A Basket, A Baby, A Mother’s Heart

Introduction

“The most important occupation on earth for a woman is to be a real mother to her children. It does not have much glory to it; there is a lot of grit and grime. But there is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of a mother.”

“What can compare to the teaching of a mother in the life of a child? Do not be so deceived as to believe that it is primarily the influence of so-called experts, government, religious leaders like me, or even institutions of education that shape each and every next generation. The virtue or corruption of the minds of tomorrow’s society is the consequence of the love, training, and coaching of the mothers of today. Surely that old Spanish proverb is filled with truth that says “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.”

The rest of the world hopes at best to shape the virtues that a mother seats deep within her child’s heart. In fact, so precious and delicate is the heart of a child and so vastly superior the influence of a mother to any other person that her placing of such virtue requires almost not effort. It happens naturally, by design.

When a mother sacrifices, she teaches her child to sacrifice. When a mother loves her child unconditionally she teaches unconditional love to her child. The truth is that while all of the powerful minds, men, and manipulators in the world try and try to bend and influence and control society, it is mothers who make the greatest impact through their choices, teaching, loving, and influence.

Transition

This morning we are going to look at the influence of one specific mother; Jochebed, the birth mother and nurse of Moses. We’ll touch on the influence of the other women in Moses life but our focus will be on the sacrifice, influence, and impact that Jochebed made that saved and shaped Moses.

CIT: The text is vast and varied. It gives background to the birth of Moses and offers an explanation of how Moses came to be a member of Pharaoh’s house.

CIS: There is no greater potential influence in the world than a mother’s heart.

Exposition

Moses birth and upbringing were not terribly promising. He was not born in the most favorable or fortunate circumstances. There was a bounty on Moses head before he was even born. He was not born to wealth or position; prominence or prestige. In fact, it is a miracle of God that he even survived infancy.

Moses life is reflective of the calling of the prophet Jeremiah. In fact, Moses is the first of God’s prophets; the archetype of all of God’s prophets. In Jeremiah 1:5-7 the calling of the prophet Jeremiah is recorded. “Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.”(ESV)

The providence of God moves calling servants to proclaim His word, trust in His sovereign will, and to lead His people. The mountains shake at His voice! The seas tremble! Mighty men are humbled by His calling, shaken by at his command.

Yet so often it is not through mighty men that the providence of God moves but through the tender hearts of women. Every man of power had a mother and very often, most often, that mother was used by God to shape, save, or at the very least nurture God’s chosen ones.

Powerful men try in vain to have even a shadow of the influence of the heart of a mother. There were multiple women involved in the salvation of Moses in fact.

First there were the midwives – Shiphrah and Puah. The Pharaoh, fearing the rise and rebellion of the Hebrews who had grown great in number, told these midwives to kill every born but to allow the women to live. These midwives, fearing God more than man, did not obey the order to kill these babies.

Friends, sometimes the culture, or in this case the Pharaoh, gives permission, in this case an order, to murder a baby because of who his. Our culture is little different presently. Little babies are not allowed the opportunity to live similarly because they are likewise unwanted. The circumstances are different, perhaps even much more sinister.

What is more cruel, a king to kill baby boys to prevent them from becoming men who may overthrow him or people denying children the right to live for a lack of convenience, an in utero test which may not even be accurate declaring them unfit for life, or some other matter of expediency?