Sunday, May 10, 2020 pm – online lesson
Godly Mothers in the
Bible
Today is a day where much of the world pauses to remember mothers.
This is certainly not a Biblically sanctioned day for churches to
set aside, but it is a topic addressed in scripture and worthy of
consideration from time to time.
One of the things we find in the New Testament letters is how
they addressed current events and situations and how Christians were to
respond to such. It makes a
lesson “relevant” to what is going on.
And just as I believe our current circumstance warrants some
lessons to remind us of how we can deal with this present distress, so
the world’s call to remind us to remember mothers warrants a study of
what God’s word says about that subject from time to time.
So, with that in mind, I will like to devote this lesson to an
examination of some godly mothers in the Bible.
a.
They are typically and
more naturally inclined to love their children. Paul would appeal to
that natural tendency in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8.
Sadly, this is not always the case.
2 Timothy 3:3 in the list of selfishness, Paul mentions the
unloving; The KJV uses the expression, “without natural affection”.
It can at least apply to the unloving mother who selfishly
neglects, abuses or even murders her child, often before he or she is
given opportunity to live in this world.
Titus 2:4 speaks of older women teaching the younger women to love their
husbands and children. While there is something natural about a mother’s
love, there are also so many things to learn as she carries that out.
b.
We are to honor our
mothers –
Ephesians 6:1-3 calls for children to obey and honor their father and
mother.
Proverbs 23:24-25 - The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and
your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.
Proverbs 1:8 calls for
the child to hear the instruction of your father, and to NOT forsake the
law of your mother.
So much could be said about what is involved in honoring your parents,
but hopefully we understand it.
When we love our mother and father, we will honor them.
As Proverbs 31:28 notes that the virtuous wife (woman), “Her children
rise up and call her blessed…” She
has a role in raising children – keepers at home, teaching children
c.
Her role will have a great influence on what will become of the children,
and society in general. In the traditional home, she
will spend the greatest amount of time with them and thus has the
opportunity to mold them on the homefront.
Truly, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
d.
FOR the remainder of
this lesson, I want to focus on a handful of godly mothers we find in
scripture.
Some of the best lessons in life, and in God’s word, are learned
from examples. After all,
our lives are about following the example of Jesus (cf. Philippians 2:5,
1 Peter 2:21-23, 1 Corinthians 11:1, etc.).
So let us consider some godly mothers.
a.
Not all mothers in
scripture were godly.
In fact, most mothers that we read about, how they reared their
children is not addressed. We do
read of the ungodly influence of mothers in many instances – Jezebel (2
Chronicles 22:3), the daughter of Herodias (who had John the Baptist
beheaded – Matthew 14:6-8), Rebekah (who taught Jacob to lie and deceive
his father – Genesis 27), etc.
But there are a few godly mothers that stand out for what they did.
Let us notice a few of these.
b.
Jochebed, the mother of
Moses.
Recorded in Exodus 2:1-10, we find that Pharaoh had ordered the
killing of every male child of Israel.
Jochebed (cf. Exodus 6:20) hid Moses in a small ark and put it in
the river. When Pharaoh’s
daughter found him, Miraim (Moses’ sister) offered to find a nursemaid
to help raise him. She went
and got Jochebed was commissioned to help raise him while in Pharaoh’s
household.
YOU find in this example, a mother’s love.
This is the “natural affection” we previously mentioned.
There is a willingness to sacrifice and take extreme measures to
protect her children. That is what she did.
We also find, though not directly mentioned, that she likely
would instill in Moses the values of YHWH.
He had to learn his heritage from somewhere.
It was likely his mother.
Consider Hebrews 11:23-27.
Notice her faith in her actions.
She saw that Moses was a beautiful child and did not fear the
evil instructions of Pharaoh.
BY FAITH, she hid Moses and took measures to protect him and see
that he was spared.
It is often the mother who will get up at all hours of the night to
nurse an infant, and will stay up when that child is ill.
She is the one who will clean up the constant messes that they
make. She will sacrifice her
own wants to see that her child is taken care of.
We know of the faith of Moses and all that he accomplished.
Where did that begin?
With his mother and father. That is what we find in Jochebed.
c.
Hannah, the mother of Samuel. Found in 1
Samuel 1, we find Israel in the period of the judges.
It was a tragic time.
The book of Judges ends with this statement, “In those days there was no
king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges
21:25).
It was in the midst of this that Hannah is married to a man named
Elkanah. We find that Hannah
was barren and provoked severely because of this.
Though she was greatly loved by her husband, she still wanted a
child. 1 Samuel 1:11 records
a vow that she made to the LORD.
She said if He would give her a child, that he would be dedicated
to the LORD all the days of his life.
In that text we learn what a sacrifice that was.
Eli, the priest sees that she is praying and blesses her to go in peace
and the God of Israel would grant her petition (1 Samuel 1:17-18).
In time she conceives and gives birth to Samuel (which means
God Has Heard) .
After the child is weaned, she dedicates him to the Lord.
He remains in Jerusalem and is raised by Eli.
But on a yearly basis, Hannah would visit Samuel and bring him a
little robe (2:18-21). Eli
again blesses Hannah, and she has 5 more children.
Meanwhile, the child Samuel grows before the Lord.
IN Hannah, we find a godly mother, whose priority is serving God
and instilling that as the HIGHEST priority in their lives.
So many parents today are more
concerned about the material prosperity of their children than they are
about their spiritual well-being.
Godly parents will be more concerned about their children obeying
the gospel and growing up to faithfully serve God than they worldly
success.
Hannah knew what was most important and her devotion to God was
followed by that of her son Samuel.
Samuel would anoint both kings Saul and David.
He would also intercede for Israel as priest.
And it began with a mother of faith, who kept her word to God and
ensured that her children did the same.
d.
Lois and Eunice, the
grandmother and mother of Timothy
– 2 Timothy 1:5, As Paul begins this final letter, he makes mention of
his mother and grandmother.
He commends their efforts to instill faith in Timothy.
You may note that he commends the faith that Timothy has and
notes it FIRST dwelt in them.
Eunice, LIVED the faith she tried to instill in Timothy.
AND Lois LIVED the faith she had instilled in her daughter
Eunice. We frequently
emphasize the importance of example.
IT is the best way to teach and open doors for others to consider
our Lord (cf. Matthew 5:16).
That also applies to parents.
Children are going to spend the majority of their formative years
with their father and mother.
And if mother is at home, they will be watching her.
It will not take long for them to figure out how GENUINE their
faith really is. Children see
the hypocrisy in their homes.
Children see if as parents bring their children up “in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord” (Primarily directed at fathers, but it applies
to both – Ephesians 6:4) really see that as important in their lives.
We do NOT know how godly Timothy’s father was – we know he was a Greek
(Acts 16:1 – a Hellenist).
We know Eunice was Jewish and believed and as such she was able to
influence Timothy to be faithful.
2 Timothy 3:15 – This is further emphasized as we note that Timothy
“from childhood” knew the holy scriptures.
He had been taught the word of God all his life.
Godly mothers (and fathers) will take time to ensure that their
children are taught the word of God.
That is what has bearing on their eternity.
e.
Mary, the mother of
Jesus – I
would love to know more about Mary, the mother of Jesus.
She is such an amazing character.
WE only read about her on a few occasions, but we learn about her
from these.
As a virgin, she submits to God to bring Jesus into this world
and to raise Him as His mother.
Clearly, she was honorable and feared God in this, and throughout
her life.
She showed great love and concern for Him – Luke 2:41-52, the
only childhood occasion of Jesus recorded in scripture.
We see her concern for Jesus when He is discovered to be missing.
They return to Jerusalem and search for 3 days.
She then lovingly rebukes Him.
We also note in vs. 51 that she kept these things in her heart and that
she raised Him as His mother.
NEXT, we find her at a wedding feast (John 2:1-10) where she
instructs servants to do whatever He told them to do – showing
confidence in Him
She also shows her care and concern for Him as He is being mistreated.
She and His brothers search for Him to speak with Him (Matthew
12:46-47).
Finally, we find her at the foot of His cross as He is dying.
This is where Jesus makes provisions for her to be cared for by
tasking John to take her in (John 19:25-27).
You can see in Mary a mother’s love, to the very end.
She is there in both good times and bad.
These are some of the qualities we find in godly mothers.
Certainly, we ought to thank God for our mothers.
And may we do so, not just one day a year, or occasionally.
Instead let’s be grateful for them at all times.
Our mothers are always worthy of our honor and respect.
Let us strive to be pleasing to our God, even in this.
Think about it!