A Mother's Faith

A Mother’s Faith

Hebrews 11:23-27 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. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses

Moses is one of the greatest men God ever made. His shadow falls across the pages of our Bible. He is mentioned in 261 verses in Exodus, 80 verses in Leviticus, 216 verses in Numbers, 35 verses in Deuteronomy, 51 verses in Joshua, and 47 verses in the other historical books. The book of Psalms and the Prophets also refer to him. He is mentioned in 37 verses in the Gospels, 19 verses in Acts, and 22 verses in the Epistles. The book of Revelation also refers to him. Altogether he is mentioned in 784 verses in the Bible.

Those verses draw a picture of a mighty man of God that was mightily used by God. We see him, in the context of those verses, as the emancipator and lawgiver of Israel. He was also a scholar, a soldier, and a statesman. He was one of the two men who stood with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. He wrote the first Psalm that was recorded in scripture in Exodus 15:11, and, according to Rev. 15:3, they still sing the song of Moses in glory. Moses was, undoubtedly, a great man of God, a hero of the faith and one of the most accomplished leaders this world has ever known. However, much of the credit for what Moses became must be given to his mother.

On Mother’s Day, 2010, there are a lot of different subjects that we might choose from for a Mother’s Day address. But if you will lend me your ear, for just a few moments of time, I want to talk to you about a mother’s faith. If there was a single defining element in the life of Moses, outside of the calling and providence of God, that helped shape him into the great man that he became, that element was the faith of his mother.

Moses was born at a pivotal time in history. A Pharaoh had ascended to the throne that no longer remembered, or had any respect for, Joseph. That ancient world leader surveyed his kingdom one day and saw something that struck fear in his heart. Living in the land of Goshen, as guests of Egypt, the Hebrews were mightily blessed of God. Everything they did prospered. Their homes were blessed, their families were blessed, their children were strong and healthy and taken together they were a mighty multitude. The Pharaoh was frightened because, in his own words, the Hebrews were “more and mightier” than the Egyptians.

Egyptian Bondage

What followed was a sordid tale. Pharaoh, in his effort to subdue and conquer the Hebrews, devised a plan to systematically entrap them in slavery. However, we quickly learn from the narrative of scripture that his diabolical plot appeared to work against him. The more labor he placed on the Hebrews, the more they grew and prospered. Finally, in desperation, he sought to curtail their growth by demanding the death of every Hebrew male child that was born. When the midwives rebelled and failed to carry out his orders he revised the plan and demanded that every male child, born to a Hebrew woman, was to be thrown into the Nile river.

It is a passage of scripture that mirrors, in many ways, the birth of our savior. No doubt the same force is at work in Egypt, influencing the Pharaoh, that influenced Herod in an attempt to destroy Jesus while he was yet a child. Satan has spent much time and energy, in this world, attempting to thwart the plans and purpose of God, however his best efforts come to naught because God in his wonderful foresight, takes what Satan intended to be evil, and makes it work for His good. This was the case in Egypt so many years ago.

Moses was born to Amram and Jochebed, both of whom were Levites. The scripture isn’t entirely clear on how it was that Amram and Jochebed knew that there was something special about Moses, but the writers of both Hebrews and Acts, as well as the account of Genesis, let us know that they recognized that this child, Moses, was a child of promise, destined for great things in God. So, in an act of faith, Amram and Jochebed hid their child, not fearing the commandment of Pharaoh. The wording of Hebrews is interesting because, the Genesis account really doesn’t mention the father but, instead focuses on the mother. What makes the account of Genesis even more interesting is the fact that it was written, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, by Moses. When Moses shared his tale for future generations to read, he placed the focus on the faith of his Mother.