Lessons from Our Mothers

Posted On May 14, 2023

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”

Titus 2:7 NIV

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

2 Timothy 1:5 NIV

The apostle Paul wrote these words to Timothy, and this verse points out the powerful influence we have — as parents, as grandparents, as mentors, and just as human beings — on those around us. Mothers and grandmothers are in the spotlight today, but the lessons we will learn this week are for everyone. Even my four-year-old granddaughter is an impressive teacher for her almost two-year-old brother, so no one is immune from serving as an example for someone else. As we celebrate mothers today, let’s also remember that as Christians, all of us are called to model sincere faith to those around us!

Our plan for 2023 is to journey through The NeverEnding Story of the Bible and discover how we fit into it along the way. This week we pause to appreciate some of the women we have encountered so far and to see what lessons we can learn from them. To get started, here is a brief overview of mothers in the Bible:

“. . . you play an important role in the stories of generations to come.”

We can probably recall lessons we’ve learned from our mothers or from other influential women in our lives. Here are a few that have stuck with me over the years: Get plenty of rest, remember to brush your teeth, and never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom! We can a lot from the women who care for us. We can also learn a lot from the mothers in the Bible. As we read their stories, we may find similarities to our own . . .

Eve: The Mother of All Living

“Adam named his wife Eve,
because she would become the mother of all the living.”

Genesis 3:20 NIV

Eve wasn’t perfect. I think that’s the first lesson. Right from the beginning we see that humans, created in the likeness of God, are given free will. This gift makes us free to choose to love Him and live according to His ways. But, unfortunately, it also makes us free to choose sin. Eve fell victim to the serpent’s temptations and made a big mistake that cost us all dearly. But that didn’t disqualify her from being chosen by God. It doesn’t disqualify us either. We are all uniquely made in God’s image, and we all have a role to play.

Notice when Eve became a mother: It was after she and Adam were banished from the Garden of Eden. (See Genesis 4:1). God didn’t change His mind about her after she messed up. He still followed through on His plan for her. So, when we make mistakes, even big ones, the story of Eve’s life teaches us that we shouldn’t hide from God. He didn’t give up on her, and He won’t give up on us. So, let’s not give up on ourselves. We all have something valuable to contribute to God’s story.

“We know very little about Eve, yet she is the mother of us all. She was the final piece in the intricate and amazing puzzle of God’s creation. Adam now had another human being with whom to fellowship — someone equally made in God’s image. . . . Together they were greater than either could have been alone.”

Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Sarah: The Promised Mother

“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrews 11:11 ESV

The main lesson we can learn from Sarah’s life? Nothing is impossible for God! Sarah is one of only two women listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, but even she struggled to hold on to God’s promise to her and her husband. God had promised to make them into a great nation, but they were old and childless. Sarah first tried to take matters into her own hands by convincing Abraham to have a child by her maidservant Hagar. Later, she laughed when God later affirmed that she herself would bear a son at age 90. But, despite Sarah’s doubts, God followed through on His promise to her.

And God follows through on His promises to us. Like Sarah, we may be tempted to rush God’s plan or lack confidence in His power. But He can accomplish the impossible! So, if He makes us a promise, we can be sure that He will keep it. It may take longer than we like, and it may be fulfilled in an unexpected way, but God will do what He says. If we can learn to be patient and trust Him while we wait, we, too, can be counted among the heroes of faith.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?
I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 18:14 NLT

Leah: The Forgotten Mother

“Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah . . . .”

Genesis 29:30 CEV

Leah got a raw deal. Her husband Jacob, who was actually in love with her sister Rachel, was tricked into marrying her by her father. When Jacob was then allowed to marry Rachel also, Leah had to face a life of loneliness as the unwanted “other” wife. While we may not be able to relate to her situation completely, I think we all know what it’s like to feel unloved or unwanted at times. But, the good news is that God is especially close to the brokenhearted.

In a time when a woman’s fertility played a huge role in her status and feelings of self-worth, God blessed Leah with many children. Although her life probably was not all she hoped for, God had big plans for her: Leah was the mother of seven children, including six of the twelve sons who would become the forefathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. The lesson we can learn from her life is that God does not forget us. Even when we are crushed by our circumstance or treated cruelly by those close to us, God sees us and He loves us. If we can learn to shift our focus away from our troubles and embrace the blessings He brings our way, we can find joy in the midst of our pain.

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.” 

Psalm 34:18 NLV

Jochebed: The Sacrificial Mother

“But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”

Exodus 2:3 NIV

Jochebed was the name of Moses’ mother. (See Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:59.) At the time Moses was born, the Israelites were living as slaves in Egypt, and Pharaoh had issued a kill order on all Hebrew baby boys. So, Jochebed had to make an agonizing choice: Keep Moses and risk his death, or give him up in hopes of keeping him safe. She bravely chose to sacrifice her own dreams and desires for her son in order to give him a chance at a better life.

How terrifying it must have been to leave her baby boy alone and defenseless on the bank of the river! But Jochebed knew Moses wasn’t really alone. She entrusted him to God, and she knew God was with him. The lesson we can learn from Jochebed is that God loves our children even more than we do, and we can trust Him to take care of them. He has a plan for their lives, and He will see it through. So, while worries and fears seem to be a part of the job when we become parents, we can relax a little knowing that God is always watching over them.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3 NIV

Naomi: The Spiritual Mother

“When Naomi came back from the country of Moab,
Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, came along with her.” 

Ruth 1:22 NOG

Ruth was not Naomi’s biological daughter, but Naomi cared for her as though she were. Naomi’s husband and her two sons were dead, so Ruth and Naomi weren’t obligated to stay together. But Ruth chose to stay with Naomi as she returned home to Israel, and they developed a close bond from that day forward. The two shared grief and pain, poverty and hardships, and ultimately, happiness and redemption. Because of their faithfulness to each other and to God, they walked into an amazing future together, becoming part of the family line of Jesus Christ Himself.

What we learn from Naomi is that not having children of our own doesn’t prevent us from helping to nurture the next generation. I bet most of us can say that we’ve been guided in our lives by more people than just our parents. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, coaches, church leaders, camp counselors, and neighbors, just to name a few, fulfill important roles in the lives of the young people they care for. And even as adults we look to others for guidance. So, unless we are complete hermits, there are people around us. And some of them may be observing us to see what the Christian life is all about. We are setting examples for them, whether we know it or not. So, let’s embrace our calling as ambassadors of Christ and help others find their way. As we build our faith, God can use us to help strengthen the faith of those around us.

“Ruth came to know the God of Israel through Naomi. The older woman allowed Ruth to see, hear, and feel all the joy and anguish of her relationship with God. . . . Sharing openly about our relationship with God can bring depth and intimacy to our relationships with others.”

Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Mary: The Mother of A Savior

“From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.”

Luke 1:48-49 NIV

Last week, in our journey through the Bible, we left off in the middle of 1 Samuel. This means that the stories of all the mothers we’ve discussed so far have come from chapters we’ve already covered. So, we’re jumping ahead a bit by considering Mary. But how can we not? She is the Blessed Mother. She was given the awesome responsibility of bringing up Jesus. As she looked down at the newborn Baby in her arms, she was looking into the face of God Himself. How amazing, but also how strange and terrifying, that must have been!

I want to back up a bit, though, to when she first found out that she was going to bear God’s own Son. That news alone would have been enough to shake her up. But the fact that she was going to do so as a virgin could have pushed her over the edge. Think about the culture at the time and how young she was. The penalty for being unwed and pregnant in ancient Israel was death by stoning. I can’t even imagine how scared she must have been when the angel told her of God’s plan for her. But her response was simply: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38 EHV) Her faith and trust in God were so strong that she didn’t even hesitate. In fact, she rejoiced and praised God for choosing her. (See Luke 1:46-55.) The lesson we can learn from Mary? Say yes to God, because when we do, we will be blessed!

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Matthew 5:8 NIV

This week’s Scripture passages focus on the lessons we can learn from the mothers in the Bible:

• Eve: Persevere – We’re not perfect, but God can still use us, so we should never give up!
• Sarah: Have Faith – Nothing is impossible for God, and He will keep His promises to us.
• Leah: Choose Joy – God is near to us when our hearts are broken, and He will help us find joy in the midst of our pain.
• Jochebed: Trust God – God watches over all of His children.
• Naomi: Help Others – We can nurture the faith of those around us.
• Mary: Say Yes to God – Embracing God’s plan for our lives isn’t always easy, but it brings blessings beyond imagination!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30 NIV

References:

• Chronological Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2012.
• “Mothers of the Bible.” YouTube, uploaded by St. Pete First, 7 May 2019, https://youtu.be/V1MhY9qPJLM.

Images:

• Pink Flowers featured image by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash (edited)
• Carnations image by Petra from Pixabay (edited)
• Apple Blossoms image by 4924546 from Pixabay (edited)
• Iris image by Ralph from Pixabay (edited)
• Forget Me Nots image by Myléne from Pixabay (edited)
• Poppy and Baby’s Breath image by lee seonghak from Pixabay (edited)
• Roses image by Светлана Бердник from Pixabay (edited)
• Easter Lily image by Ray Shrewsberry • from Pixabay (edited)
• Bible and Flowers image by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash