Arrows in the Quiver of Amram

Bible Book: Numbers 26 : 59

Subject: Amram, Arrows of; Faith

Introduction

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow. The term archery comes from the Latin word "arcus". Solomon reminds us that children are “like arrows” in Psalm 127:4. Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) comments, “The power of the father, the warrior, has far more to do with where the arrow goes than the arrow has itself. Your responsibility as a dad is to develop your skills to shape, to sharpen and shoot young arrows at the enemy.”1

I. Amram and his Tribe

Amram whose name means “exalted people” was of the tribe of Levi according to Exodus 2:1. In fact, his wife, Jochebed, was of the same tribe.

II. Amram and His Trade

Amram was a slave who was not rich in this world’s goods. Although Amram’s family lived in a hut, as the saying goes, “A man’s home is his castle.” In the words of John Howard Payne (1791-1852) “Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, be it ever so humble, there's no place like home; A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there, which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere. Home, home, sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!”

Remember, Moses held his Hebrew heritage in his heart as we read in Hebrews 11:24-27, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”

Paul the Apostle writes, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the LORD’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Amram’s trade did not limit his world-wide influence.

We read in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” We also read in Ephesians 6:4, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Amram wisely invested in the life of his children and he continues to accrue dividends to his eternal account.

III. Amram and his Treasure

Amram was a family man who treasured his family. His wife Jochebed was a jewel of faithfulness to God, her husband and children. “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22).

We read in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.’”

Amram was not “unequally yoked together with [an] unbeliever”. This is the basis for the best home life possible. Sadly, many believers today disregard this clear teaching of Scripture to their peril. Those who disobey God’s Word in this matter suffer untold avoidable agony.

Solomon shares the following song of ascents, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:1-5).

Moses records in Numbers 26:59, “The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.”

Although Scripture does not reveal much about Amram, Bible expositor Dr. Howard John Phillips (1927-2010) explains the following about his offspring, "Moses became a mighty prophet; Aaron became a ministering priest; Miriam became a melodious partner. The three children of Amram took the lead in bringing God's people from the house of bondage to the boundaries of the promised land. Moses taught the children of Israel how to be saved (Exodus 12:13). Aaron taught them how to be sure (Leviticus 16). Miriam taught them how to be satisfied (Exodus 15:20-21)."2

About Miriam we also read in Exodus 15:20-21, “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea!’”

Aaron became a priest; read Deuteronomy 18:1-8,
Among other things, Moses became a prophet and he writes in his fifth book, Deuteronomy 18:15-22, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ ‘And the LORD said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ — when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”

Moses is known as the lawgiver, since he received the Ten Commandments from God’s hand on Mt. Sinai. Moses was also the leader of God’s chosen people, drawn out of the Nile River to deliver the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage.

IV. Amram and his Trouble

Amram no doubt suffered manifold trials and much tribulation as a slave under the domination of Pharaoh. However, mournful trouble came to his house when Moses was born. All the male Hebrew children born were to be killed according to the decree of Pharaoh. We read of Pharaoh’s edict in Hebrews 11:23, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.”

Read what Moses writes in Exodus 1:8-22.

David writes in Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Peter writes in 2 Peter 2:9a, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.”

V. Amram and his Trust

We read in Hebrews 11:23, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.” Please note the faith of Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed is in view at this point. In the Old Testament economy Amram and Jochebed were saints; true believers in the true and living God. We know from Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Amram lived 137 years on this earth, and because of his genuine faith in the Lord, he will live through all eternity with Him.

Conclusion

Moses, Aaron and Miriam, were arrows in the quiver of Amram.

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1 Adrian Rogers, “How To Measure A Dad” ‐ Part 1, Taken from a message by Adrian Rogers (Memphis, TN: Love Worth Finding

Ministries, March 29) Available from: http://www.lwf.org/site/News2?abbr=for_&page=NewsArticle&id=11158&news_iv_ctrl=1183 Accessed: 04/08/11