05-11-2025 What the Mother of Moses Did for Him

Text: Hebrews 11:23-28

                   Mothers play an important part in the lives of their children.  It’s a role that’s filled with a lot of love along with a lot of heartache.  It’s also very rewarding.  But without faith and the help of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, raising happy and successful children is just about impossible.  On this Mother’s Day we’re of course thinking about our own mothers and all they mean to us.  Some of the notable mothers we have learned about in the Bible include Eve, the mother of us all; Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel; Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist; and of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Today, we’re going to look at Jochebed, who was the mother of Moses.  Our text is from Hebrews 11:23-28 which says:  “(23) 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.  (28) Through faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He Who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”

                   Jochebed was a mother a mother in a very difficult time.  As a Hebrew slave living in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered all male babies to be killed at birth to reduce the population of the Hebrew people.  But she acted in faith and entered God’s Hall of Fame for her actions to save her son Moses. 

                   Verse 23 of our text tells us that his parents saw that Moses was a proper child.  They saw he had potential.  Exodus 2:2 tells us he was a ‘goodly child’ and Acts 7:20 tells us that he was ‘exceeding fair.’  His mother loved him and expected the most of him.  She believed children are gifts from God, and a heritage of the Lord as written in Psalm 127.  And that they should be a blessing, not a bother. 

                   Jochebed also risked her own life for her son.  Instead of giving her son up to the authorities to be killed at birth, she dared to violate the law to save him.  As Christians we are to obey the laws.  But there is a time to break them.  Acts 5:29 tells us that we are to obey God rather than man.  There are many examples of the Apostles and other Biblical heroes of faith breaking the laws of man.  Despite the command of Pharaoh Jochebed hid her son for three months.  Then she made a basket for him and sent him floating in the river where the daughter of Pharaoh found him and took him to raise as her own, thereby saving his life.  And, as things turned out, we learn in Exodus 2:7-10 how his mother was called upon to be the nurse of baby Moses.  This allowed her to be a strong influence in his upbringing.

                   Verse 24 of our text tells us that Jochebed imparted faith to her son.  While the faith of our mothers will not ultimately save us, it is where we learn our greatest lessons of what faith means and what it can do in our lives.  As his nurse, she was able to teach Moses about his people and her Lord.  Her teaching ultimately made him a man of faith.  It was his mother’s patient instruction that built a faithful son who would choose to serve God and help his people.

                   We see in verse 25-28 how Jochebed taught her son to take the long look in life.  Moses chose to suffer with the people of God rather than live in the splendor of Egyptian royalty.  Because of his mother’s teaching and nurturing he was able to see the temporary nature of sin, which is the meaning of the phrase ‘enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.’  He knew and understood that this life’s suffering is temporary, he learned to walk by faith, to trust God in difficult times, and came to believe that eternal riches are found in the Lord.

                   Jochebed trusted God to protect her son’s life.  She was not merely a proud parent; she was a believer who had faith that God would care for him.  God has a plan for every person, so it’s important that mothers and fathers accept the important task of praying for their children and preparing them to do the work God has planned for them.  Faith allows us to entrust our children to God. 

                   Moses became one of Israel’s greatest leaders, a prophet, and a lawgiver.  But when he was born, he was under a sentence of death.  Being raised in the household of Pharaoh, he needed faith to give up his pleasurable and comfortable place in the palace as well as the treasures of Egypt.  He was able to do it because he saw the fleeting nature of great wealth and prestige in this world.  We can easily be deceived by the temporary benefits of wealth, popularity, status, or achievement and become blind to the long-range benefits of God’s kingdom.  It’s faith that helps us look beyond the world’s value system and enables us to see and choose the eternal values of God’s kingdom. 

                   The faith of our mothers helps to teach us that our real treasure is in Heaven.  Think about the most powerful, wealthy, and well-known people in the world.  How many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle?  Probably very few!  But in Christ’s eternal kingdom, it’s the humble people who will be lifted up and richly rewarded.  Don’t give up God’s eternal rewards for life’s temporary benefits.  This is a very important lesson that all mothers should teach their children. 

                   My brother and I were blessed to have a mother that lived and taught the lessons of faith to us.  I pray that each of your mother’s did the same for you.  I pray that you who have already raised your children did the same for them.  To those who are still raising children or take part in the lives of your grandchildren, I commend you on this Mother’s Day for the important role you play in your children’s lives.  Never feel you must do it alone.  Always take time to study your Bible and learn how you can be successful by putting your faith and trust in God to help you pass faith along to your children so they too will choose to be led by Jesus to trust in the eternal promises of the God who loves us all.

                    Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.