As a mother of two little blessings, fear for my children is one of my regular struggles. It is a battle I go through and one I am finding I need to continue to surrender to God. Unfortunately, fear rather than faith seems to often be my first reaction when I hear about a child's plight- a child gone missing or a child being given a horrible diagnosis. At these times the verse from 2 Corinthians 10:5-6a springs to mind, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..." This convicts me of the sin of fear and causes me to lift my eyes to my precious Sovereign Lord. I am reminded that these children were His first and that I need to surrender them, offering them back to God for Him to do as He wills. In gentleness I am aware of the Holy Spirit reminding me that He is at work in me, conforming me more to the image of Christ.
I am reminded of Moses. When oppression of the Israelites in Egypt caused the slaughtering of hundreds of male babies (Exodus 1:15-16), God's hand was still in control. He placed a godly and righteous fear in the Hebrew midwives, "But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live." (Exodus 1:17) A humble mother Jochebed, put her faith above her fear, and placed her three month old Moses in a basket made of bulrushes and sent him off into the river (Exodus 2:3). God, in His Sovereignty, allows Pharaoh's daughter to see the basket, hear Moses' cries and take pity on him (Exodus 2:5-6). But the thing that really amazes me about this story is the way that God extends such mercy upon Jochebed, that through Moses' sister Miriam, Jochebed is reunited with her son and chosen to raise Moses for Pharaoh's daughter.
I am reminded of Samuel. In 1 Samuel, we read of Hannah pleading with the Lord to give her a child (1 Samuel 1:10-11). God hears her prayer and in His mercy grants her request. Hannah then surrenders Samuel back to Lord, offering him up to serve in the tabernacle. Samuel goes on to hear God's voice (1 Samuel 3:10-11) and as he grows "the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet for the Lord." (1 Samuel 3:19-20).
Finally, I am reminded of Jesus. In Matthew, we see how after quite an eventful arrival (being born in a stable without a midwife no less), Mary has less than two years of delight with her newborn Jesus, before her faith is called to the fore. Joseph, in a dream, is told that Herod has ordered any male child under two be killed(Matthew 2:16-17). Sound familiar? God then sends Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt of all places, and Jesus' life is preserved. I imagine the motherly fear that would have been there for Mary, hearing her baby was at risk, yet through faith and trust, Joseph leads them to safety in Egypt.
Of greater urgency, over that of health and protection for my children, should be that they come to know, love and pursue a living and vibrant relationship with God for themselves. In these years that I have them, my concern for their well-being should come second to my concern for their spiritual health, as this has eternal consequences. May my faith leave a greater impression on my children than my fears and may they see a mother who trusts God's Sovereignty in the joys and pains of life.
As I was dwelling on this topic this morning, a little hymn my grandmother used to recite to us came to mind and this is what I will leave you with.
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