Introduction: Happy Mother’s Day!

Quarantine restrictions are loosening, but children have been at home for eight weeks and might not return to school until fall, so you mothers are practicing prolonged parenting under pressure, and being forced to become home-school teachers.

1. This morning, we will examine the actions of a mother under extreme stress, who was attempting to protect the life of her youngest child through this Mother’s Day message that I have entitled, Mothering through Crises.
2. The theme verse is Proverbs 22:6 (GNB)—Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives. [An encouragement for investment.]

Background (Genesis 37-47; Exodus 1:6-21)

1. 400 years before the birth of Moses, a young man named Joseph advised Pharaoh on how to survive a severe famine in Egypt and, as a result, was allowed to bring his Hebrew family from Canaan where they were also suffering from famine.
2. Through the centuries, they multiplied and became powerful (Exodus1:6-7), which threatened a king who didn’t know about Joseph and had no loyalty to his people.
3. Pharaoh tried to limit their expansion by enslaving and oppressing them.
4. He ordered Hebrew midwives to kill newborn boys, but they refused because they feared God (Exodus 1:8-21), so the king intensified his threat.
5. Moses’ mother protected him through the crisis—as you mothers are protecting your children from many kinds of threats to their health and also to their faith.

Essentials for protecting my child… (Exodus 2:1-10)

#1 - Discern the dangers. (Exodus 1:22-2:2a; C/R: 1 Chronicles 12:32; John 15:19; Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-17)

1. Exodus 1:22-2:2a (NLT)— ²² Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.”¹ About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. ² The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. …
2. This couple, Amram and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), knew what Pharaoh had ordered.
3. They were aware of the dangers to their newborn son that existed in their culture.
4. Mothers have discovered information about the coronavirus: how it is caught, how to avoid it, how to recognize it—so you know how to respond.
5. You could have ignored the threat, but the risk to your child was too great, so you have paid attention, read articles and watched programs to become informed.
6. Our culture provides other threats to our children—to their faith and their morals.
7. You must be aware of cultural influences that are biased against God, faith and Scripture from entertainment and social media, as well as people you know.
8. You must, like the ancient leaders of Issachar at 1 Chronicles 12:32, understand the signs of the times and know the best course …to take.
9. : Do you discern dangers to your children physically and spiritually?

Another essential for protecting your child is that you must…

#2 - Determine to follow God. (Exodus 2:2b; C/R: Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 10:28; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 11:23; 13:6)

1. Exodus 2:2b (NLT)—…She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.
2. The Egyptians worshipped at least 39 different gods, and, after living there for 400 years, many Israelites also practiced idolatry, but Moses’ mother refused.
3. Jochebed was determined to follow God, so she lived by faith.
4. She knew that this child was special, given to her expressly, intentionally, by God.
5. I think this implies communication from God about Moses, so she protected his life for God’s purpose!
6. Hebrews 11:23 says she hid him by faith, knowing that God had given the couple an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. (NLT)
7. Because of their faith, they served and feared God, not Pharaoh!
8. Mothers must determine to follow God in every area of their lives and to prepare their children to also follow God’s plan for their lives.
9. : Moms, have you determined to obey God’s Word always, which means accept His opinion about morality even when it conflicts with our culture’s?
10. Your commitment to God and His Word is always on display to your kids, especially now, when they are at home with you constantly.
11. Children absorb your attitude toward God as they observe and experience your faith, it etches the reality of God into their minds, influences their thinking, and protects them later from skepticism and unbelief. [Ex. my mother]
12. When your children see you living faithfully, especially when it is inconvenient, it builds biblical values into their lives and influences them toward personal faith.
13. : Are you struggling to display faith? Feeling anxious or afraid?
14. Here’s what to do: Take time to get alone with God, in quiet (if possible), read your Bible (Psalm 23 or 91), pray and listen for God’s voice. (Susanna Wesley)
15. As you develop intimacy with God, worries will diminish and faith will grow.

A third essential for protecting your child is that you must…

#3 - Develop a plan. (Exodus 2:3-9; C/R: Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:9; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15)

1. Exodus 2:3–9 (NLT)—³ But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.
2. Jochebed devised a detailed, practical, plan to protect her son and implemented it.
3. You mothers are taking practical steps to provide safe environments for your kids.
4. You use tools and follow practices to protect your children from covid-19: masks, hand sanitizer, antibiotic wipes, wiping down packages, soaking fruit in vinegar.
5. You also develop plans and practices to protect your children’s faith by monitoring what they watch, using parental controls, setting time limits on electronic devices.
6. : We used a TV Guardian attached to screen out offensive words and phrases; we limited our kids contact with families who would expose them to subjects, shows, movies and attitudes that we didn’t think were appropriate (EX.: parties).
7. All of these protective measures requires effort—and you are exhausted—but you can enlist assistance from other family members and friends—Jochebed did!
8. Exodus 2:4 (NLT)—The baby’s sister [named Miriam] then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. [See learned courage from mother!]
9. This plan had to be carefully thought out by keeping in mind the goal of protecting Moses life: where could the basket float safely, out of sight of Egyptian soldiers and other people who might report the child’s whereabouts to the king, where could Miriam watch without being seen, which would endanger her life?
10. Exodus 2:5–6 (NLT)—⁵ Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. ⁶ When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.
11. Was this part of the plan? Probably, Moses couldn’t be hidden permanently.
12. Exodus 2:7–9 (NLT)—⁷ Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked .⁸ “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. ⁹ “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.
13. Jochebed received the opportunity to nurse, bond, nurture, teach and train her own son in her faith and values for several highly teachable, years and be paid to do it!
14. She taught Moses that his people were Hebrew, not Egyptian (Exodus 2:11) and that they worshipped one God, not many idols.
15. There is no one that children trust as much as their mothers, so take advantage of the opportunity, especially in those highly teachable years to inform them about your faith in God, the identity of Jesus, the truth of the Bible, and biblical morality, as well as your values of giving and serving, honesty and fairness, love and forgiveness, the meaning of marriage—all that is important to you.
16. Ask your kids questions, discern what they are thinking and feeling; if they are anxious or afraid, pray with them, asking God to speak to their concerns.
17. As Miriam helped her mother protect Moses, ask other godly people to assist in training your children—family members, friends, pastors, and Christian adults can provide support and assistance to help build biblical truth into their lives.

A final essential for protecting your child is that you must…

#4 - Depend on God.  (for the uncontrollable) (Exodus 2:10; C/R: Proverbs 14:26; 22:6; Acts 7:20-22; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 4:4)

1. Exodus 2:10 (NLT)—Later, when the boy was older [5 or even 6], his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”
2. Ultimately, Jochebed had to surrender her son to this Egyptian princess, who would become his mother, and would raise him in their philosophy, religion and values.
3. At this point, Moses’ mother and family could only pray—and trust God!
4. Jochebed giving her son to this Egyptian woman was God’s will; it would prepare him for God’s plan for his life, but her comfort could only come from her faith.
5. Mothers, you are doing a good job. God knows your heart and sees your efforts to protect your children. He will help! Trust Him with what you can’t control!
6. Let us help also: review the verses on the outline, click the link for more resources.
7. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)— Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [As you Mother through Crises!]
8. Thank you for watching!