A MOTHER’S LOVE

Jochebed

Text: Exodus 2:1

Podcast

 Moses’ feats should be first attributed to his mother – Jochebed (Hebrew: Yokbed)

 

Jochebed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jochebed was the mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses, three of the major characters in the Old Testament. Her presence is small and biography is limited, but one attribute stands out: Her faith in God. Most likely, Goshen (Egypt) is her point of origin.

The biblical account of Moses' mother is found in chapter two of Exodus, Exodus 6:20, and Numbers 26:59.

The Hebrews lived in Egypt for 4 centuries, of which most in slavery. Although Joseph was a shield against the horror of famine, the Egyptian Pharaohs conveniently dismissed him and his people from memory. Albeit, it was God's plan to increase this tiny nation into a formidable one under the protection of world power. In fact, the current Pharaoh of Jochebed’s time in the opening of the book of Exodus was frightened of the Hebrews almost immeasurable populace. As they were slaves, a revolt or an alignment with a foreign neighbor could prove disastrous. Consequently, Pharaoh ordered all male Hebrew babies to be murdered.

 

When Jochebed gave birth to a son, she saw that he was a healthy baby. Instead of letting him be killed, she painstakingly (and tearfully) created a waterproof basket in the presence of Moses’ father, older sister, and brother. When she could no longer hide the baby, she gave him a final bath with her tears and lovingly placed the baby in it and loosed the transport between the reeds on the embankment of the crocodile-infested Nile River.

In a divine fortuitous set of events, Bithia, Pharaoh's daughter, was cleansing in the tributary. A maidservant viewed the woven basket and took it to her. From a distance, a curious Miriam, watched intently to view the outcome. Needing to be fed and comforted, Bithia was in a dilemma with this Hebrew child. Courageously, Miriam approached her proudly announced a solution. She would retrieve a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. What wonderful news for a weeping mother.

 

Jochebed was salaried to nurture her flesh and blood until he was weaned and allowed to be further raised in the bowels of the Egyptian machine.  He received the best training, learned the language, and became a prince against the would-be enemy.  Although we may be confused as to how god design his masterful plan, it is vital we trust and have faith in Him – like Jochebed.  Moses went on to become one of the most powerful weapons for God in the bible.

 

Jochebed's Accomplishments and Strengths

Jochebed gave birth to Moses, future Giver of the Law, and cleverly spared him from death as an infant. She also gave birth to Aaron, a high priest of Israel.

 

Jochebed had faith in God's protection of her baby. Only because she trusted the Lord could she abandon her son rather than see him killed. She knew that God would take care of the child.

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The Dispensation of Conscience

In this dispensation, the man was left to the dictates of his conscience which could produce guilt (Jn.8:9;1Tim.4:2) but was powerless to promote righteousness (Romans 3:10). He was to learn to deal with sin (Gen.4:7) and understand the need for sacrifice; the penalty of sin being death (cf. Abel in 4:4). However, the man was utterly unable to keep God’s standard and murder resulted immediately and as the population grew the wickedness of the earth grew greatly in God’s sight (Gen.6:5).

 

Exodus 15:26 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt gives ear to his commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

 

Numbers 26:59 - And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bares unto Amram; Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.  

 

Detailed Commission of Moses

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: 17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites …20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

 

• Proverbs 1:8 - My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

• Proverbs 4:3 - For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

• Proverbs 6:20 - My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

• Proverbs 10:1 - The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

 

God’s Perfect Mother and Wife

Proverbs 31:1-31 - The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him…

Jesus Love for his Mother

John19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

 

Matthew 19:5 - And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

 

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.