MOTHERS WHO RELY ON GOD
The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. (Exodus 2:2-4)
Over 40 years as both an attorney and a minister, I have witnessed Godly Mothers who loved their children and did all that they could to train them up in the way that they should go. Unfortunately, in some cases the child would eventually make some mistakes that would cause them to be handled by the judicial system and in some cases even incarcerated. My heart went out to the mothers because I knew that they had done all that they could. But I also applauded them, because time after time I heard them say things like, "I am turning my child over to God to take care of him/her." They realized that God could not only protect the child, but could pick the child up and turn the child around. I honor mothers who trust God with their children.
In the passage above, Jochebed, the mother of Moses was a slave in Egypt when a decree went out that all male Hebrew boys born during that period were to be killed. Jochebed loved Moses, but she had the spiritual vision to know when to hold her child and when to let him go for God's purposes. She released Moses to God's plan for his life. With motherly activity she carefully constructed the little basket-boat. But then with trust in God, she released him into the river.
Godly mothers bring their children into the world; they nurture and care for them; they train them in the right ways to live; and they know when to turn them over to God to be used for His purposes.
To these Mother's I say: Happy Mother's Day!
