Just before the birth of Moses, Pharaoh had issued a decree that all male chil­dren of the Hebrews should be put to . Amran and Jochabed, parents of Moses, in order to save his life, made a small ark and hid him in it and put it in the river. Pharaoh's daughter saw the ark, and took the infant for her own. She commanded a Hebrew maiden to find a nurse for the child, whereupon he was taken to his own mother with these words: "Take the child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages" (Exo. 2:1-10).

Can parents learn from this statement today? Do we really possess our chil­dren, or are they God's? The Psalmist said, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is re­ward" (127:3). When our children were born to us, it was a great event. Even those children who are adopted into our families find a special place; they are as dear to us as if they were our own flesh and blood. Yet, do we realize that they are a gift from God, and that in effect, God has only given us the child to raise for him? The words of Pharaoh's daughter express an attitude of God to­ward us and our children.

“Take this child and nurse it for me,” said Pharaoh’s daughter. In effect, so says God to us. This implies immediately that a great responsibility has been en­joined upon us. This command infers that we are to give attention to the physical needs of our children; food; clothes, health, etc. Despicable indeed is the father who will not provide these for his children. He is worse than an infidel (1 Tim. 5:8). It is deplorable, especially in this land of plenty to see hungry, ill-clothed and ill-fed children ­all because of a negligent set of parents too lazy and unconcerned to work and provide for this heritage of the Lord! Such people shall indeed one day have their reward!

This also places upon parents the obliga­tion of disciplining our children. Some QA'rents feel that if they discipline them, the children will them. Not so ­God's word being witness (Heb. 12:9). Parents, this is a part of "nursing" your children! How unfairly the child is treated who is never disciplined. He has parents who in effect are saying, "my child does not need nor want discipline; he does not need a restraining hand, and can do as he pleases." Parents who con­, tribute to this are bringing about the downfall of that child in this life, as well as in eternity.

Parents have the responsibility of spiri­tual training, and here is an area of great neglect. "Why are our young people so rebellious; so disrespectful of authority?" is the cry on every hand? It is because parents have left God out of the educa­tion of the child that God has blessed them with. They demand that their chil­dren be at the top of their class academi­cally, but let them fail spiritually. When the Lord gave you your children to "nurse" for him, he meant for you "to train them up in the way they should go." Many children, ly born into the world, will ignorantly grow up in it be­cause of unconcerned parents. Mothers and fathers, do you want some advice on how to give your children a spiritual edu­cation? Then read Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

“And I will pay thee thy wages,” said Phar­aoh's daughter, and so says God to us. . Now we may assume that the king's daughter paid Moses' mother literal wages, but God is not going to pay par­ents with cash for raising their children in the right way. He has greater rewards in store for those who rear those children in a right way. He has promised greater wages than money if we will take the children that are really his, and nurse them for him. Parents, you will be richly rewarded if you will properly handle the heritage that God gave you.

Raising children is not easy, as any parent can attest. But when your job is done, if it has been done right, your reward will be rich indeed. If it is not done right, your sorrow and misery will be unspeakable, because as a par­ent, you have failed. A part of the wages of one who has reared his God given children properly will be to see your efforts crowned with success. You have sown the seed that brought the child into the world; you have nourished it through infancy, taught it in adolescence, and still advise it as it goes into the world as a young man or woman. When that young person leaves your home to make one of his own, if you have raised him to have God as the center of his life, what greater earthly reward could a parent want? How more richly could he be rewarded? Our children are "cute" when little; they are "bright" when they are growing up, but a fine, up­standing young man or woman in early hood will burst a parent's heart with rightful pride! 

You shall receive the wage of know­ing that you have pleased God, as a good steward of that which he has en­trusted into your hands. You are in possession of divine favor. The parent who brings up his child to pray, to be obedient to parents and God, shall ever have the smile of God upon him. His conscience will be free from the  pangs of guilt, and great is this re­ward.

You shall have the reward of knowing that you have not failed your children; that you can face them in your dying hour without feeling that you have left them wanting. If you have been a suc­cessful parent (by the standard of God) those children will take your place as heads of families, take your place in business, in society, or the church, and will do the job well. You know that you will go to your grave with real respect from your children; not some mere sentiment that is pro­duced by and that will wear off as soon as you are in the ground! Such will be a great reward.

Parents, "take this child... and I will pay thee thy wages," is the promise of God. How are you handling this im­portant task? What progress have you made thus far. Do it right, and God will be pleased, and your reward will be great, but most of all, your children will be what God wants them to be. - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

Brother Luther Blackmon was a grand old preacher. He had some stories that were humorous, but always had a great point to them. One that he used to tell was about the fellow who went into a restaurant for a cup of coffee. The waitress had endured a hard day, and was snapping at everybody she looked at, and without even showing him a menu she said, "I have frog legs, stewed liver, fried brains and barbecued ribs." Whereupon the fel­low looked at her and said, "don't tell me your troubles, sister - all I want is a cup of coffee." 

 

Well, yes... that would make for a pretty strange looking lady! This brings to mind a good question - when we get all out of sorts, do we say (or do) things that give people the impres­sion of what we really are? I've known some folks, and your probably have too, that under normal circum­stances they are patient, kind and just generally are "good folks." Then un­der pressure, they say or do something that gives people an entirely different impression of them. That in turn really confuses other folks - which one of the "two people" is the real one?

All of this says something to all of us. Stop and think before we tell people "what we have." It may be that they will then completely ignore us, and be interested in nothing but their "cup of coffee;" i.e., their own interests - and you are then low on their totem pole! – Bill Moseley