JOCHEBED: A GODLY MOTHER
Notes
Transcript
EXODUS 2:1-10
EXODUS 2:1-10
Introduction: Today is a day when we take the time to honor the one human being who unselfishly gives herself to her children time and time again, without asking for anything in return. If your life has been blessed by the touch of a godly mother, then you have enjoyed one of this world’s greatest treasures and blessings.
Moms are great teachers, yet there are some things you will probably not hear a mom say:
“Just leave all the lights on...it makes the house look more cheery.”
“Let me smell that shirt—Yeah, it’s good for another day.”
“Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.”
“I don’t have a tissue with me...just use your sleeve.”
“Don’t bother wearing a jacket—the wind-chill is bound to improve.”
If everyone else is doing it I guess it’s okay.
Forget about your homework. There’ll be plenty of time to do it later.
If you don’t stop crying, I’m going to cave and give you anything you want.
Just because you live under my roof doesn’t mean you have to listen to everything I say.
Just because you were too sick to go to school today doesn’t mean you can’t hang out with your friends now.
When you get there, you get there. No need to call.
Don’t worry about going to church. You were out too late last night.
Let’s wait and see if your clothes pick themselves up first.
“No man is poor who has had a godly mother.”
Jochebed- She stands out as one of the greatest mothers revealed in the pages of Scripture. Her selfless love and sacrifice made possible the exodus of God’s people from Egypt and literally changed the course of history.
I. THE CREDENTIALS OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 1
I. THE CREDENTIALS OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 1
We see her name in Exodus 6:20
A. Jochebed was an Israelite, one of God’s chosen people. She was also a member of the tribe of Levi from which would come the priests and those who would carry out the duties of the Tabernacle and later of the Temple. She, and her husband Amram, were evidently very dedicated and religious people. They were willing to defy the order of Pharaoh and keep the commandments of God.
B. Every mother needs a relationship with the Lord. May I say that every child deserves a saved, sold out, dedicated mother? Nothing would make more difference in the lives of our children than having good, godly examples in the home.
C. Every person needs to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
(John 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(John 3:7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
I. We See Her Credentials
II. THE COURAGE OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 2
II. THE COURAGE OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 2
A. Ill. The Decree of Pharaoh - Ex. 1:15-22. Jochebed refused to give in to a godless system that would have cost her the life of her son.
One of the best ways to fight this influence of the world’s system is to keep your kids in church!
Sunday School, Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday nights, Camps, take them visiting with you…some of the greatest memories we have had with our children have been through evangelism!!!!
B. God give us parents who aren’t afraid to take a stand for that which is right in these dark, sinful days! Parents who are willing to say, “Enough is enough, my child is going to learn the way of the Lord!” People who will declare the same thing Joshua declared for His family, Josh. 24:15
Joshua 24:15
15- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that wereon the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
C. (Ill. It is interesting to note that in our day, often the young people have more of a heart for God and His business than do their parents. It is a blessing when young folks live for God, but it is the parents who ought to set the example in courage and godliness for those who are following behind!)
(Ill. Once a little boy asked his father what a Christian was. For a long time, the father sat with the son explaining in great detail exactly what a Christian was supposed to be. When he was finished, he felt like he had done a pretty good job of describing a Christian, as well as himself. His illusions, however, were shattered when his son asked, “Dad, have I ever met one?”)
(Ill. A humble, consecrated pastor's young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so the minister knew that death would usher him into Glory; but he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of youth that he soon would die. After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital ward to the boy's bedside. First he read a passage of Scripture and had a time of prayer with his dear child. Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more days to live. "Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my boy?" asked his devout father. Blinking away a few tears, the little fellow said bravely, "No, not if He's like you, Dad!" How that preacher's heart thrilled to hear those words. It meant his son had seen Christ in him. The boy did not dread meeting the Savior whom his father had so accurately portrayed.)
I. We See Her Credentials
II. We See Her Courage
III. THE CONFIDENCE OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 3; 9-10
III. THE CONFIDENCE OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 3; 9-10
A. V. 2 Resist The World - The world was crying out for the death of her son, but this mother stood strong in the face of this attack and placed her son above the will of the world! (Ill. So it is today! The world demands that parents hand over their children and allow them to be trained and taught the ways of the world. But, our children need and deserve better than that!
1 Timothy 1:5
5- Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and offaith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 6:12
12- Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Peter 5:8
8- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
B. V. 3b Release The Child - It took faith to place the child in the river. This was the same instrument which was being used to destroy the other babies, Ex. 1:22. It took faith for this mother to take her hands off the life of this child and leave him to the will of God. (Ill. It takes faith for us to let our children go, but that day is coming. Some parents live in denial and try to hold on to their children far too long, but the day is coming, sooner or later, when that child must be allowed to become an adult. It takes faith to just leave them in the hand of God, but the child who has a praying mother, a past filled with the Bible and training in the way of the Lord has the advantage and will do well.)
B. V. 9-10 Raise The Child - After Moses had been found by Pharaoh’s daughter, Miriam and Jochebed were able to work things out to where Jochebed became the nurse for her own son. It took great faith for her to raise this child under those conditions. However, she was given the opportunity to teach Moses about Jehovah, about true worship and about right living. She had the opportunity to do her best by her son. (Ill. We are required to do the same thing! All we can do is our best by our children. May I say that they need love, acceptance, Bible teaching, preaching, church, godly examples to emulate and especially, they need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! If you give your children to God and then give them all the God you can, you have done your best. They then have a foundation from which they can grow and mature into healthy saints of God.)
Ephesians 6:4
4- And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
How To Be A Stupid Parent
1. Discipline your children only when you lose your temper. Let them get away with anything until you're fed up; then, in a spirit of hostility and anger, let 'em have it! Blow your top, holler, get wild, clobber them, and really make a brawl out of it.
2. If they've done wrong, never let them forget it. Keep rubbing it in; they'll loathe you for it.
3. Give your child all the spending money he wants; don't make him earn it. Money in large quantities is an acceptable substitute for love. After awhile he'll want only your money and couldn't care less about you. It's something like starving him on cream puffs.
4. Compare your child with someone else to make him smarten up. Use that beautiful expression, "Why can't you be like Johnny?" He'll despise you and Johnny both!
5. Mother and father should disagree in regard to the rules for their youngsters. Children will then learn to play one parent against the other.
6. Never let the kids think for themselves. They haven't the equipment. (The reason may be in their heredity or environment.) Make all the decisions for them so they'll never be able to handle life.
I. We See Her Credentials
II. We See Her Courage
III. We See Her Confidence
IV. THE CHARITY OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 9-10
IV. THE CHARITY OF A GODLY MOTHER-VS. 9-10
(Ill. This refers to the wonderful way in which she gave out of her life.)
Anything that you give up for God, He will replace with something far better!!
A. V. 2-3, 9-10 She Gave Of Her Self - She poured out her life into the life of her son. Isn’t that what every good mother does for her children? It is important that children give their mother’s the honor they deserve, Ex. 20:12.
B. V. 10 She Gave Her Son - Very literally, Jochebed was raising her son to give him to the Lord. She gave up her son to save her nation, even though she didn’t realize all that she was doing. (Ill. According to the Bible, God gave His son for us! When He did, God knew exactly what He was doing. In fact, when Jesus came and died for our sins at Calvary, that was the greatest expression of love the world would ever see, Rom. 5:8. Jochebed gave her son for Israel. God gave His Son for the world, John 3:16
I. We See Her Credentials
II. We See Her Courage
III. We See Her Confidence
IV. We See Her Charity
V. THE COMPENSATION OF A GODLY MOTHER
V. THE COMPENSATION OF A GODLY MOTHER
A. Her son became a great man of God. He was the one man whom God had chosen to be the deliverer of the people of God and the one who was destined to be known as the Great Lawgiver Of Israel. I would imagine that Jochebed never realized his potential when he was a baby. I suppose that she lived the remainder of her life and never knew what God did with the life of Moses.
B. Parents, you never know who you are raising! Ill. Hannah-Samuel, Elisabeth-John the Baptist, Mary-Jesus Christ!
Therefore, give them the best you have while you have them and turn out God fearing, God following young men and women who will live for the glory of the Lord! Young adults whom God can use for His glory out into the future. Young people who will instill that same values in their children that you have placed in them.
(Ill. Often parents think they have been successful when a child finishes college, or when they make lots of money in some prestigious position. However, true success cannot be gauged on such a worldly scale.
When we see our children living for and in love with the Lord, then we have truly been successful.
I would rather raise a child who would have none of this world’s goods or success, but who knew Jesus than to raise a multi-millionaire who would die and go to Hell!)
Conclusion:
Jochebed stands as a true example of a godly mother.
She raised her son to live godly in a godless world.
She raised her son to live godly in a godless world.
How about you mom, are you doing that for your children?
How about you mom, are you doing that for your children?
Maybe someone in hear needs to repair a relationship:
Parents, children, the greatest relationship is with Jesus Christ!!!
Maybe as a parent there are some areas that you are less than you should be…
Parents: if your children follow your example, How Godly will they grow up to be?
What you do in moderation the next generation will do in excess!!!