It's often been the case where a man of God achieved greatness because he had parents of faith. Such was the case with Moses. Moses is considered one the great men of all times. Yet, he could have never become what he was without the prayers and faith of godly parents. The Bible says, "By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict" (Heb. 11:23 NIV).

 

The scene was a tragic and terrible one. Pharaoh had ordered the death of all males born during the time of Moses' mother's pregnancy. The cries of Hebrew parents throughout Egypt screamed towards heaven. Babies were slaughtered mercilessly. But Moses parents did not fear. Instead they hid the babe for three months and then placed the child in a papyrus basket coated with pitch and tar. They then placed the baby in the crocodile infested Nile River. The rest is history. Moses would grow up to become the greatest leader in all of Hebrew history. He would be God's man to deliver the children of Israel out of their bondage. Yet, in all of the glamour and majesty of God using Moses, the faith of his parents is often overlooked.

 

Moses achieved greatness to a large extent because of the faith of his parents. They "believed God." Their faith was Moses' first step towards his destiny. Several characteristics stand out in the faith of Moses' parents. First, they saw God's plan for his life. They refused to look at the circumstances surrounding them. Instead, the Bible says that they "saw that he was no ordinary child." There was something special about him and they knew it. They refused to allow the world around him to destroy him. Rather, they stood in faith believing that God had a plan for their son's life. They saw by faith.

 

We shouldn't walk by sight. As followers of Christ we must understand that we walk and live life by faith. Yet, faith allows us to see things that others cannot see. We see God's plan for our children, and we can stand in prayer for them just as Moses parents stood by faith. Faith enables us to see beyond the circumstances and into the heart of God for our children.

 

But Moses' parents also refused to succumb to the fears of the horrific circumstances around them. The Bible says, "they were not afraid of the king's edict." We live in a generation where our children face very severe circumstances. The powerful negative effect of the media upon their lives is incredible. Drugs are rampant. Teen pregnancies are skyrocketing. The HIV virus is killing the young just as Pharaoh's soldiers were killing the Hebrew babies. But Christian parents don't need to be afraid. We can look into heaven and see God's plan for our children. We must not live by fear of the circumstances, but rather by faith in a mighty God.

 

My wife and I dedicated both of our children to God while they were still in their mother's womb. They both came to know Christ at an early age. Both have gone through the typical youthful rebellion. There were times of my wife and I weeping over the sins of our children. But we have seen that God is faithful. The Spirit of God within us is greater than all of the forces of the world that try to mold our children into that which would destroy them. I've learned this one thing - parents don't have to live by fear. They can live by faith, and God will do what He has promised.

 

Finally, Moses' parents acted by faith. Many people have the mistaken notion that faith is passive in nature. We just trust God and don't have to do anything else. I find that principle contrary to Scripture. When we read Hebrews 11 (the great hall of faith), we see men and women who lived and worked solely by faith. Yet, they worked. Faith works. There's no conflict between faith and works. In fact, the Bible says, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17 NIV).

 

Moses' parents didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs saying, "God, we're trusting you. Save our child." No! They built a little basket and covered it with pitch and tar. They released that basket and that baby to God's care. They did their part and God did His part. God's part was miraculous. Their part was hard work. They took a risk and trusted him to God. God took a child and made him royalty. They placed him in the river. God placed him in the palace of Pharaoh. They cried. God answered.

 

I believe that there will be a lot of surprises when we get to heaven. I'm convinced that one of those surprises will be seeing how many great men and women of God were made by godly praying parents. The making of the man or woman of God often begins with the tears of a mother in her private place of prayer. Many men of God are where they are today because of the praying of a holy woman of God yesterday.