Our mother is our first friend, a best friend, and a friend forever.
Mothers, as we honor you this Mother's Day, I want you to know that you will always have the unending love and the committed support of your Father in heaven.
Remember that the face of your heavenly Father is always smiling on you and that His love for you is unwavering and unconditional. We've all heard the expression, "A mother's work is never done," and I admire how hard you work for your family. But even as you labor outwardly to bless others, I pray you will live at rest inwardly, receiving the love and blessings of our Lord Jesus.
Today I am going to share about the role of five mothers that raised up a great man of God in Israel.
However, in our homes, each one of our mothers do the work of these five mothers, in order to make you a blessing.
Moses the man of God
Psalm 90 (Heading) - Moses the man of God
Deuteronomy 34:10 – “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.”
The greatest prophet Israel has ever seen – received The Ten Commandments from God
The person who talked with God face to face.
The great leader who led Israel from Egyptian slavery.
Finally, an individual who was buried by God himself
Moses was the result of the teamwork of five women, five mothers that molded a great leader in Israel. Women, especially mothers, have a tremendous role in God’s plan of salvation and redemption in the Bible.
The Hebrew midwives
Exodus 1:15-19 – “The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”
They feared the Lord Jehovah
They do not fear men
They do not fear the king’s law – they saw God’s law above the king’s law
They did not kill the anointed one – do not touch my anointed one.
Jochebed, the mother of Moses
Exodus 2: 1-3 –“Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”
She looked at her child with hope, with great expectation - you can count how many seeds are in one apple, but you cannot count how many apples are in one seed. She saw the potential Moses had, to become a mighty leader.
God has given us children with great potentials, we do not know who our children will be one day.
As we sing:
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am
The same way we can ask:
Jochebed, did you know that your baby boy will one day see God face to face?
Jochebed, did you know that your baby boy will cause the kingdom of Pharaoh to tremble?
Jochebed, did you know that your baby boy would redeem Israel from 350 years of slavery? Jochebed, did you know that your baby boy would divide the Red sea?
Jochebed, did you know that your baby boy would one day receive the Ten Commandment from God Almighty?
Jochebed, did you know that your baby boy will get food and water from heaven for three million people?
I am asking our mothers; do you know who your baby boy or your baby girl will one day be?
She had the responsibility of protecting her child while the enemies were all around her like a roaring lion.
She hid her child under prayer and fasting, under the Word of God, under the blood, and under the anointing – no evil would touch him.
When she could not keep him, she handed him over to the Lord.
The Lord will reward you for raising His child.
Miriam, the elder sister of Moses
Exodus 2:3-4 -“But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.”
2:7-9 -“Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So, the girl went and got the baby’s mother.9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So, the woman took the baby and nursed him.”
She stood at a distance – in other words, she did not rest until she knew the child was in a safe place.
She watched every single move - her eyes kept no rest.
She took the right action at the right time.
Pharaoh’s daughter, his step mother
Exodus 2:5 -“Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it.”
This is called the action of grace – an unmerited favor – a poor child became a royal child. As we were sinners – God has chosen us. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” This is called Grace.
She raised Moses in the palace as a royal child with a good education. While we were once sinners, now we enjoy all the heavenly blessings and the divine inheritance.
Zipporah, his beloved wife
Exodus 4:24-26 - “At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the Lord let him alone.”
Finally, Zipporah saved Moses’life
Women always remember what men ignore or forget. Moses was stunned. He may have wondered why God wanted to kill him – but Zipporah knew that this was not the time to argue with God – this was the time to obey God and escape from destruction.
Today, Many Zipporahs fasting and prayer save their husband and their kids.
Dear mothers, may the Lord continue to bless you and give you strength to raise your children in this depraved society.
Dear mothers, fear and obey your Lord, and do not fear the system of this world like the Hebrew maids. Keep your children under your prayer and fasting, cover them under the blood of Jesus like Jochebed. Keep your eyes on your children and take the right decision at the right time like Miriam, taking care of them with grace like Pharaoh’s daughter. Finally, follow the Lord’s commandment at any cost, even in a busy life, in order to protect your family.
May the Lord be with you and I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.