CG Sermon Discussion Questions
Jochebed: Mother of Destiny
SP William Lee
18 Jan 2015
Summary:
The sermon was a continuation of the current series ‘Ordinary people serving
an Almighty God’. Last week we heard about the life of Epaphras, a committed servant
of God. And now, we heard about the life of Jochebed, mother of desity.
Jochebed was born into a Jewish priestly tribe. They were set apart of to lead
and take care of the worship in the temple of God. Jochebed was the daughter of Levi.
She was married to Amram and they had three children, Miriam, Aaron and Moses.
We know that Jochebed was raised up seeing her father do all the priestly stuffs.
Together with all her brothers, she knew from the very young age how it is to serve
God. She must have seen and learned about the power, faithfulness and holiness of
God and the importance of being set apart for God’s service. In Hebrews we can see
that it was mentioned that the parents of Moses had faith in God. (Jochebed and
Amram)
After Joseph had established his position in Egypt, God used him to save the
people of Egypt and the people of Israel by accepting them to live among them. But
when the time came, a new Pharaoh who knew nothing about Joseph and what he
has done for Egypt took power, he feared that the people of Israel might out-number
and betray them. The Pharaoh gave an edict to kill all the sons who will be born from
Israel. Imagine how Jochebed would have felt knowing that if she gives birth to a son,
she would be forced to abandon him.
And knowing God has something special prepared for his son she refused to
give up, and so, she came up with a plan. She planned to keep his son secretly and
the scriptures told us the she was able to keep her son in secret for at least three
months to protect him from evil. But she also knew she cannot keep her safe in
secret forever. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for
him and coated it with tar and pitch maybe like of Noah’s ark with ability to
float. Then she placed her son in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the
Nile. She watched him and asked her daughter to look out for him until he fell in to
the care of the Egyptian princess. We can imagine that from her end, she would
have done all that she can to protect and preserve the life of her son. She might not
knew from that moment that Moses would be a great man of God but she knew that
the same God who have been with Joseph, who protected him and provided for him
a way to be rescued is the same God who could protect her son. She did her utmost
best and trust God to do the rest.
Summary Statement: ‘Do your utmost best and trust God to do the rest’
Scripture Reading and Discovery:
Read Exodus 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:23-26; Exodus 6:20
1. From the scriptures, what can you say about who is Jochebed?
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CG Sermon Discussion Questions
2. What were the challenges Jochebed faced?
3. What was Jochebed’s plan to protect her son?
Discussion:
4. Among all the different characteristic traits that Jochebed had, what stand out to
you the most? Why?
5. Given the context of the story, what do you think gave Jochebed the courage to
protect her son even though she will be going against the edict given by
Pharaoh?
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CG Sermon Discussion Questions
Applications:
6. How do you understand the phrase ‘Do your utmost best and trust God to do the
rest’? How do you draw the line between doing your best for God versus being
dependent on one’s self?
7. How can you be like Jochebed in your workplace or among your friends and
relatives? In what ways can you practice your trust and faith in God even though it
means you have to be against the current? (against the worldly mindset)
Prayer requests:
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