From before the creation of the earth, God designed a role for populating the earth and for the care of children. God designed a woman to be able to conceive, give birth and nurture a child. A mother carries a child in her womb and gives birth to the child enduring great pain and agony – Jesus said in JOHN 16:21 “A woman, when she is in labour, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” From the moment of birth forward, as a mother raises a child, her reward comes in seeing her son or daughter become all that God desires the child to be. The value of a mother’s love cannot be measured in currency (in silver or gold), but in the moral character, wisdom and training she gives her child. The bible paints a picture of a mother’s love and the characteristics of motherhood. To highlight the characteristics of a mother’s love, we will review the lives of two mothers we find in the bible.

Characteristic #1 of a Mother’s Love: A Mother endeavours to have complete faith and trust that only God can protect and direct the path of her children.

Jochebed (the mother of Moses) demonstrates a powerful witness of a mother’s faith that only God can protect and direct the path of her children. The place Jochebed finds herself and her child is in Egypt, as the Israelites were in slavery. Pharaoh issued an order that every Israelite boy that was born was to be cast into the Nile river to perish (Exodus 1:22). We formally meet Jochebed in Exodus 2:1-4, where she takes a great risk to protect her baby, Moses. Up until that time, she was able to hide him in the safety of her home, until the age of 3 months. She took a step of faith to build a sturdy ark for Moses (Exodus 2:3). She probably had a flashback to Genesis 6, when God gave an instruction to Noah to build an ark for him to save his family from the flood that was to descend on the earth. By God’s grace, Noah and his family were saved, God shows Himself strong to Noah. Jochebed built an ark and released it to float down the dangerous waters of the Nile River, by faith, because she knew that God is the same yesterday, today and forever; that God alone would be able to save her son. Thinking about Jochebed, can you imagine how Moses’ mother would have felt as she prepared the ark and placed her baby in it? It is as if she relinquished herself – humbly surrendering to God – thereby surrendering her own ability to be able to care and protect Moses. By faith, as she pushed Moses in the ark and out onto the Nile, she was likely praying, ‘God, I give up my own ability to protect Moses. I place him in your mighty hands by faith knowing that I can not protect him or direct his path. I put my trust in you, because God you are able.’ Have you ever wondered before about God’s ability to protect, guide and provide for you and your children? God says to us in Psalm 121:4-8, “Behold, He who keeps Israel, Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in. From this time forth, and even forevermore.” And the bible reminds us in Psalm 18:30 , “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” As mothers, may we learn from Jochebed to humbly surrender, to trust God and “build an Ark of Faith” with complete confidence that God is the only one able to protect, direct and guide our children. We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” As you “build an Ark of Faith”, God’s response is Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Characteristic #2 of a Mother’s Love: A Mother can make the greatest impact on the life of her children by praying earnestly, intentionally and fervently praying for them.

As we turn our attention to Hannah, we meet her in 1 Samuel 1: 1-20, we recognize she was a mother who was heard by God. Hannah was described as having a womb that was closed (1 Samuel 1:5). The bible says that Hannah had bitterness in her soul. One day, noted in v.10, we see Hannah prays and pours her soul out to the Lord, where she ferverently prayed for a son. As she prayed and poured out her soul, God was able to purge her of the bitterness to allow her to be released from that and to bring forth a pure praise before the Lord. In that posture, we see Hannah made a vow to the Lord (v. 11), that if God gave her a son, she would give the son back to the Lord to serve Him. God honoured Hannah’s pray and blessed her with a son, who was named Samuel. Samuel became a great prophet of Isreal, who would usher in the kingdom of David (an eternal righteous kingdom). Hannah was an intercessor – she prayed before Samuel was born and she prayed after Samuel’s birth. We learn from Hannah, that as a mother, the greatest ministry we have is the ministry of prayer. Be encouraged mothers; don’t give up praying fervently and consistently for your children. The Apostle Paul states to us in 1 Timothy 2:1 these words: “I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” And that, especially, means our children.
Mothers, through the powerful ministry of prayer, be encouraged to:

1.Believe by faith in God’s promise that “He Cares for You”. God cares about you, your childreny and your circumstances. 1 Peter 5:6-7 reminds us, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

2.Allow the truth of God’s divine care and His perfect love to cast out all fear, bitterness, disappointment and doubts. (2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”)

3. Go forward with effectual ferverent prayer, petition, and thanksgiving; present your burdens and cares to God. Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Trade in all anxious thoughts, about your children. “Build an Ark of Faith” and choose to believe unto God for His love, His care and His sure promises; for every promise of God is Yes and Amen.

Prayer of Surrender

Dear God,

I admit I am a sinner in need of you. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe Jesus died for me and rose again for my sins. God I give you my earthly permission for your heavenly intervention. I call upon Jesus to come into my life and be my Savior and Lord of my life. Thank you for saving me. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me the kind of person You want me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

Rev. Sharon Osborne Goldson