Mother’s Day (May 11, 2025)

No other assignment on earth demands the skills, endurance, knowledge and understanding than a mother. In her everyday function, she fills so many roles she could be called the Eighth Wonder of the World. We are going to look at a woman in the Old Testament who faced her own crisis as a mother living in difficult circumstances. Her name was Jochebed, the wife of Amram and the mother of Moses. She gave birth to a son in a time when Pharaoh had decreed that all male Hebrew babies were to be drowned in the Nile River. She tried to conceal his birth for a time but, as he grew, it became impossible. When she could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket and hid him in the river close to where Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe.

Moses’ mother had no social standing within society, no decent clothes, no possessions, no rank, no position. She was a slave. She worked in the brickyards or in the fields or as the servant of some wealthy Egyptian. Yet God was to use this humble mother, this enslaved woman, beyond imagination. She was to give birth to one of the greatest men who has ever lived.

Moses’ mother is a great example to us. No matter how lowly or far down we are, God will use us. God will use us no matter how lowly our …

If we will only do what Moses’ mother did – believe God and follow after God – God will accept us and use us to bless the lives of many throughout the world. God always uses the lowly who truly trust and follow after Him, uses them to confound and humble those who exalt themselves.

We know that when Moses was born, he had two older siblings, Miriam and Aaron. The law to drown all newborn boys was put into effect right before the birth of Moses.

Picture for a moment the uneasiness of Moses’ parents when his mother discovered that she was pregnant. Just imagine their concern, anxiety, fear, uncertainty—wondering what would happen if the child was a boy. What would they do? What could they do? Month after month—for nine long months—they would have prayed and wondered, trying their best to figure out what they would do if the child was a boy.

Then, finally, the day came, and their worst fears became a reality: a baby boy, Moses, was born. Note what his mother did: she did the courageous, righteous thing. She hid the child for three months. Why? What would make her risk her own life to save her child’s life? The same thing that has driven many mothers to save their child’s life when the child was threatened:

The point is this: Moses’ mother was a courageous, righteous woman. When she looked at Moses, God gave her a sense that her child was special. He was a gift, a very special gift from God. His life was important to God; therefore, she had to be courageous and do the righteous thing: she had to save her child’s life. God’s purpose for the child was far more important than even her love. Thus, she wanted to save the child not only because she loved him, but also because he was a special gift from God. Therefore, she hid the child for three months. Day after day and week after week—three long months—she hid the child from the authorities and neighbors, from everyone who might be a threat, lest someone report the child’s presence. She hid the child at the risk of her own life. Moses’ mother was a godly woman, a courageous and righteous woman.

Moses’ mother had prayed and trusted God to save her child and to use him in God’s service. This is what each and every mother should be doing for their child. There is nothing like the prayer of a mother over her child(ren).

Mom, you have one of the most difficult tasks in the world in raising up righteous children for God’s glory. Don’t underestimate the power of your prayers and your faith as you raise your children in the fear of God. The portrait I have shared of Jochebed could be of so many of you that have been faithful to God. Don’t give up the fight! Hang in there and let God honor you for your fight of faith! Have a happy and blessed Mother’s Day! Let God’s glory and presence rest on you as it did on Jochebed.