Introduction:
As Tebow mania has swept across the country, Tim Tebow has become the most talked about player in the NFL. His improbable success as an NFL quarterback has silenced many of his critics who said that he could never play quarterback in the NFL. Tebow is definitely not the most talented quarterback in the NFL but he has consistently found a way to win against the odds. However, the story of Tim Tebow overcoming the odds dates much farther back then his time as a quarterback with the Denver Broncos and the University of Florida.
Tebow was born on August 14, 1987 in the Philippines to Bob and Pam Tebow, who were serving as Christian missionaries at the time. While pregnant Pam suffered a life-threatening infection with a pathogenic amoeba. Because of the drugs used to rouse her from a coma and to treat her dysentery, the fetus experienced a severe placental abruption. Doctors expected a stillbirth and recommended an abortion to protect her life. Because of her great faith she carried Tim to term, and both survived. Now Tim has the ability to put his deep faith on display on a national stage.
Moses like Tim Tebow was born with the odds against him. Born during the darkest period of Israel’s history this is a man who overcame the odds. Due to an edict issued by Pharaoh calling for the destruction of all newborn Hebrew boys the odds were against Moses’ survival. In a dramatic way God will use the strong faith of Moses’ parents Amram and Jochebed to insure his survival so can be used by God for the future deliverance of the Israelites. Today we are going to look at the extraordinary circumstances that surrounded Moses’ very early years.
I. Let’s examine a snapshot of the home Moses is born into.
A. The atmosphere that Moses was born into was extremely hostile for the Hebrews.
1. More than likely the Pharaoh at this time was Amenhotep I who reigned from 1545-1526 BC.
2. Persecution against the Hebrew people has intensified as the destruction of all the male children born was ordered.
3. The Hebrew people were also enduring slavery as they were being forced to work under cruel task masters.
4. There was very little hope among the people as God was not a reality to them.
B. A peak at Moses’ family album.
1. Amram and Jochebed were both members of the tribe of Levi. In fact, there is some evidence that suggests that Jochebed was Amram’s aunt.
2. Moses is the third child. The oldest of the children is a daughter by the name of Miriam followed by a son named Aaron who was three years older than Moses.
3. Moses’ parents were people of great faith which will be highlighted by the Hebrew writer.
4. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. (Hebrews 11:23—NIV 2011)
II. Let’s examine how God’s hand of protection was on the baby Moses.
A. From the very beginning it was obvious that Moses was a very special child.
1. Moses is described as being a “fine” or “goodly” as it can be literally translated from the Hebrew.
2. These terms used in Exodus to describe the baby can either refer to his physical appearance or his temperament.
3. Luke describes the Baby Moses in Acts 7 using the Greek phrase “asteios to theo” which is translated “fair in the sight of God.”
4. Jochebed knew that Moses was a very special child and took measures to hide him to ensure his survival.
B. Moses’ mother carefully formulates a plan to make sure that Moses survives.
1. Being a newborn Hebrew male Moses’ life was in constant danger and how long can you successfully hide a baby?
2. Moses’ mother makes a basket or ark if you literally translate the Hebrew out of papyrus reeds and coats it inside and out to make to water tight.
3. The Hebrew word translated basket here is “tebah” which is translated ark in Genesis 6-8.
4. Jochebed displays great faith as she places the baby into the basket and hides it among the reeds along the banks of the Nile.
5. Jochebed also stations Miriam close by to watch the baby and to protect him from any unexpected dangers.
6. We cannot help but that God’s hand was orchestrating all these events.
III. Let’s examine a snapshot of Moses childhood.
A. A surprising turn of events will ensure Moses’ survival.
1. Pharaoh’s daughter comes down to river to bath and is touched by the tears of the infant.
2. The assumption is made that the baby is Hebrew more than likely because it was abandoned along the river.
3. After the baby is found, Miriam steps forward and asks Pharaoh’s daughter if she would like her to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. So Miriam brings Jochebed to Pharaoh’s daughter.
4. The most humorous part of the story is the fact the Jochebed will get paid by an Egyptian to nurse and care for her own baby.
5. Moses will stay in Amram and Jochebed’s home until he is weaned which would be probably around the age of three.
6. Undoubtedly Jochebed taught Moses quite a bit about God, faith and about His people.
B. Moses will be raised with all the benefits of being a part of Egypt’s royal family.
1. When the child goes to live in the palace Pharaoh’s daughter gives him the name Moses which means “I drew him from the water.”
2. Moses would have had access to the best the land of Egypt had to offer including the very best education.
3. Luke provides us with an excellent description of the child Moses in the book of Acts.
4. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. (Acts 7:22—NIV 2011)
5. It will prove to be an incredible turn of events that this child who was raised in Pharaoh’s family will turn out to be the one that God uses to bring the entire nation to their knees.
IV. What can we take home from the early years of Moses’ life?
A. God chose exactly the right time for you to be born.
1. Many have felt like Moses believing that they could have been born at a more opportune time.
2. God chose the date and place of your birth and it corresponded with the mission that desires for you to accomplish.
3. God uses the experiences in your life to prepare you for the challenges that you will face in the future.
4. God’s timing is always perfect even though we may not see it.
B. God desires to use you to accomplish a unique mission.
1. Do you believe this? Regardless of who you are or where you have been God desires to do great things through you.
2. Like Moses it is often difficult to understand or see the role that God has called you to, but rest assured if you remain faithful it will eventually become clear.
3. It has been said that, “God works in mysterious ways.” This is true because we do not have the ability to comprehend His wisdom.
C. Our past does not disqualify us from God’s service.
1. There are no wasted experiences. God will take our past mistakes and use them to prepare us for what He intends to accomplish through us.
2. We will see throughout this study that Moses made some large mistakes but God still used him in a mighty way.
3. The family we were raised in was not perfect yet God uses those experiences to shape us into the person He desires for us to be.
4. God give us the ability to rise above our past and to accomplish great things for Him.
Closing:
Tony Campolo wrote the following. Too many times women are made to feel that they should apologize for being mothers and housewives. In reality, such roles can be noble callings. When I was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, there were gatherings from time to time to which faculty members brought their spouses. Inevitably, some woman lawyer or sociologist would confront my wife with the question, "And what is it that you do, my dear?"
My wife, who is one of the most brilliantly articulate individuals I know, had a great response: "I am socializing two homo sapiens in the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the teleologically prescribed utopia inherent in the eschaton." When she followed that with, "And what is it that you do?" the other person’s "A lawyer" just wasn’t that overpowering.
