, the bad and the ugly. His hand has
protected me from danger, and has provided me with delight. In the
same way, His hand is seen in the discovery of baby Moses. Finally,
we see:
B.
The
HEART
of God is
SHOWN
in the Mother’s
RECOVERY!
1.
Once Jochebed places the ark carrying her newborn baby boy into the
waters, she takes the matter out of her hands, and puts it into
God’s hand. God steps into the picture, and not only do we see His
hand in the boys discovery, by Pharaoh’s daughter; but, we are shown
His heart in the mother’s recovery.
2.
During the entire time, Moses’ sister is standing by observing it
all. We read in verse 4:
“And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.”
3.
Once Pharaoh’s daughter finds the baby boy, Moses’ sister asks, in
verse 7:
“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?”
4.
Notice what takes place in verses 8-9.
“And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and
called the child's mother. (9) 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.”
5.
Do you see the hand of God in Moses’ discovery? Did you see the
heart of God in the mothers’ recovery? She had turned to God and
trusted in God for the protection of her son. As a result, God’s
heart is stirred, and He rewards this godly mothers’ faith by giving
her son back to her. Thus, in verse 10 we read:
“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.”
6.
She gave him to God, and God gave him back to her. She turned him
over to God, trusted him with God; and, God, in turn, trusted him
right back into the arms of a Jewish nurse, who happened to be his
very own mother. Could it be chance? Could it be luck? Could it
be good fortune? I think not. It was the providential hand, and
heart of God masterminding every step.
7.
Mother, will you turn your children over to God? Will you trust
your children with God? You say, “Preacher, I can’t do anything
with them!” Maybe not, but I remind you that God can; and, He will
if you will give them to Him. And, Proverbs 22: 6 declares that if
you will give them to God, He will, one day, give them back to you.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he
will not depart from it.”
8.
As a 17-year old boy,
W.
P.
Mackey
left
for college. His mother, who was a very godly woman, didn’t want
him to go for fear that he was heading down a path of destruction,
turned him over to God, and let him go. She gave him a Bible to
take with him, and in the fly-leaf of the Bible, she wrote his name,
her name and a Bible verse. The
boy
left
for
COLLEGE
and then on to medical school. He began to travel with the wrong
crowd. One day, in a drunken spree, he pawned the Bible his mother
had given him for money to buy more liquor.
9.
The young Scotsman went on to become a very successful doctor,
rising to the head of the largest hospital in Edinburgh. He became
a committed infidel, and was even elected president of a society of
atheists in the city. One day, an accident victim came into his
hospital. Learning that he only had a few hours to live, he asked
Dr. Mackey, “Will you please send for my land lady, and ask her to
send me the book?” He agreed, and within a few hours the landlady
arrived with “the book.” It was the dying patients’ Bible.
10.
Within a short time, the patient died, and Dr. Mackey asked the
nurse, “What about the book that he asked for?” Was it is his bank
book or date book?” The nurse replied, “No, it was neither of
those. It is still under his pillow. Go look.” The doctor reached
under the pillow and pulled out “the book.” When he opened it, his
eyes fell immediately upon the flyleaf. To his amazement, he saw
his name, his mother’s name and a Bible verse. It was the very
Bible he had received from her as he was leaving for college; and,
the very Bible he had pawned for money to buy more liquor.
11.
Overwhelmed by memories of his godly mother, he slipped the Bible
under his coat and rushed back to his private office. It was there,
in that office, that the DOCTOR, who had become a wicked infidel and
atheist, fell to his knees praying that God would have mercy on him,
and save him. W. P. Mackey, a world renowed doctor went on to
become a great preacher and songwriter. In fact, it was from his
pen we received the hymn:
“Hallelujah, Thine the glory.
Hallelujah, Amen.
Hallelujah, Thine the glory.
Revive us again!”
12.
That godly mother, like Jochebed, gave her son to God; and God,
eventually, gave His son back to her. We know where the life of
Moses went from here. He went on to become a prince in Pharaoh’s
court, a great statesmen, author of the first 5 books of the Bible,
the great lawgiver, and the commander-in-chief of the Israelite
people.
13.
However, Moses’ future was a result of his mother’s faith. His
greatest influence, example and teacher of the things of God was his
godly mother. I believe if Moses could say anything to you mothers
today, he would say that a godly mother ain’t like no other!
1. U.
S. Census Bureau.
2.
The
Detroit Free Press,
April 25, 2004, “Is There a Value to Motherhood?” Bob
Greene.
3. “Windows
of Motherhood,” Sermon by R. Earl Allen. pg. 61.
4.
Notes on Exodus, Guy King, pg. 10.
5.
IBID.
