Jochebed -- A Model Mother
Exodus 2:1-10

Sermon Outline from the Morning Service - 14 May 2000

I. Her faith

A. Her faith to bear [male babies to be drowned (1:22); a life of slavery (1:14)]

1. Though the world was cruel, life is good.
2. They were obeying the command of the Lord -- be fruitful & multiply
3. If He chooses to give life, then He has purposes in it. Being gifted & entrusted with a child is
a marvelous gift of God -- Ps. 127:3.

B. Her faith to keep -- Deciding to keep the baby alive posed immediate problems and increased
the pressure on the family. Jochebed was looking ahead and trusting that God's purposes were
for the good.

C. Her faith to let go (allow the child to go after being weaned)

1. From the beginning, Jochebed knew her time was limited. As much as he learned from the
schools of Egypt (Acts 7:22), he got his first and formative education on his mother's knees.
2. You are willing to let go if you've done to the best of your ability and your time with them runs
out. You trust God with the outcome.

II. Her resourcefulness (good at thinking up ways to a desired end)

A. Jochebed came up with a plan to alleviate the present problems. Necessity is the mother of
invention.

B. For a godly woman, the resources available are as unlimited as God's resources. When we
are at the end of our resources, God loves to step in and help us in our need.

C. The virtuous woman of Prov. 31 is very resourceful -- taking raw materials to make clothing
materials, making clothes, knowledgeable in real estate and an able gardener, knowing the value
of good things, knowing how to make good things, a home manager.

III. Her opportunity for training

A. How much could Moses learn

1. Jochebed only had a couple of years, and not much of the Bible.

a. He learned his ancestors' history with God's part in it.
b. He may have known the prophecy in Gen. 15:13-16.

2. How much can a little one learn? ...much about God, His care for the world, His love for man
and hatred of sin, He helps His own

B. How much Moses did learn -- Heb. 11:24-26

1. He knew and valued his heritage; being associated with God's people was best; pleasure
and treasure only last a lifetime....and then there is something else; "the reproach of Christ" (the
Messiah!!); our choices will affect our eternal reward.

2. Note that this is the instruction of faith (by faith...). Prov. 22:6