There is a saying, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” That hand, of course, belongs to the mother. Many a successful man is able to find his feet in the world because he had been raised by a loving mother. Many a faithful man is able to possess a genuine faith in God because of the training that he received from his mother. For example, we read in the Bible of young Timothy who was able to possess an unfeigned faith because he had a faithful mother in Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). The vast importance of the work of mothers cannot be understated!
However, the work of mothers often goes unnoticed. After all, the only mother that we actively observe is our own mother! Seldom do we enter into the homes of others to observe other mothers at work. Mothers often labour silently in their own homes, managing the household affairs and raising the children. Nevertheless, the work they do in the home is arguably the most important job in the world.
In this article, we will examine a mother in the Bible who is often overlooked. Her name is only mentioned twice in the entire Bible. She appears in the chapter of faith (Hebrews 11), yet her name is not even mentioned there. Little is mentioned of her life and background. In contrast, her son is much more well known, appearing in 784 verses in the KJV Bible (the 3rd most mentioned man in the Bible). Have you guessed her name yet? She is Jochebed, the mother of Moses.
1. A mother who protected her son
Jochebed gave birth to Moses at a difficult time in Israelite history. The Egyptian Pharaoh, fearful of the growing Israelite population, had ordered for all Israelite baby boys to be killed. Despite the king’s order, Jochebed hid baby Moses for 3 months (Exodus 2:2). Jochebed risked her life to protect her son. As Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). A mother’s love is manifested when she puts the lives of her own children over her own!
Jochebed’s protection of Moses is not just an evidence of her love, but also her faith. Though her name is not explicitly mentioned in Hebrews 11:23, she (and her husband) is commended for her faith in hiding baby Moses, being not afraid of the king’s commandment. Jochebed’s actions showed her faith in God, in that she feared God more than the Egyptian king. Also, she had trust in God, that He would take care of them even when she disobeyed Pharaoh’s command. A mother’s faith is manifested when she protects and loves her children, as is God’s calling for all mothers (Titus 2:4).
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment” (Hebrews 11:23)
2. A mother who raised her son
After 3 months of hiding baby Moses, there came a time when it was no longer possible to hide him anymore. It must have been heartbreaking for Jochebed when she was forced to set baby Moses off on the river in a basket. Even then, Moses’ sister Miriam followed from afar to see where he eventually landed (Exodus 2:3-4). By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter found him. Furthermore, Miriam managed to arrange for Jochebed to be paid to nurse baby Moses! (Exodus 2:5-9). Hence, Jochebed was still able to raise her own son during those crucial childhood years. It is believed that Jochebed was with Moses for at least 3 years, and perhaps up to 7 years, before she had to return him to Pharaoh’s daughter.
Whose job is it to raise children? Today, the job of raising children is often passed off to the grandparents, or to the childcare centre. What is left after working hours is precious little time with the children. Many studies show that the first 5-7 years of the child’s life are the crucial developmental years. During those crucial years, who is the hand rocking the cradle, and molding the little one? By God’s design, mothers are given the important role of bringing up the little children, and being the “keepers at home” (Titus 2:4-5; 1 Timothy 5:10). What an awesome responsibility, but also what a great blessing to raise the little ones!
“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:4-5)
3. A mother who taught her son
The Scriptures do not reveal how Jochebed raised Moses during his childhood years. However, her fingerprint can be seen through Moses’ life of faith. In Stephen’s sermon, it is revealed that when Moses was 40 years old, he desired to see his Israelite brethren. Furthermore, even before he encountered the burning bush, he knew he was meant to deliver the Israelites (Acts 7:23-25). If Moses grew up in the Egyptian palace, how did he know that the Israelites were his brethren, and that he was meant to deliver them? It must have been his mother who taught him those important truths while he was still a child.
Because Jochebed trained Moses during his childhood, he was able to grow up to have faith in God, even to refuse the riches of Egypt in order to suffer with his people (Hebrews 11:24-26). In a similar way, young Timothy was able to possess an unfeigned faith in God because his mother, Eunice, had taught him the Scriptures since he was a child (2 Timothy 3:15). Mothers (and fathers) have a tremendous responsibility to train the little ones to have faith in God, so that one day they can own their own faith like Moses and Timothy. I pray that parents everywhere embrace this responsibility seriously, because there will come a time when it will be too late to train the child.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)
As Mother’s Day approaches, let us take this opportunity to appreciate all mothers who have been protecting, raising, and training their children. There is no greater work in this world than the work in the home. May all mothers (and fathers too) assume this great responsibility with earnestness and devotion. Happy Mother’s Day!