Mother’s Day: Why They Call Her Blessed:

May 04, 2008

Read Proverbs 31:28

• When you think of a role model, what comes to mind? Someone you admire, a person you would like to emulate, who possesses qualities you desire for yourself. Kids have a distinct way of expressing who their role models are; for adorning many a bedroom wall is a poster, picture or cut out of their favorite ball player, musician, or entertainer. And these are often plastered on the walls in which you, the parent, paid for. Adults go about these things differently, for rarely will you see grown men and women accessorizing and decorating their sleeping quarters with posters, right?
• But we still know how in our own adult ways, to show our admiration for particular individuals, don’t we? And today is one of those ways, as all across the U.S. people are in different ways and fashions, honoring mother’s everywhere. Today, let’s take a look at a woman who exemplifies what a role model should look like. The woman whom we’ll look at is often overshadowed by her grandfather and her children, as they’re names are frequently listed throughout scripture. Nevertheless, she played a pivotal role in furthering the plans of God for His people Israel.
• Her name is Jochebed, which can be translated “Jehovah, her glory.” She is the mother of Aaron, Miriam and Moses, and the granddaughter of Levi, the priestly son of Abraham. What makes her unique is not just that her children are more renown than she, but that she realized the important role they would play way before they ever did, and she acted upon it.
• In Exodus 2:1-4 , the Egyptians realized the Hebrews were beginning to outnumber them so Pharaoh put out a decree that all sons were to be killed. What a lousy time to have children. Just like today, who knows what the economy will do. Or there’s a recession and jobs could become scarce; let’s keep those wombs closed until we get a Democrat in office many will say. But she has a son and she hides him 3 months. Imagine how hard that must have been. Then finally she couldn’t hide him any longer so she builds him a little raft and sends him down the Nile River. Why is that applauded? Here are three reasons:
  1. Faith - Hebrews 11:23 says she was not afraid of the kings command - this act of rebellion could have cost her not only her life but the lives of her family as well
  2. Vision - she saw what kind of child Moses would be; she could have said, “I already have Aaron and he seems to be a fine boy, who needs this trouble,” but she looks at her son through spiritual eyes and not man’s eyes, and she sees him as God sees him - a man who will do great things for God
  3. Expectancy - she sends Moses’ older sister Miriam to see what would happen; folks there are crocodiles in this river, and she sends Moses’ older sister to see him get slaughtered and eaten up, of course not; according to Exodus 2:5-10 she gets paid to nurse her own son and teach him about Jehovah, telling him how these pyramids were nothing but Yahweh is everything

• Exodus 2:11 - although Jochebed only had Moses for about 7 years, her influence was upon him a lifetime, for as soon as he could he tries to join himself to the people of God. Acts 7:25 tells us Moses knew he was a deliverer to Israel. Guess where he got that? Jochebed. Of course he would need another 40 years of training before he would know how to lead. But nonetheless his mother had poured into him faith.
• Question: If someone spent 7 years with you will they come out of that time a person of Faith, Vision, and Expectancy? Would they, no matter what temptation they’ll face, be able to stand because of what you poured into them? Mother’s, many of you will have had more than 7 years with your child, but will they be able to make godly decisions when you no longer hold that place of retaliation in their hearts?
• Are you the type of role model that is remembered based upon your cooking - the chicken, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls - or your shopping for your kids, keeping them in the latest styles, or the wonderful Christmases you provided, as play station games abounded on the big screen? If that’s what they remember you by, then you’re no different than those posters upon their walls of people who get admiration based upon worldly feats.
• You don’t want to be a poster to your child, you want to place a standard in their lives, one that no matter what they face in life will be the compass to guide them in the right direction. In conclusion, we see an example of this in 2 Timothy 1:5-7 , when Timothy, the Apostle Paul’s beloved protégé, was struggling with fear and doubt. Paul called to his remembrance the faith of his grandmother, Lois, and then his mother, Eunice, who Paul says instilled their faith in God into their child, Timothy. This is the reason a child should call his mother blessed, because of the faith she modeled to them, and then took the time and instilled that faith in them.