Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/87

Contributor - Rev. Wallace Stoepker

Title - One Mother's Faith

Topic - Parenting

Mother's Day introduces Christian Family Week, an annual time when we think of the importance of the Christian home and the mother, who plays such an important part in making the home Christ centered. How fitting it is to pause to honour our mothers and remember their sacrifice, service, love, concern and care for us. When we are young it is easy to just assume that all the tasks that a mother does will be automatically performed. Mother's Day is a reminder of the appreciation we ought to show each day of the year.

Each Saturday when I read the newspaper I notice that there is a large section giving listings of homes. Many advertisements have pictures to make the homes more attractive. The verbal descriptions make the houses seem attractive and desirable. The ad for a home might make us daydream and say, "If I just had that house I would be happy." Indeed, the ads make one tempted to say, "The greatest blessing that a family can possess is an adequate, comfortable home." Christians might almost be inclined to agree. But my experience and observation has revealed that in some of those large, attractive, comfortable houses, there is a lot of unhappiness. Possession of a house does not guarantee happiness inside. I will testify from my own life that the most wonderful blessing that any family can have is a loving Christian mother, one who loves the Lord, who in turn motivates here to fulfill the many responsibilities that fall to her rom morning to evening. There is no substitute for "a mother's touch".

Just over a generation ago lived a boy known only to a few people. He was simply a youth working as so many did at that time in a factory. But, he had one sincere longing in his heart. His desire was to be a singer. He finally had an opportunity for a few singing lessons from a local vocal teacher. She almost took the heart out of the boy by exclaiming to him, "You haven't any voice at all. You sound like the wind blowing through the shutters." But the boy's mother put her arms around him,, and in a simple, kindly, Christian way said, "I know you can sing. Your voice is improving already." This godly mother, though poor, sacrificed even more so her boy could take further lessons. Though the voice of that singer has been silenced for several decades, his name still rings with familiarity.

His name - Caruso - one of the most talented singers of all time. He grew rich through singing, but always testified that his mother was his most valuable treasure.

For Mother's Day we would like to call attention to another mother, a godly mother who lived many generations ago, a mother who shaped the early life of one who was recognized in the Bible as the greatest man in the Old Testament Bible. Actually his mother , s name is little known. Most church members and Bible students could not tell you the name of this woman if asked. Yet dozens of generations are indebted to this woman for the influence she bestowed on her son. Imagine, over 3,200 years later we are still reaping the benefits of the godly instruction which she gave to her son.

The name of the man, the greatest in the Old Testament? Can you name him? It was Moses. Scripture testifies to his superiority when it reveals in Deuteronomy 34: 1 Of, "No prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do ... For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel." Now, can you name his mother. It is given in one of the chapters with a long list of family names that we might be tempted to skip in our reading of Scripture. But look it up in the Bible . for yourself, Exodus 6:20, "Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses." Remember that name, remember that mother with the superior faith in God. She is all the more remarkable when we examine the story about her actions in the Bible.

We learn about Jochebed when we read the story of how the Israelites were enslaved in the land of Egypt. This family of people who had been invited by the ruler to live in Egypt grew in numbers over the generations until a couple hundred years later, they were looked upon as a military threat. The Pharaoh who now ruled feared that the Israelites would form an alliance with some enemy to the north and together conquer the Egyptians. To avert the Pharaoh set task masters over the Israelites and made them slaves.

The life of the Israelites was now bitter. They were driven and whipped in the hot dry sun of Egypt by the merciless slave masters. The slaves were forced to do hard labour in the fields and on construction projects, possibly even on some of the pyramids. The cruel Egyptians justified their heartless actions by suggesting that the rigours would reduce the population and control the birth rate. But this excessive measure failed to accomplish its purpose and the nation of Israel continued to multiply.

Now godless Pharaoh, in his frustration, decrees an even more cruel measure and rules that every boy baby born to the Israelites should be drowned. We, who have been raised under the Christian concept that every child is precious and treasured in the sight of the Lord, cannot comprehend the inhumanity of a ruler that would drive him to decree the killing of innocent infants. Yet to a lesser degree, Herod, in order to destroy the Christ Child, decreed the death of the male children age two and under in Bethlehem. History also tells us of such atrocity in several wars where hundreds of children were slaughtered. All this makes us gasp at the supreme court giving approval on abortion, of not simply hundreds, but thousands and millions of unborn infants. How can conscience be so calloused to allow this?

Now one day there was born to Jochebed and Amram a darling baby boy. This mother of faith could not bear to let her baby be cast innocently into the river and be drowned. Nor could she believe that this was God's will for the little infant that the Lord has given to this couple. Yet she feared as every Israelite mother feared that the child would be discovered by the Egyptian authorities and be destroyed. Perhaps in fear and yet with a strong faith, she prayed urgently to the Heavenly Father for wisdom as to how to preserve the young baby's life.

In answer to her fervent prayers the Lord led her to a unique plan. Though the story has been familiar to us from childhood, we thrill each time we read of Jochebed, who prepared a little ark (bed) and made it waterproof so it would float. The ark was strategically placed in the reeds by the Nile River where the King's daughter came daily. In the distance, obeying her mother's instructions, stood older sister Miriam, watching what would happen to the ark with its valuable contents. By chance (?), the princess came and discovered the little package with the bundle of life inside. The cries of the baby aroused the sympathy of the princess. Miriam stepped out of hiding - as if by chance and offered to obtain a Hebrew nurse for the child. The princess quickly accepted the suggestion and ordered Miriam to secure the services of the woman. Naturally Miriam quickly fetched her mother. What faith on the part of the mother. What providence on the part of God. How our own trust is strengthened as we read of the faith of this simple uneducated slave woman in Egypt. How we rejoice that "God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform."

This account in Scripture gives spiritual direction to mothers and parents of today. The child Moses was placed in Jochebed's care for six year. Now she was free, under the protection of the palace, to train her child,. The prayer for the safety of the child now becomes a prayer for guidance in training her son. Mothers, begin each day with a prayer for direction in the instruction of your children. Mother Jochebed knew that in six years the boy would be removed from her home and be adopted by the princess and he would live in the royal palace. Imagine, just six years to make an impression, six years to train Moses to face the life in the palace with its temptations and indulgences, six years to write indelibly on the heart and mind of the young boy, the laws of God. Even today, what mother would expect to be successful with just six years to share the will of God? But she did it, as history later shows. The impression she made on Moses' heart could not be erased in the palace or the wilderness later.

As a pastor I have heard parents say they felt that religious instruction ought to be delayed until a child is age six. This means six years wasted. This means that Christian instruction is omitted during the six most impressionable years of life. Mother, and father too, how fortunate you are to be able to be the first to write upon a young impressionable heart. "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." At five or six years of age a child enrolls in school. Then the world begins to give impressions, some of which contradict the Christian ethic and gospel. It is, of course, thrilling to see a person converted to Christ in later life, but it is even more thrilling to see a child love and serve Christ from earliest childhood. Each year parental influence is lessened, and the influence of peers and others' becomes more pronounced. In the teen years, youths are tempted to feel that mom and dad are not with it" and to trust the leadership of outsiders more. No wonder we have such a generation of dishonesty and greed, where some feel that wrong is wrong only if they get caught. God, give us more mothers like Jochebed!

The faith of Jochebed was further tested when Moses was away from her training and care, and lived in the palace. Luxury and position brought temptation then as it does now. Would young Moses seek to conform to the new standards, to conform and be popular, or would he somehow prevail and remain firm to the standards in which he was trained? Hebrews 11:24 gives us an accurate report: "By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." What a change for the good there would be in society if every child would make a similar choice. What a tribute to the guidance of a godly mother!

Jochebed's son became the God-directed leader who led the Children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to the borders of the Promised Land. For over 40 years he held the respect of the people and the favour of God as he led this nation of people through the wilderness.

We know so little about Jochebed. Her name is obscurely hidden in the Scriptures. No headlines were given to her. But she was faithful, not for fame but because she felt it was a privilege entrusted to her by the Lord. Many mothers are actually the real reason for the success of many great men.

A study was done in 1900 by A. E. Winship on the descendants of the 18th century clergyman, Jonathan Edwards. Sarah Edwards, his wife, was another mother who displayed a vital interest in the spiritual development of her children. Winship believed that much of the character and accomplishments of the Edwards' 11 children was due to the mother. The Edwards' descendants produced: 13 college presidents; 65 professors; 100 lawyers and a dean of a law school; 30 judges; 66 physicians and a dean of a medical school; and 80 holders of public office, including three United States senators, three mayors of large cities, three state governors, a vice-president of the United States and a controller of the United States Treasury.

How did she do it? She was a firm, patient mother of faith. Her children behaved and treated each other in a loving and respectful manner. Could it be true, as one writer has said, "As mothers go, so goes the nation"?

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