A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE LASTS A LIFETIME!

A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE LASTS A LIFETIME!

Ex 2:5-9

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

Miriam, the older sister, watched on the banks to see what would become of her infant brother. Spared from the cruel sentence of death by the midwives because he was a “goodly” or exceptional child, he was set adrift upon the river of providence. Navigated by the breath of God toward the bathing princess of Egypt, the child cried out at the invisible pinch from a gentle unseen hand. Then the daughter of Pharaoh felt a pinch of compassion in her heart. The whole scene seemed choreographed by Jehovah God.

Moses [Hebrew: Mosheh = drawing out] was taken from the water and presented to the curious and compassionate princess. She would become the Egyptian mother to Moses but Miriam ran to her and pointed out a physical reality. The three-month-old baby would need a wet nurse. She knew of one who had recently lost her own child. Did her highness wish to employ such a wet nurse? So it was that providence rewarded a Jewish mother’s faith and paid her good wages to raise her own son.

Moses had two mothers and two cultures. He would be trained by one and nurtured by the other. The influence of both these mothers would last a lifetime. The entire Jewish nation and perhaps Egypt as well, would reap the influence of these two mothers. None could discount the importance of either because Moses was given the mind and intellect of an Egyptian and the heart of a Jew.

If you are a mother please understand that your influence is produced not from your effort but from your nature and character. You may momentarily change your habits but only God can change your heart. Ask God to make you the kind of mother that could produce a Moses! He rushes to answer prayers like this.

Take some time today to honor your mother. If she is alive then tell her how much you appreciate her sacrificial influence in your life. Hug her if she is close and kiss her cheek. If she, like mine, is already gone then spend some time remembering. Put a smile on your heart.

Dear Lord, thank you for Godly mothers. AMEN