Category: Motherhood

Faith over Fear – Hope Revived

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We have no sure way of knowing Jochebed’s thoughts, but since her faith is commended in Hebrews chapter 11 we can assume they weren’t solely for her son. She would have had a love for her people, the Israelites. She saw their suffering under the harsh Egyptian taskmasters. Her voice would have mingled with the cry that rose up to God, as we read later, “the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them” (Exodus 3:9).

Did she even harbour a hope that Moses would grow up to become the one who would intercede on behalf of the Israelites.

Was she like Mordecai, who saw his cousin Esther placed in a position of power and privilege, and could say to her, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Did Jochebed’s mind swirl with plans and ideas of how God might use her son in accomplishing his plan of deliverance? Is that what the New Testament commentary on her husband and her means when it says, “they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favoured child” (Hebrews 11:23 AMP)?

If so, at first it seemed things were going to plan. 

“Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens” (Exodus 2:11).

He wanted to help them. He hadn’t been hardened by his years growing up within a culture that was so against God’s people.

Is this what Jochebed had hoped for all along? Moses taking an interest in their plight, standing up to the Egyptians and trying to protect his own people.

But things go horribly wrong. A murder. An accusation. And Moses flees for his life, knowing that Pharaoh has discovered that he has killed an Egyptian.

Moses is now far away from the people of God. Gone away in disgrace. Any thought of him accomplishing a great work for God seems to have gone up in smoke.

Are Jochebed’s hopes dashed? Her plan, which she had nurtured in her heart, appears to have fallen to pieces.

Yet, although Jochebed’s plan might fail, God’s plan will stand firm.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways”, says the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).

God was going to do a work in Moses while he was away from Egypt. He would take him from the palaces of Egypt out to a wilderness to look after sheep. It was here that Moses would encounter God in a way that he hadn’t encountered him while in Egypt.

After forty years in the wilderness, God appears to Moses in a burning bush.

Moses must come face to face with God.

He hears the voice from the burning bush declaring, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” He hears God declaring, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” 

And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God (Exodus 3:5-6).

Moses is confronted with the holiness of God and must acknowledge his own sin.

The forty years in the wilderness have brought Moses to a point where he readily acknowledges his unfitness for the task God calls him to do. No longer is he the proud, strong Egyptian prince standing over another Egyptian and striking him down. We now hear Moses saying, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NIV).

Moses has learned humility and his own unworthiness. It is from this posture of humility that God will use Moses mightily to show His own great power over Pharaoh and all of Egypt.

We scan across the years and see God bringing Moses from the wilderness back to Egypt to be the leader of His people. To speak for God, to show God’s mighty works, to bring those who were bound in slavery out to freedom. To lead God’s people all the way through the wilderness. To be the one who received God’s law, the one to whom God showed His glory. 

We don’t know how long Jochebed lived, and how much of Moses’ life she got to see. Did she live through those forty long years? Years of waiting and wondering. Hope flickering dimly.

Perhaps your own children are far away from where you would like them to be? Perhaps they have turned away from the faith. Perhaps your heart is heavy with despair and the situation seems hopeless.

Let us hold on to hope and continue to pray in faith.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him” (Psalm 42:5).

We have an advantage over Jochebed, as we know the great man of God Moses became. 

What joy would have filled her soul if she could have seen into the future and watched her son (the one she had entrusted to God so many years before) as he stands before the people of Israel. They are filled with fear as God comes down to speak to them. Smoke billows up from the mountain as the Lord descends on it in fire, with thundering and lightning. The people are so afraid that they refuse to come near to hear God’s message to them. But Moses steps forward. Confident. Unafraid. He will go near to God. 

Later Moses would say, “I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain” (Deuteronomy 5:5).

How was Moses able to confidently stand before God unafraid?

From that first day standing at the burning bush, when he hid his face from God, something had changed in Moses. 

Moses had come to know God for himself.

God had said to him, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight’ (Exodus 33:12).

Though he knew he was a sinner, yet Moses trusted in the grace that God extended to him.  

Moses became one of the greatest men of God. His deepest desire was to know God personally. He would say to God, “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight” (Exodus 33:13). The close relationship Moses had with the Lord is recorded for us, as we read, “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (v.11). 

The faith of Jochebed played a huge part in Moses’ life but, ultimately, Moses belonged to God. And it was God who stepped into his life in a mighty way. When we, as mothers, fear for our children and the path they are on, let us remember the God who intervened in Moses’ life. We can trust in the goodness of this same God to speak into our own children’s lives.

Let us, like Jochebed, be women whose faith is firmly anchored in God, remembering that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

Faith Over Fear – Releasing into the World

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Jochebed’s time to release her son into the world came – much sooner than she would have liked. But her attitude gives us great hope, even in such a heart-wrenching situation.  

She had a plan. And when she could no longer hide her baby at home, she went into action. 

She carefully made a basket, placed her son in it, and set him in the river near where Pharaoh’s daughter often bathed (Exodus 2:3). How did she feel, knowing that any hope of his life being saved would also mean that he would grow up as an Egyptian, in the palace of Egypt? That he would be immersed in a culture that was opposed to the truth of God? 

Jochebed was a woman of faith. She believed that God could preserve her son in an ungodly environment. It was this faith in God that empowered her act. So we watch, as she builds her little basket for him so carefully and then places him among the reeds by the river’s edge. 

Jochebed was an Israelite whose faith and trust was in the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth. She wanted her son to love and serve God too, and yet here she was apparently risking all this in order to save his life. If found by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses would possibly grow up in an environment where multiple false gods were worshipped. Where there was no knowledge of the one true God and His ways.

Yet, her great faith in God shone out. She believed God had a plan for her son. And so, even as she tucked her son carefully into the basket, she placed her own faith in the God of heaven to protect him.

However, this wasn’t a careless abandonment. She didn’t turn her back and walk away. She carefully orchestrated events as far as she could, and was ready to offer her services to Pharaoh’s daughter as a nursemaid, ensuring that she would be the one to care for her son (vv.4-9). 

This put Jochebed in a unique position. Her son would be known as the son of Pharoah’s daughter, yet she was able to maintain a deep connection with him. Not only did she nourish him with food and surround him with love, but she began her crucial work of equipping him for the life that would be his. Jochebed would have used every opportunity to pour into his young life. What she did in those years (however few they were) was of great import. 

She made sure he had a true understanding of his identity. That he was an Israelite – not an Egyptian. That becomes clear later on:

“Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens” (v.11).

He knew who he was. He may have looked like an Egyptian, but he was not. He had another identity that he could choose to embrace and walk into.

Surely Moses’ mother would have told him the tales of his history. The great story of creation; of Adam and Eve, and how sin came into the world. The stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Of Joseph, too, and how their people came to be in Egypt. 

She would have taught him about God, the promise-giver. The one who had promised they would be delivered out of Egypt and brought to a land of their own. 

As Moses watched his birth family, he must have seen something that he would not find when in the palaces of Egypt. 

They had something of more value. There was something of God in their home. Something of the love of God. A strong faith in God and a hope that God would deliver them. 

Was it this godly, loving home that sparked the flame of faith in Moses’ heart?

The impact of a faith-filled mother and father who showed him what was truly greater riches?

So that we read in the New Testament that “Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24). 

Jochebed and her husband could have been filled with fear at the thought of sending Moses into such an ungodly world, and continued to hide him in their house.

However, Jochebed chose the path of faith. To trust God with her child. 

Did she even have hopes of a saviour for her people? Did she harbour her own ideas of how Moses could grow up and assist her people in freedom from slavery.

Jochebed was a woman of vision and great faith. Do we dare to be, too?

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Faith Over Fear – A Shelter From The World

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The first step in Jochebed’s journey of faith was to hide her son from those who sought his life. She didn’t know how she would continue to keep him safe, but she knew she must do what she could to save his life, so she took the first step. She kept him safely hidden in her house. He knew nothing of the dangers that surrounded him and the threat on his life.

When we consider our own children and the dangerous world around them, we can do what we can to ensure that their early years are ones of shelter and protection.

They should feel safe and loved from their earliest days. Our homes should be a haven from the world; a place where our children can grow, safe from harm. We should be guarding their minds from unnecessary fears by taking care what voices they are exposed to. Giving our children a foundation of love and security in which to flourish.

In those first few months of Moses’ life, Jochebed’s focus was on caring for Moses. I’m sure she did feel fear during that time about what the future might hold, yet her priority was on Moses’ well-being there and then. Her fears didn’t keep her from doing what she needed to do “now”.

Sometimes I have found my mind filled with fears about the future, to the point that I am not carrying out today’s responsibilities very well. My mind is far away, I am not being present in the moment with my children. I am not considering that they have needs today. I am worrying about future concerns; perhaps decisions around schooling, or fears of their future based on current behaviours. Or dreaming up a scary scenario that may or may not happen.

These thought patterns can really freeze us up in our day-to-day life with young children.

It is good to remember the words of the Lord Jesus.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will look after itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

When we live in the future, we are full of anxiety, our mind full of “what-ifs”.

But what if we, like Jochebed, focused on the present and put our energy to good use for the needs our children have today?

And as we look into their little faces, we remember that they are precious to God and entrusted to us. That we should do what we can to create a haven of security and love for our children; an environment for them to grow in confidence, knowing they are loved unconditionally; a place where the world does not encroach, where they can live in peace and safety.

Doing this will give them a solid foundation beneath them.

There will come a time when they need to step out into the world and we need to prepare them for that. But that will be the subject of the next post!

A Joyful Mother of Children

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The year 2020 has given us all more time to pause and reflect. One thing that has impressed itself on me is the family God has blessed me with. As other outside demands and activities faded into the background, I noticed my family coming into clearer focus.

In our culture, it is easy to relegate our children to the bottom of the pile of things to do. We have our to-do list, and our children’s needs are often fitted in around our schedule. It led me to think of the high value God puts on children.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord.”

Psalm 127:3

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”

Matthew 19:14 NIV

In the early church, encouragement was given for the older women to “urge the younger women to love their husbands and children” (Titus 2:4 NIV).

Loving our children can be seen in a variety of ways. It is looking after their wellbeing. Creating a healthy, peaceful environment for them to live in. Caring for their physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. I have had to ask myself, am I being intentional in my parenting? Am I letting my children spend too much time on screens, so I can “get stuff done”?

Being intentional takes effort. And time. And planning. And doing.

I want to involve my children in the life of the home, by having them help with chores, teaching them skills for life, so they will feel a valuable part of the family and will be prepared for independence when the time comes for it.

I want to be more intentional about instilling spiritual values into my children. Not in a stiff, formal way, but, sprinkling it in throughout the day.

“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 11:19 NIV

I want to create more of a learning environment in our home, where good books are read and shared, introducing my children to great men and women of faith from past generations. 

And I want to get involved in their lives. Find out what their interests are, take time to listen, and learn about them.

Often as mothers, we find ourselves constantly directing, instructing, correcting. But it is good to take time to stop and listen. To stop and play. To enter their world for a while. To have fun with them!

Psalm 113 verse 9 says, “He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children”.

A joyful mother?

When I first came across that phrase it caused me to pause. Am I a joyful mother? Unfortunately, I had to admit I was often definitely not a joyful mother. Motherhood is hard work. But as I thought about being a joyful mother, it helped to remind me that children are a gift from God. He has kindly blessed me and my husband with four healthy boys. We should value them as much as God does and see them as the main responsibility in our lives, not an added extra.

This past year has made me reconsider my priorities. Yes, I am called to serve within my church family, and to reach out into my community, but not at the expense of loving my children well.

Of course, we will not do this parenting thing perfectly. We can all give ourselves grace, but we also need to embrace this job with energy and approach it with joy. God has given these children to us.

Like the woman in Proverbs 31:26-28 we can:

  • Teach our children – “She opens her mouth with wisdom”.
  • Listen and respond to our children with kindness, not being abrupt or impatient – “on her tongue is the law of kindness”.
  • Set our priorities and values for our home – “She watches over the ways of her household”.
  • Make the necessary effort – “and does not eat the bread of idleness”.

And then we too may be privileged to hear the echo coming back to us through the years, the voices of our children . . . “Her children rise up and call her blessed”

Joy in Despair

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Sundays are meant to be peaceful.

That was my fleeting thought as I mounted the stairs yet again one Sunday morning.
Being a mum of four boys I am no stranger to noise, but this particular Sunday things were getting out of control at an alarming rate. Hurtful words, someone left out, tears and shouting. Doors banging. Emotions boiling over.

I had already refereed several disputes that morning and as I waded into the melee I was met with a barrage of accusations and defences. What left me slightly bemused and extremely frustrated was that this scenario was sounding identical to the previous dispute only ten minutes earlier. Only this time the players had changed position!
One who had been upset moments earlier by his older brother’s hurtful comments and exclusions, was now treating his younger brother in exactly the same way. Yet somehow was unable to see (or admit) that he was doing anything wrong. This was completely different apparently!

It is in moments like this that you just want to roll your eyes, grind your teeth, and walk away – fast! And I have responded in one or all of these ways at different times.
But this time I knew I needed to see this through.

I was determined to see this through.

Surely I can make an eight year old see sense!
I could convince him that he was not being kind.
I could make him see his actions from his brothers point of view.
I could make him admit he was wrong.
I could handle it.
And so the debate raged on, moving from the bedroom, to the kitchen and still he stubbornly clung to his position that he had not done anything wrong and he was completely innocent.
I was trying every angle with no success, and in that moment I realised something.

I am completely helpless to change his heart.

I cannot make my child compassionate. I cannot make my child humble himself. I cannot make my child have a kind and caring heart toward others.

Despair seeped in, tinged with fear. Fear for the future. What sort of man would he grow up to be? My imagination ran wild.

“I can’t do this!” was the cry from my heart as I sat down at my kitchen table, feeling at a complete loss. I can’t make him into the man I so want him to become.

But in that moment of complete helplessness and deep despair I felt the Lord whisper in my heart.

“This is good.”

What?!

“This is a good place to be. This is exactly where I want you to be.”

Realisation dawned on me and with that, a deep joy flooded in.

This is where the Lord wants me!

He wants me to know I can’t do this on my own. He is reminding me, “You can’t change their hearts, but I can.
I’ve got this.” I can rest in Him. It is not my job to make and mould my children into what they should be.
Ultimately, they belong to God. He can do the heart transforming work. I can’t do that.
It is not my job to try and conform them to His image.
I can give that burden to God. I can give my child to God and trust Him to change them from the inside out.
He will make each one into who He wants them to be in His time.

It is very humbling to admit our inability. We want others to look at us and our children and applaud our efforts. We love to hear compliments on what lovely children we have, how well behaved they are, etc. And of course we want our children to behave, but often I find it is my pride that is at work.
I start to feel pretty good about myself, as though their good behaviour is a credit to my parenting skills, or when they misbehave, my first thought is, “what will people think of me?”.
We forget God and become our own god, thinking we are in control of our family. We will ensure everyone behaves so as not to embarrass ourselves, rather than because it is sin against God.
While it is humbling to be faced with our own inability, it is also very freeing.
To know that if our children are to become anything for God, it is up to God, not us.

“Of course we are not able to do this work of raising children and training them in the instruction of the Lord. That’s why we desperately need the Lord.”

(G. Furman, Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full)

We should know this. All through scripture this theme is repeated.
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118.8).
We are to be strong IN THE LORD and in the strength of HIS MIGHT. Not our own strength, remembering that “the Lord is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27.1).
And yet so often we fall back to thinking we can do it on our own. That we should be able to do it on our own.

What freedom in knowing we don’t need to “have it all together”. The Lord is not finished with us yet. He is not finished with our children yet.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2 .10). He is still at work. We can trust Him.

Release the reins to God.

Rest.