[0:00] Good morning. And happy Mother's Day to all the mothers here this morning as well.! Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
[0:16] ! And I'd like to extend a hearty welcome as well to visitors here this morning. So today we are celebrating Mother's Day, a day that has been set aside for mothers to honor them, to remember them. We're celebrating mother's motherhood and their contribution to the family unit and the impact that they have on all of our lives.
[0:56] Our mothers are our cooks. They are our cleaners or janitors. They do the laundry. They are trainers, teachers, nurses, doctors. They drive us around. They're our biggest fan. They are planners.
[1:20] Our mothers spend the majority of the time in raising up the family. And so their imprint on the family is huge. So I think we need to celebrate our mothers more than just one day a year. We have a specific day set aside for that.
[1:45] So this morning I want to look at the topic of faith a bit.
[2:00] And since it's Mother's Day, I want to share a bit in that regard as well. And so what does our text have to do with mothers? We hear about Moses. What does it have to do with mothers?
[2:26] But with the pivotal role that mothers have in our lives, I want to look at an example of a mother in the Bible and how her faith changed history.
[2:48] How many of us have heard of Jochebed? Okay. There's a couple hands going up. Jochebed is the mother of Moses.
[3:15] And so now there's a connection to our text, right? Jochebed is not mentioned very often in Scripture. She is mentioned twice by name.
[3:28] And maybe we can go to one of those passages right off. She is mentioned in Exodus 6, verse 20. But let's look at Numbers 26, verse 59.
[3:42] Numbers 26, verse 59. The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt.
[4:01] And to Amram, she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. So we have Moses' parents mentioned by name and his siblings as well, his older brother Aaron and older sister Miriam.
[4:20] So Jochebed. She is mentioned twice more in Scripture. We have in our text here, our text starts off with, you know, speaking about Moses' parents.
[4:34] So there will be a reference to his mother. And also in a passage in Exodus chapter 2.
[4:45] And so we will look at that this morning a bit as well. Before we dig into that, what is faith?
[5:01] How do we define faith? Does anyone have a definition for faith? Well, okay, go ahead.
[5:15] Okay. Okay. Mm-hmm.
[5:29] Let's look at, if we're in Hebrews chapter 11, let's look at verse 1. The Bible gives us a definition for faith. Hebrews 11, verse 1.
[5:45] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So faith is the substance or the realization of things that are hoped for, the evidence or confidence of things that we cannot see.
[6:08] And so, yes, trusting in God. We have not seen God. We have not seen God. The evidence is there. And we know there is a God and we trust Him.
[6:20] In verse 3 of chapter 11, we have an example of what faith looks like.
[6:31] By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
[6:41] As I mentioned, we can't see God, but creation is evidence that there must be a creator.
[6:53] And so it is by faith that we understand this. Faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith, the substance of things that are seen.
[7:31] That we could be reconciled back to God and have the hope of eternal life. By faith, we believe Jesus is again in heaven.
[7:48] That He is preparing an eternal home for all those who believe in Him. And someday, we will be together with Him there in glory forevermore.
[8:01] So faith is everything in the Christian life. Without faith, we are without hope. And so, in Moses' day, Christ hadn't come yet.
[8:19] Moses was born, according to timeline, Moses was born at about 1526 B.C. So, a good 1500 years before Christ.
[8:34] And yet, His name is mentioned along with others, other Old Testament characters in chapter 11 of Hebrews. He's listed in what we call the faith chapter.
[8:47] And so, they looked forward to the promised Messiah's coming. And so, equally though, a life lived by faith.
[8:58] And there's a number of examples throughout the chapter. So, when you have some time, go through and read that. Alright, so, looking at our text.
[9:11] In verse 23. By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents. Because they saw he was a beautiful child.
[9:22] And they were not afraid of the king's command. So, Moses' parents mentioned, you know, in saving Moses' life as a baby.
[9:36] And so, with that, let's go to Exodus. I want to look at the account of that in Exodus 2.
[9:57] I want to start in Exodus chapter 1. Just to bring out the context to kind of give us a visual as to what is going on.
[10:11] Why the events of chapter 2 happen. So, in Exodus 1, looking at 8 through 14. Now, there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph.
[10:26] And he said to his people, So, we see Israel is now, past the days of Joseph.
[11:28] And they have come into bondage in Egypt. And Pharaoh fears the multitude of the children of Israel. And he's concerned they might go up out of the land.
[11:42] And so, bringing them into bondage and trying to suppress them. Continuing on in verse 15 of chapter 1.
[11:54] Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, And he said, And he said, And so then dropping down to verse 22.
[12:28] So, Pharaoh commanded all his people, So, we see the law commanding that all sons that are born are to be killed.
[12:48] And so, that ushers in chapter 2. Moses is born to Amram and Jochebed during this time.
[13:01] So, going into Exodus chapter 2.
[13:13] So, the man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So, Amram and Jochebed. So, the woman conceived and bore a son.
[13:24] And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. So, that connection with Hebrews 11, 23. And so, many of the people, the Israelites, they must have been hoping and praying that if children were born to them in this time, that it would be daughters.
[13:49] And nevertheless, sons were born. And Moses was born. It says that he was beautiful. And so, his parents made the choice to try and to save his life.
[14:08] And it talks about Jochebed, the mother, saying that when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. So, she saw something in Moses.
[14:21] Did she maybe sense something special about Moses? Did God give her a special sense about this son? That she would try to save his life, to go against Pharaoh's law?
[14:35] No, they were. Israel was in bondage. They had been prophesied about 400 years of bondage. And that time period was coming to an end.
[14:48] So, did Jochebed sense something? It doesn't tell us, but it just says she saw that he was a beautiful child. And the choice was made to hide him, to try to save his life.
[15:06] So, what if they had been found out? How easy would it be to hide a baby for three months? Babies do some crying, right?
[15:18] How were they able to hide him for three months? What if they had been found out?
[15:30] It would probably have meant death for the whole family. So, serious consequences for what they were doing. And yet, they tried it anyway.
[15:42] Continuing on, verses 3 and 4. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank.
[15:57] And his sister stood afar off to know what would be done to him. So, they've hidden him for three months. But they realize we cannot keep it a secret forever.
[16:10] And so, they make a difficult choice. A choice to give up the son whose life they want to spare.
[16:23] They have to give him up. And they do it in a way they hope that someone will find him and somehow his life will continue to be spared.
[16:36] And so, Miriam, his sister, is nearby watching. Watching to see what will happen. And to bring word to her mother.
[16:52] Could Jochebed not bear to witness, to see what might happen to her baby boy? There is evidence of the faith of Jochebed in sparing Moses' life and in choosing to let him go the way that she did.
[17:16] She let him go. She put him into that basket and put him in the reeds in the river. She let him go and she trusted God for the outcome. Verses 5 and 6.
[17:31] Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked alongside the river. And when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it.
[17:43] And when she opened it, she saw the child. And behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
[17:53] So of all people, Pharaoh's daughter is the one who finds Moses. The daughter of the man who gave the command to kill all the baby boys.
[18:12] And it says that she had compassion on him. And so she too, disregarding her father's law concerning baby boys.
[18:30] Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you? And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go.
[18:41] So the maiden 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.
[18:55] So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, that he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, Because I drew him out of the water.
[19:09] So Miriam, Moses' sister, she witnesses the compassion. And she offers, she comes up, she makes the choice to come up and to offer to find someone among the Hebrew women to care for the child.
[19:30] She is given consent, and she goes straight back home to her mother, to Jochebed, the mother of Moses. And so Jochebed and Moses are reunited.
[19:47] Now the circumstances have changed. Moses continues to live, and he is allowed to be raised in freedom with his parents once again for a little while.
[20:03] Jochebed had to give Moses up again a second time when he no longer needed to be nursed.
[20:18] So the distress that Jochebed must have endured since baby Moses came along. And so Moses continues.
[20:29] So he goes on to be raised in Pharaoh's own household. And he is there for a specific purpose.
[20:40] There's a special reason for it. He is being prepared in Pharaoh's household for what God has in store for him.
[20:53] And so do we see God at work through all of these events? Was it coincidence that this beautiful son was born to Amram and Jochebed in exactly this time period?
[21:13] How could they have hidden Moses for three months and not have been found out? Could Jochebed have hid Moses in a more perfect location in the river?
[21:36] How could it be that Pharaoh's daughter of all people chose to bathe at that exact location in the river and she noticed that basket hidden there?
[21:49] Or Moses, baby Moses, weeping, at that very moment when Pharaoh's daughter opens that basket, you know, that it would tug at her heartstrings.
[22:07] And Miriam, she just happened to be nearby and witnessed this. And she just happened to know a Hebrew woman who would be able to nurse this child for Pharaoh's daughter.
[22:18] and Pharaoh's daughter. And Pharaoh's daughter. And Pharaoh's daughter. How was she able to convince her father to let her keep this baby that she had found?
[22:37] Seems there's one too many questions for this to sound possible. But it is. The words of Jesus in Matthew 19, 26, With men, this is impossible.
[22:54] But with God, all things are possible. And so these must have been trying years for Amram and Jochebed.
[23:05] Moses was born. But they put their faith in the Lord and they depended on Him for the outcome. So we see the faith of Moses' mother and father as well.
[23:26] How did that faith translate into Moses' life? Going back to our text in Hebrews. Hebrews 11.
[23:37] Hebrews 11. We'll look at verses 24 through 28.
[23:50] By faith, Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward.
[24:10] By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
[24:33] Imagine our government making a law. All baby boys have to be done away with. And such a law is in effect and a son is born to you.
[24:54] What would you do? And so what if the situation, let's say it turns out like Moses' situation.
[25:12] You're allowed to keep him for a few more years. Whoever finds this son and decides I want him for my own but I don't want to deal with changing pampers so when that stage in his life is done, then you bring him to me and I will raise him.
[25:32] You're allowed to keep him for a few more years but they will come and take him away to live somewhere else. what would be most important in the time you have with this child?
[25:53] What would be most important? Moses' parents prioritized faith.
[26:04] Faith in God. They demonstrated their faith and their efforts to save baby Moses' life and when that lost baby boy returned home even if only for a few years they taught him to live by faith as well.
[26:29] Ben mentioned this morning already in how our children from a very young age those first years are so crucial in establishing them and establishing faith in them and teaching them and how mothers play such a critical role in that.
[26:59] And so the question how much of what we teach a young child say from zero to three years old how much of what we teach them do they retain?
[27:21] We have the example of Moses here. He spent the majority of his childhood in Pharaoh's house raised up in an ungodly home where Moses' family suffered through slavery through poverty Moses enjoyed freedom and riches!
[27:49] the pleasures! the pleasures of this world were all available to him and yet this passage says that he forsook these pleasures when he became of age he chose rather to associate with the Hebrews and their God than whatever the Egyptians had to offer.
[28:20] So I don't know if Moses was allowed to interact with his family or with the other Hebrews as he grew up there may have been some connections with them doesn't tell us that yet by far he would have spent time most of his time in Egyptian circles and in their way of life and yet when the time came where he had to make the choice whether to remain an Egyptian or to go back to where he had come from he chose to suffer alongside the people of God raised in Pharaoh's own home everything the world could offer available to him he chose by faith to follow
[29:27] God what led to Moses making that choice I believe that those first few years in his parents home with Amram and Jochebed I believe that played a major role where his faith was established already at a young age reminded of a young Timothy as well how he too was influenced by faithful godly women in his life life and so let's turn to 2nd Timothy 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 5 Paul writing to
[30:27] Timothy and he says in verse 5 of chapter 1 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded is in you also where did Timothy's faith come from where did he learn faith faith which first dwelt in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice so good godly women in the life of young Timothy training him up I'd like to continue in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 and 15 again instructions directed toward Timothy now a young man but you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in
[31:45] Christ Jesus Paul is encouraging young Timothy to be steadfast in the faith that he was taught from a young age assured that Timothy had been well taught by his mother by his grandmother that he had been taught from the holy scriptures that his faith had been established from a young age already so back in our text Moses continues making God honoring choices we are familiar with Moses and the great things that he did we read in Exodus how he brought
[32:46] God's people out of Egypt into the wilderness and led them to the borders of the promised land he is a very familiar figure to us and so obviously it was not expected that he would choose to suffer with the Hebrews the upbringing that he had with the Egyptians and yet that is the choice that he makes and not only does he choose to suffer with the Hebrews but he stands up to a fellow Egyptian who is mistreating a Hebrew slave we can read this in Exodus as well if we continue on in Exodus 2 and onward he ends up killing this
[33:48] Egyptian and having to flee for his life God had plans for Moses growing up in Pharaoh's household was part of the plan it was preparation for Moses and yet God needed Moses away from the Egyptians as well to teach him to prepare him further for leading God's people out of Egypt out of bondage to the land promised to Abraham and to his descendants so Moses or Moses time in Pharaoh's household had gone a long way in preparing Moses for this task he understood the workings of the Egyptians how their government would have worked you know the laws of the land would have equipped him very well for this task but
[34:54] Moses needed to get to know God more too and so God you know with the circumstances of killing this Egyptian Moses having to flee for his life God brings him into the wilderness of Midian where he meets and marries Zipporah the daughter of Jethro who was a priest of Midian and God also he reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush and he gives Moses instructions he tells Moses what he wants him to do and so 40 years in Midian preparation further preparation for Moses Moses returns to Egypt and he confronts a new pharaoh who has come into power not the pharaoh in whose home he had been raised but a new pharaoh has come into power and so
[36:07] Moses returns to Egypt and he confronts this new pharaoh and we know about the ten plagues the last being the death of all the firstborn in Egypt in any homes whose doorposts were not covered by the blood of the Passover lamb and so here too talks of Moses faithfulness in this Moses is faithful and the Hebrews are given freedom to leave Egypt the very reason they had been brought into bondage the pharaoh at that time had feared that they were too strong too mighty they were more than the Egyptians and should anyone come and attack Egypt the Israelites would join up with them and through that be able to go up out of the land it was the last thing that Egypt wanted with these
[37:13] Hebrews and so following these ten plagues lastly the death of the firstborn this very thing that they feared comes to pass they are given their freedom they are allowed to leave Egypt and so again God's faithfulness is evident to those who put their trust in him he proves again and again that he is trustworthy we need only to lean on him to have faith that anything is possible with him and he will come through for us Moses went from the baby boy that should not have been to the agent through whom God restored his people's liberty Moses too learned to put his faith in
[38:19] God and God was faithful to him it began with the faithfulness of Moses his parents the final verse in our text in Hebrews 11 verse 29 by faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land whereas the Egyptians attempting to do so were drowned Jochebed had put her faith in God and she had taught her young child the ways of the Lord instilling her faith in him Moses remembered what he had been taught he remembered his mother's faith and he carried it forward in his life as well but it didn't stop there by signs and wonders or plagues as well as we know it
[39:23] Moses carried his faith forward in what God wanted him to do and the Hebrews embraced it as well by faith they the Hebrews the children of Israel followed Moses' instructions smearing the blood of a lamb on their doorposts and lentils in faith they prepared their belongings for the exodus and they plundered the Egyptians as they did so and so when the order came from Pharaoh for the children of Israel to leave to leave Egypt the Hebrews stepped out in faith and they followed Moses to the shores of the Red Sea there too God shows his faithfulness trust in me and I will provide a way
[40:31] God parted the waters of the sea to make a way of escape from the Egyptian army that was bearing down on the children of Israel how much faith would you need to walk through a seabed with walls of water high on either side of you how much faith would we need to trust that that water would stay aside that we would be able to walk through without the water closing in over us a mother and father chose to fear God more than Pharaoh their choice by faith to surrender their son's life into God's hands still impacts people to this day so the question to us is what impact does my faith have today who am I influencing the majority of us here this morning we have young children are we like
[42:02] Jochebed and Amram modeling our faith to our children God has given us an opportunity our children are his he has given them to us for a season to train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Proverbs 22 6 there's other opportunities for us to share our faith we have Christian brothers and sisters whom we can disciple we walk alongside them we encourage them we share our experiences our wisdom with them by faith we help others strengthen their faith as well and then there's always opportunities outside of the church as well out in the communities around us our co-workers the people we live with or we work with and almost to a sense live with right the time that we spend five six days a week we rub shoulders with them we spend a lot of time with them there's opportunities to share our faith other strangers we meet in the streets in the restaurants in the grocery stores always opportunity to share our faith our faith is vital it's the reason we're here this very morning it's the reason we brought our children to
[44:17] Sunday school it's the reason we attend Bible studies or Wednesday night prayer meeting the more our Bibles are open the more we grow in the knowledge of the Lord the more our faith in him increases and the more we see the need to share our faith with others 3,500 years ago a Hebrew woman Jochebed put her faith on the line and she put her three-month-old baby in a basket and hid him in the river God rewarded her faith and and delivered her baby boy from death further he raised that same boy up to be a great man of faith an example for all of us all because of a mother's faith
[45:32] God is faithful and trustworthy to all who put their faith in him let's pray father in heaven you are faithful and trustworthy we thank you for your word oh lord for your instruction to us we thank you for examples in scripture like Jochebed whose faith in you is still impacting people to this day lord increase our faith may our faith do so to others today as well may it go forward and impact the next generation and generations to come father we thank you for our mothers they are special people that you have placed in our lives to teach us to guide us to share their faith with us lord bless our mothers today and every day in jesus name we pray amen