The Desperate Faith Of A Mother Series

Intro: We began last time talking about the exodus as a continuation of Genesis. We see that the creation story did not end it just continued into its fulfilment in the redemption story. Last week we saw a lot of hands involved. God’s hands that placed Israel right where He wanted them. Pharaoh’s hands that placed Israel under great oppression and hard labor. Shiprah and Puah’s hands that placed the grace of God over the lives of the infants.

We must not ignore Exodus 1:22 it gives us the unforgiveable command from Pharaoh for the people of Israel to throw all their baby boys into the Nile. I hope you recognize this for what it is, it is a death sentence on the boys but also on the people of Israel. It could have been the hopes of the Pharaoh with the boys gone the girls would intermarry with the Egyptians and therefore slowly cease to exist.

Last week we saw the hands of God and the hands of people. Today we will see how God’s grace affects the hearts of people.

I. God’s heart revealed in His definite plan

God has had a plan for man from the beginning of creation. His plan was for us to bear His image and to represent and rule this planet for Him. Last week we learned that Genesis reveals the constant and consistent failure of man to fulfill that plan.

Just because men fail doesn’t mean God has given up on his plan. Genesis is the creation story with the emphasis of creation. Exodus is the creation story with the emphasis of redemption.

We see God’s heart clearly in this definite plan for man’s redemption.

Joseph and Israel were not in Egypt for slavery and captivity they were in Egypt because of God’s plan to rescue them first from famine and then from Pharaoh.

Today we honor our mothers. I hope that you see the great importance you have in God’s plan for man’s salvation. Our culture today is constantly trying to minimize and demoralize women that have a desire to stay home and nurture their children or grandchildren. Today we will see that the role of a nurturing mother is exactly where God wants some of you to be.

The beauty of God’s heart is that all the people in God’s plan are important. If we pay close enough attention to this story God’s plans for you are specific. God’s plans for Moses was for him to deliver Israel. God’s plan for Jochebed, Moses mother, was to be a mother to Moses.

God has a specific plan for all of us. We need to be careful that we don’t rebel against His plan for us. Not all of us are meant to be a Moses or Miriam or Aaron. Not all of us are designed by God to be Billy Graham, Dr Adrian Rogers, Chuck Swindol. Not all of us are meant to be Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry. Not all of us were meant to be Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray or Paula Dean.

However as we look at this story of redemption we see into God’s heart that we are all invited to be part of the process of making Moses’. Never see your small part in God’s story as unimportant.

II. Jochebed’s heart revealed in her desperate faith

A) The courage to obey God

What amazing faith Jochebed had. She was married and concived a child. To understand we have to read the Pharaoh’s command in Exodus 1:22 “Pharaoh then commanded all his people: “You must throw every son born to the Hebrews into the Nile, but let every daughter live.”

This was a death sentence for the boys of Israel. It was also a death sentence of Israel. If the boys were all gone then the girls would intermarry with Egyptian males and soon Israel would cease to exist.

What courage it took to have a child in a culture of death. Mothers I commend you because you children and grandchildren were and are born into a culture of death. Abortion is the clear and apparent danger. There is also the danger of the devil drawing them away from God. Make no mistake Immanuel we live in a culture of death.

If we are going to live for Jesus, make no mistake we will come in direct conflict with our culture.

If you don’t believe me look at what is going on in North Carolina. North Carolina passed a law that you can only use bathrooms that correspond to you biological sex. The federal government has warned action against the state because it supposedly violates Civil Rights Law.

Under the culture of death can you imagine what was going through the mind of Jochebed? What are we going to do if it’s a boy?