EXODUS 2:1-14 GOD USES PEOPLE In this journey through ancient times when God reveals Himself to us, it is easy to see how God uses people in unusual ways in crisis times to work His will. The Spirit of God has recorded these important events so we can learn to count on God no matter what is going on around us. Amram and Jochebed had real faith in times of doubt. Her faith led her to take action and form a watertight basket to put Moses in. Amram's faith strongly supported his wife's activity as she went about doing her part to save their son, Moses. These people had courage in times of fear. They were "not afraid of the king's commandment." God honors faith when His people trust Him and use common sense.
The pressure of the Egyptian world around them, and the hardness and difficulties of their lot in life did not hinder their vital faith. Love triumphs even when all around is hate. A mother cannot stop loving her child even though the laws of the land try to supersede the laws of God. Love and faith are close companions in life. Love sees value and faith acts upon what love sees. If we live in fellowship with God, we will learn many times over the value of the proverb - "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."
It is hard to have our children leave before we think they have learned from us all they should. Moses' mother and father only had a short time in their child's life to impress him with who he really was, who God is and why he must remember the promises of God to His people. Some children seem to learn young and some never learn the value of faith in God. When a son or daughter leaves for further study or a job in a distant place, we realize our work for them is done. When they leave the quiet security of rural living for the city - we must cast our children upon God. When missionary parents have to leave their children for lengthy periods of time or when we may have to leave our child on a hospital bed in the care of others - then we rest in God who often works in ways much different ours.
Moses' parents didn't let the bondage of Egypt they were in to affect their higher commitment to God and their children. Spiritual initiative in times of bondage and pressure to conform to the ways of the world, can be one of the best things we can do for our family. God may choose to work in ways quite different from ours. We need to look at the opportunities that arise unexpectedly as blessings from God. Faith and works compliment each other and they depend on each other. There was no doubt joy and relief that overcame the sorrow Amram and Jochebed had first when Moses was placed in the ark on the Nile River among the bulrushes. What delight they had when back into their home Moses came until he was called to go to the home of Pharaoh's daughter. There are times when we must commit to an action in the time of choice, and then trust God to do what He knows best.
Moses had his training time in the ways of God when he was young. He had his training time in the ways of Egypt as he grew into maturity. By the grace of God, he never forgot what he had learned in his youth. "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." His training in the things of God would have helped him understand that sometimes faith in God means we have to patiently wait for His guidance. His training in the words and works of Egypt would have made him think he could get away with murder if no one saw him. When God's people have been under the pressure of the world so long, they may have more concern with man's law than God's will. Prolonged opposition had made the Hebrew slaves resigned to their fate without a sense of hope of change. They had even taken to worshipping the gods of the Egyptians. God arranged a turning point in Moses life when he had to choose the pleasures of Egypt or the people of God. Ideals and practicality need to be balanced in our lives so our Lord Jesus can use us in His way - not necessarily what we are inclined to do.
Doubt is not uncommon when there is pressure from without. Courage in times of fear is what the Christian faith is all about. Even when we don't know what the outcome of faith will be - We can go forward in God's work, acting confidently.
A few choices only affect ourselves but most also will affect others.
It is important that we act in faith, we are watched by our sons and daughters. Faith and works balance each other when acted on in sincere love. There comes results we can only explain as blessings from above.
When our children are at home, we may often take for granted Their childhood will always be there to keep us so enchanted We may forget that we only have a few years to prepare them for the future. Our responsibility is not done until their souls we have well nurtured.
The world will beckon them to leave in order to be successful. When they get the desire to go, then things get much more stressful. Our hands have to let go when we see them go down the road. The best we can do for them then is to let God take over our load.
Then we watch, and wait, and worry as God uses them without us. Soon we are surprised to see, they too, in God do put their trust. God begins to use them and through them, others get light. We can, in a way relax when trusting them to do things right.
Out of sight but not out of mind our children both natural and spiritual - Are never far from our mind when we pray, we know prayer is essential. God is the One in whom we rest our hope, He has His plan for them. The best I can do when they leave our home, is to commit them unto Him.
"Father, when they left home, I knew You were able to use other people to help them learn what I couldn't seem to teach them - even after all those years. Watch over them, Father. Do for them what I cannot do. Be for them what for some reason, I am unable to be - Please! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."