Sermon notes from Sunday 8 July 2019
Exodus 2 verses 1 - 10, Acts 7 verses 20 - 22 and Hebrews 11 verses 23 - 26
During our Holiday Bible Week we considered various children of the Bible. On our last night we thought of Moses and the terrible conditions he was born into. We noted the amazing faith of his mother and father, the compassion they had on him. Writers said through this act of faith Jochebed knew God had blessed her son and God would have something great planned for his life. The love she had and the spiritual welfare she had for her child. Take encouragement today in regards to Moses, as believers, as parents and grandparents to safeguard the souls of those we love. There is only so much we can do and leave it all in God`s hands and trust him for them. Notice here in the life of Moses ...
The times in which he was born. From the lips of Stephen in Acts 7 verse 20 we read "In which time Moses was born and was exeeding fair and nourished up in his father`s house three months." Stephen was one of the leaders of the early church. One of the deacons called on to take care of the needs of the early church. A man of faith, he was noticed by the members in the church. The old devil had him in his sights right away. He was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the leading men in the Jewish religion. There was something very different about him. "His face shone like an angel". They could not get to the bottom of the wisdom of his words. He was martyred, stoned to death because of his belief. He had his opportunity to speak to his false accusers. They told him to speak for himself. He gave them a history lesson on the Jewish nation. He talked about the call of Abraham, how Jacob and his sons found friendships and help in Egypt only to find another Pharaoh was raised up who knew not Joseph. They were under the bondage of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh ordered all the babies in such a time as Moses was born to be killed. Jochebed his mother took him into her arms and was so afraid that people would know he was there and would take him from her to cast him into the river. Acts 7 verse 19 tells of the slaughter that was going on. The new Pharaoh (verse 18) did not realise that Joseph had brought them through a time of famine, that he was a blessing. They were living in a time of forgetting about the blessings of God, forgetting about a man who God raised up for revival. We have to be careful about the people God brings across our pathway just for a blessing at that exact moment. We need to pray that we will not forget those who brought revival and blessing to our nation. People like the Wesley`s in the 1700`s or Whitfield who in open air meetings preached and thousands were saved. Our homes are neglecting the word of God, our lives are being neglected from the word of God. In such a time this young man was born. Jochebed hid Moses for 3 months. His mother saw the dangers, sought to protect her child, did all she could to safeguard her son. Can you imagine her nursing this baby. She heard of those Egyptian orders to kill the babies. She was afraid of someone taking her child and throwing him into the river. Are we doing all we can for our little ones, to protect them in this world? Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Do we not see those same dangers, the subtly of the enemy. We hear that the church is too starchy and strict. The devil is getting inroads into the lives of our young people through drugs, alcohol and immorality and through the social media. He is getting in to give a life that is not correct.
The testimony of his mother. Three months pass, it is time to move on. It is not easy now to hide Moses. What an amazing testimony - when we see our children grown up, leaving the home and knowing we have done the best we can, given them something they can hold onto. Timothy looked back on his life like that. Hebrews 11 verse 23. I am sure Jochebed respected Pharaoh and his power. She had no doubt that the law would be fulfilled but she was not afraid of the king`s commandment. Think of Daniel when told not to pray. He feared his God more. he did all he could. This woman stood firm, willing to put her life on the line for the sake of her child. Are we ready to suffer for men and women going out into a Christless hell for all eeternity? Are we read to sacrifice to see people saved? Will we have the testimony to say we have done all we could possibly do? What things she had to give up just to raise that child. She would have to watch her company, she would have to be careful who came into her house, the things she talked about. Anything that would give away her secret. We have to be so careful today of the places we go to, the people and company we keep.
Notice the tears she had. In Hebrews we read "she could hide him no longer." Now what was she going to do? Perhaps his lungs were stronger, his cries were getting louder. What would she do? We don`t know who gave her the idea of putting him into the basket and placing the basket in the river all the children were being thrown into. She used her skills and made a basket pitched with tar. She made sure the water would not get in. She placed the basket among the reeds. She was trusting the God of heaven. There is only so much we can do. There comes a time when we can do no more and have to leave it simply with God. We cannot bring up our children in the fashions of this world and then expect God to work in it. David cannot trust the armour of Saul because it weighed him down. There comes a time when we have done all we can for our children, we have to trust God for them. This woman trusted all would be well for this child.
The teaching she proved. The first thing Pharaoh`s daughter recognised was that this was a Hebrew`s child. She knew her father`s decree and how all the baby boys were being killed in this same river. She had compassion immediately. God had everything under control. He would bring the people across the pathway even now for your children. Miriam offered a nurse for the child. What we teach our children now may never be seen for years to come. It took 40 years for it to be seen in Moses` life. It took that time for him to come to this decision in his life. It came about because of the teaching he receieved at his mother`s knee. It brought him to the place where he heard God speaking directly to him. As we watch our children we are sowing a seed. Moses` mother used the time well to tell Moses about the character of God who had promised them a land, a nation for themselves. Keep praying for your children today. Imagine the time when she gave Moses up to Pharaoh`s daughter. Standing at that palace door, watching that door being opened then closed. She turns around and walks away. Her heart was breaking for her son. No longer in control. She hears of Moses being educated, growing up in the palace, becoming a man mighty in word and deed. She never thought she would see her son growing up there with all the evils around him.
The triumph she secured. There are many twists and turns in life. Never give up. The story of Moses gives us such hope because many fathers and mothers are in that situation today. Broken hearted. See a young person who sat with them in church, heard the word of God but are now out in the world. Never give up, keep on trusting, believing, looking to the Lord. At the age of 40 years Moses made a decision. He walked away from the palace. He decided to be no longer called the son of Pharaoh`s daughter. Jochebed never thought she would see that day. Make sure that child of yours hears the word of God, keep holding on. For 40 years Jochebed held on and she saw the triumph.
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