THE FOUR MOTHERS EXAMPLES OF THE CHURCH

SERIES: THE 12 STONE MEMORIAL

TEXT: JOSHUA 4:1-24

The 12 stones memorial set up by the children of Israel after crossing Jordan, we look at the mothers of the 12 tribes (sons) of Jacob and reflect on the type of the church that each represents. Each of the stones is for each of the 12 sons of Jacob.

• These stones were taken out of the midst of the Jordan right where the ark was present.
• These storms represent God’s power, authority and ability to deliver His people.
• These storms represent all that God has brought His people through leading upto this point.
• The stones represent the good and the bad that God has brought His people through.
• God has been faithful to deliver His people out of or lead His people through various situations and issues.
• These stones are a foreshadowing and type of Christ.
• Jesus Himself was baptised in the Jordan and came out with the blessing and favour.
• God the Holy Spirit became the chief cornerstone and the stone of offense.
• Jesus brought the passage into the new promised land-Heaven-Matt. 3:9.
• We are told that each of these stones are for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.
• We are going to look at what each stone represents based on that understanding.
• Before we look at the 12 sons of Jacob, let us first look at their mothers.
• Mothers can determine what kind of battles you are going to fight in your future life.
• In our study we will view Jacob as a type for God.
• The 12 sons or tribes of Israel are going to serve as types or examples of the offspring or fruit that can be produced from the union of God and the church. Let us learn, the 4 mothers as types of the church-Gen. 29:31-30:24.

LEAH.

• Leah was tender eyed. This does not mean she was not attractive and beautiful.
• She did not turn head like Rachel!!
• Leah had her own qualities, but she was not highly favoured.

1. The name Leah means weary.

• Over the life of the church, weariness is one of the biggest barriers and obstacles of the life that the church is designed to have.
• Weariness will cause you to stop short of the mark.
• Weariness will cause you to miss out on what is truly available.

2. The name Leah means impatient.

• The church is often guilty of jumping the gun and going after things before she is ready.

3. Leah means grieved.

• Grief in and of itself is part of life, but the issue with the church is that she often takes on way too much grief and hurt.
• A major danger and pitfall in the church is to try and do whatever is necessary to avoid grief and hurt.

4. The name Leah means to be offended.

• It is impossible not to be offended in life.
• The issue is how to deal with offense.
• An offended church becomes quite destructive to themselves and others around them.
• Hurting people hurt people, wounded people wound people, if the hurt and the wound has never been dealt with.
• Leah was the one who was ultimately buried with Jacob. The tomb held-Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah-Gen. 49:31.

BILHAH.

1. The name Bilhah means troubles.

• Bilhah was Rachel’s solution to her barrenness.
• How many times do we try and do God’s work for Him.
• This concept was generational in the household of Abraham.
• Abraham lay with Hagar and Ishmael was the fruit of that relationship.

2. Bilhah and Reuben had a sexual affair-Gen. 35:22.

• Upon his deathbed, Jacob stripped away Reuben’s place of authority as the first born for this act.

3. How often has the church been in a place where she has gone after things that God has not given?

• Hunger for the forbidden. Hunger for power.
• Hunger for something that is not yours.
• Hunger to be or do something that God has not blessed for you.
• How much adultery has the church been hindered in?
• How much has the church sacrificed for their own desires?

ZILPAH.

• The name Zilpah means trickling or to trickle as myrrh.
• Zilpah was Leah’s retaliation to Rachel’s handmaid bearing sons for Jacob.
• Zilpah represents one of the more dangerous times of the church.
• This trickle will never bring the river of God that He desires to bring.
• Trickle never brings fullness to the heart and the misery of God.
• God is a God of abundance never trickle downs.
• Leah herself found her happiness through Zilpah to a degree and thought finally this would be when her husband would love her.
• Zilpah is the time of the church where we feel good about what we accomplish and can get to the place where it is enough.
• Satisfaction with a trickle of blessings will not fulfil the purpose of God in the church.

RACHEL.

• The name Rachel means a little sheep.
• This is the type of church that God is most in love with.
• This is the church that GOD as the great shepherd of the sheep is able to produce the most through.
• Rachel was beautiful and highly favoured. She is the one that Jacob loved.
• It was Rachel’s son, Joseph who was the recipient of the favour of the father.

CONCLUSION

• Out of 4 women came the 12 tribes of Israel.
• Out of 4 women came the fruit of God in its people.
• Out of 4 women we find different types and manifestations of the church.
• As we look at the 12 tribes of Israel going forward, we can begin to see what things are produced during our days and times.
• In the 12 stones of memorial we see what God has brought us through.
• You are the beloved of God the father, son and the Holy Spirit.