Sermons
The Mother Of Moses
THE MOTHER OF MOSES
Sermon Outline By Terry Siverd
Cortland Church of Christ / May 14, 2017
Jeannie’s mother, Charlotte Glasgow, passed away in the spring of 2008. We miss her greatly.
Like her middle name, Edelweiss, Charlotte’s life was a sweet fragrance of Christ.
How thrilled she must be to know that she has a great-granddaughter bearing her name.
My mother, Gloria Thelma Siverd, passed away in the spring of 2010. We miss her so very much.
Her life was also a reflection of the love of Christ. She also has a great-granddaughter that bears her middle name.
During my preparations for this morning’s sermon thoughts of my mother continually warmed my heart.
I’ll comment more on that as we progress through the sermon.
This morning I want to speak about The Mother Of Moses.
Please open your Bibles to the book of Exodus
The book of Exodus opens by noting (Ex.1:8-10) - -
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we.
Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war,
they also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us, and depart from the land.
The new Pharaoh’s version of dealing wisely with the children of Israel included infanticide.
Like King Herod in the days of Jesus, Pharaoh felt threatened and ordered “the slaughter of the innocents”.
In his historical speech recorded in Acts 7, Stephen states (Acts 7:19) - -
It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers
so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.
We are not told much at Moses’ mother.
While the book of Exodus later reveals her name (Ex.6:20) - - Num.26:59 offers a little more detail - -
The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed (Yokebed), the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; And she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. Jochebed was Amram’s wife and aunt. cf. Ex.6:20 and Lev.18:12.
What a privilege (what a responsibility): to be the mother of Miriam (a prophetess), Aaron (high priest) and Moses.
Moses was destined to become the leader of the exodus, Israel’s law-giver, a prophet like unto Christ (Deut.18:15).
This edict to dispose of the newborn male infants came at a historic time for Israel.
As a backdrop to this period of time we need to note Gen.15:12-14.
This text records a very important revelation that was given by God to Moses in a night vision.
It was a revelation that was surely made known to the children of Israel.
Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold,
terror and darkness fell upon him. And God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants
will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.
But I will also judge the nation who they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions.
Although Israel’s exodus from Egyptian bondage was still years away, God was engaged in preparing the way.
One tool that God would use to emancipate Israel was the mother of Moses.
Jochebed’s name means “glory of Jehovah”. Eight decades before he encounters the glory of Jehovah God in
the burning bush (Ex.3:1ff), Moses sees the glory of Jehovah in the face and faith of his dear mother, Jochebed.
Ex.1:15 states that Pharaoh sent orders to the Hebrew midwives to put to death all newly-born Hebrew males.
But with faith, the midwives feared God (Ex.1:17) and let the boys live, defying the order of Pharaoh.
Pharaoh grossly underestimated the power of godly women to stand strong for right over wrong.
Pharaoh then bypassed the midwives and gave a direct order to the nation of Israel (Ex.1:22) - -
Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile (river), and every daughter you are to keep alive.
Jochebed was pregnant with Moses (Miriam was probably about ten years old and Aaron was about three).
Jochebed gave birth to Moses. She saw that he was beautiful or good (Ex.2:2a).
This is the same Hebrew word used repeatedly by God in the creation (Gen.1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25 & 31).
Jochebed hid Moses for three months (Ex.2:2b).
Can you imagine how difficult that must have been?
Heb.11:23 states that this hiding of Moses was done “BY FAITH” - -
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents,
because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
These brave actions on the part of Amram & Jochebed may indicate that God have given them a revelation.
Perhaps similar to Simeon’s revelationregarding Jesus (Lk.2:34) - - this child is set for the fall and rise of many in Israel.
Ex.2:3f states, when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it
with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it, and set I among the reeds by the bank of Nile.
Isa.18:2 indicates that ships were actually made out of papyrus.
I point this out to help us understand that Jochebed’s actions were not a weak compromise of Pharaoh’s edict.
Newborn sons were to be cast into the Nile. She indeed cast him into the Nile, but she put him in a basket.
My hunter neighbor once warned me that Siggy’s barking in the backyard was a dinner-bell for the coyotes.
There must have been something about the vessel (perhaps the tar & pitch) that turned off the crocodiles.
What follows now is a display of the providence of God.
Jochebed’s daughter, Miriam, was directed to stand on the riverbank and observe what would happen (Ex.2:4f).
A daughter of Pharaoh came to the Nile to bathe.
The Nile was a “god” to the Egyptians - - the mother of all living.
Pharaoh’s daughter came to the Nile for a ritual bathing. She saw the basket and sent her maid to retrieve it.
When the basket was opened she saw a baby boy crying, and she had pity on him.
Pharaoh’s daughter displayed compassion.
I can’t think of a better single word that best describes my mother than COMPASSION.
She took in lots of foster children. And cried terribly every time they received placement.
She adopted older women in the congregation and nurtured them in a host of ways.
Like Deb Rossi’s mother, Velma Thompson, my mom ran a free taxi service for numerous elderly women.
Like Velma, my mother didn’t have to be directed by a church ministry, she just did what she could and did it well.
Hold on, there’s more of God’s providence.
Miriam offers to find a Hebrew nursemaid for this Hebrew child and Pharaoh’s daughter authorizes such (Ex.2:7-8).
Miriam brings her mother and Pharaoh’s daughter tells Jochebed, Moses’ mother, (Ex.2:9) - -
Take this child away and nurse him for me and I shall give you your wages.
We’re not told how long Jochebed kept Moses.
Even today in middle-eastern countries it is not uncommon for mothers to nurse their children to the age of four or five.
Perhaps Jochebed was further commissioned to help raise Moses.
What seeds Jochebed must have planted in the mind and heart of baby Moses!
I wonder if she sang to him?
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One God.
And thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all of thy heart,
And thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all of thy soul,
And thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all of thy strength,
And thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all of thy mind.
I wrote an essay a year ago titled, The Awakening Of Moses.
Ex.2:10 simply notes, the child grew. Ex.2:11-12 tells of Moses’ adult years:
it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their
hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren…and he struck down the Egyptian.
Acts 7:22 records that Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians…a man of power in words and deeds.
Heb.11:24 states - - by faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin;
considering the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures of Egypt…
With his extensive education (educated in all the learning of the Egyptians), it is very likely that
Moses had read and studied about the nation of Israel in the annals of the Egyptian Empire.
Archaeology reveals that the Egyptians kept copious documents with detailed records of their various conquests.
The library in Alexandria, founded around 300BC was the greatest of the ancient world.
But one can’t help but wonder how Moses’ faith was inspired by the teachings of his mother in the days of his youth.
As a favored one in the house of Pharaoh, it seems likely that an older Moses would have
been given the freedom to spend time with his mother and father, Amram & Jochebed.
With such an arrangement, the seeds of faith that were planted in his youth would have been continually nurtured.
As those 400 years of slavery drew nearer to their end, something had awakened Moses.
When we contemplate the greatness of Moses, we can help but dwell on the influence of his mother, Jochebed.
Heavenly Father,
One this special day, we pause to give You thanks for our mothers.
Thank You for their keen sense of responsibility. Thank You for their unselfishness.
Thank You for the industry and leadership they provide within our homes.
Thank You Father, for the hands that rock the cradles of children near and far.
May their good teachings always be worn around our necks as a garland of love and devotion.
We also want to thank You for all of the godly women who have influenced our lives for good:
Sunday School teachers, camp counselors, inspirational mentors, dear friends and fellow Christians.
May you continue to bless our congregation with godly women - - younger and older, married and single.
Through Christ, Our Savior, who was born of a woman, we pray. Amen.
