Some Very Special Mothers In Scripture

Feature 3 – April 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Some Very Special Mothers In Scripture

EVE
To be a mother is a very special privilege as well as an awesome responsibility. God’s first recorded words to the original couple He created were, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28 NKJV ). After this couple fell into sin, God told the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15). In view of this, it is not surprising that most girls grow up instinctively liking babies, looking forward to becoming mothers. God has implanted these feelings in their hearts.

When Eve bore her first son, she named him Cain, saying, “I have acquired a man from the Lord” (Gen. 4:1). It did not take long before she had reason to be disappointed in him. She named her next son Abel, meaning “a breath” or “vanity.” Sadly, Cain, the first man born into this world, later killed his God-fearing brother Abel. It was evident that he was not the Seed of the woman God had promised.

SARAH
Some 2,000 years later, when life spans were still long but had gotten considerably shorter, Abraham followed God’s call and, going out from Ur of the Chaldeans, eventually came to the land of Canaan. In Genesis 15 God promised to give that land to him and to his descendants after him. Sarah, his wife, was concerned because she was barren, having no children. Genesis 16 relates how, perhaps following customs of the day, she gave her maid Hagar to Abraham so he would have a child by her. This son, Ishmael, was born when Abraham was 86 and Sarah 76 years old.

Sarah found out that it would have been much better if she had waited for God’s time and way. He waited until both Abraham and Sarah’s bodies were “dead,” in terms of being able to produce children (Rom. 4:16-22; Heb. 11:11-12). Then, at ages 100 and 90, God gave this couple the son He had promised and for whom they had finally learned to wait in faith. They named this son Isaac. Later, in Genesis 21, Sarah caught Ishmael scoffing at the great feast Abraham made when Isaac was weaned. She demanded that Abraham expel Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham was displeased at this demand, but God told Abraham to do what Sarah was insisting on. We have not only the account in Genesis but also the application in Galatians 4 of the teaching derived from Sarah and Isaac, who represent grace, versus Hagar and Ishmael, representing law.

REBEKAH
Rebekah, a gracious, kind young lady, was brought with her approval to Isaac to become his wife when he was 40 years old. Their love continued through 20 years of Rebekah’s childlessness. Genesis 25:21 tells us, “Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Her pregnancy proved difficult, for she was bearing twins, and the children were already struggling together in her womb. How good to see her inquiring of the LORD as to why she was that way! He answered her query, giving her to understand in measure that the nations to descend from these two boys would likewise struggle with each other. Oh, that there would be more husbands pleading with God for their wives, and more women turning to God for answers to the problems they encounter in pregnancy and otherwise! Sad to say, these lovely attitudes did not last throughout their marriage, for Rebekah is later seen helping her favorite son Jacob prepare to deceive his father Isaac. At the same time, Isaac was planning to bless his favorite son Esau.

LEAH, RACHEL, BILHAH And ZILPAH
Jacob had bitter lessons to learn, for God tells us whatever a man sows, he will also reap. His family life, beginning in Genesis 29, teaches us many things, especially the unhappiness that polygamy brings. Jacob’s two wives, Leah, the older one who was not loved by her husband, and Rachel, the one he loved and for whom he had served his uncle Laban seven years, each wanted children but for totally different reasons. As Leah bore one son after another, the names she gave them show how through giving birth she was longing to gain her husband’s affection. Rachel was jealous and angry and gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate to bear sons for her. Not to be outdone, Leah gave her maid Zilpah to her husband for the same purpose. The LORD blessed Leah, giving her six sons and a daughter of her own. In time the LORD listened to Rachel too and opened her womb, giving her a son she named Joseph, meaning “He will add.” But she died giving birth to her second son, whom she called Benoni, “Son of my sorrow”; Jacob however named him Benjamin, “Son of my right hand.”

While the birth order and the names of the children all have their spiritual significance, we are here simply looking at women in the Bible who desired children, and seeing why they desired them. The concubines’ wishes and feelings evidently meant little or nothing to their mistresses or to their master. What an unhappy household! It is indeed sad when women become mothers to win a man’s love, or out of jealousy, or because they are forced into sexual bondage by whomever it may be. Human hearts have not changed much in the course of the centuries. We see or hear of many similar situations in life today.

MANOAH’S WIFE
Samson’s parents, Manoah and his unnamed wife in Judges 13, give another very important lesson. During a time of oppression, the Angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah’s wife, telling her that she would bear a son who would begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. The son was to be a Nazirite to the LORD from his mother’s womb. The law of the Nazirite is found in Numbers 6. The mother was told that she was not to drink wine or strong drink, or eat anything unclean. If parents want their children to live a clean, useful life of separation to the Lord, it is vital that they set the example for their children by how they themselves live. This directive was repeated a second time, showing how crucial it was. Samson was also not to cut his hair, a mark of submission to authority as 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 shows with regard to a woman who is to cover her glory – her long hair – when either in a position of speaking to God in prayer or for God in prophesying.

HANNAH
This woman was also a mother of a Nazirite, but under altogether different circumstances. Hannah was barren and subjected to much provocation from her Levite husband’s other wife, who had both sons and daughters. The family went annually to the tabernacle at Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD. One year when they were there Hannah wept in anguish and silently prayed to the LORD. She vowed that if the LORD would give her a male child, she would “give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” (1 Sam. 1:11). Eli, the old high priest, at first thought she was drunk, but when Hannah opened her heart to him, he blessed her and she went home no longer sad.

In due time the LORD answered her prayer and gave her the son for whom she had prayed. She named him Samuel. When he was weaned, she and her husband brought him along with a generous sacrifice to the house of the LORD. Hannah’s prayer on this occasion shows the deep spirituality of this godly woman. Little Samuel was left with Eli, a decision that demonstrated the parents’ real faith in the LORD to keep him for Himself. He soon was ministering to the LORD in the very place where Eli’s two sons were causing the people to abhor the LORD’s offering by their wicked conduct. Hannah made a robe for her son each year and brought it to him when the family came to Shiloh to worship. She did not forget her firstborn even after the Lord had given her three more sons and two daughters. Hannah faded out of the picture after this, but as time went on all Israel recognized that the LORD had established Samuel as a prophet, and the LORD also used him as a judge all his life.

ELIZABETH
We pass on to the New Testament and see where, following some 400 years of silence after Malachi, God once more raised up a prophet, one whom the Lord Jesus termed a prophet and more than a prophet (Lk. 7:24-28). This man, also a Nazirite, was the son of an aged barren woman, Elizabeth, who was the wife of a likewise aged priest named Zacharias. “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (1:6). The husband, while on duty burning incense in the temple, was told by the angel Gabriel that his prayers – and doubtless those of his wife as well – were heard. Elizabeth would bear a son who was to be called John. This son was to “be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (v.15) – certainly something altogether unique in God’s Word. He was to be the promised forerunner of the Messiah. Because Zacharias questioned rather than believed what Gabriel told him, Zacharias was made unable to speak until after the son was born.

Elizabeth comes into focus in our reading when, about six months pregnant with her promised son, she welcomed a visiting relative from Nazareth, Mary. This virgin had shortly before been told that she would bear the promised Messiah. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, “the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’” (vv.41-43). She went on to encourage Mary, telling her that there would be a fulfillment of the things told her.

After Elizabeth’s son was born and when he was to be circumcised and named, Elizabeth insisted that he be named John, even though there was no one else by that name in the relationship. Her husband confirmed this in writing and then was able to speak again. Zacharias blessed God and, filled with the Holy Spirit, uttered a wonderful prophecy about the “Dayspring from on high” (v.78). He was speaking about the Lord Jesus, who would soon be born, and what John’s role would be in making Him known. Elizabeth’s son John, whom we usually call John the Baptist, grew up to become a valiant prophet of God. John got to see, baptize and later point out the One whose forerunner he was to be. Ultimately John the Baptist was martyred for his faithfulness (Mt. 14:1-12).

MARY The MOTHER Of JESUS
The last special woman we want to look at comes to our attention in Luke 1 as a young virgin at Nazareth – probably still in her teens – engaged to a man named Joseph. The angel Gabriel appeared telling her that she was highly favored, the Lord was with her, and she was blessed among women (v.28). She was troubled at the angel’s word, finding it hard to understand. The angel went on to tell her that she was to bear a Son and call His name Jesus. He would be great and would be given the throne of David, ruling over the house of Jacob in a kingdom which would have no end. Mary, being a virgin, asked how this would come about. She was told that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. Her holy baby would be called the Son of God. She was directed to her relative Elizabeth, whom we have already considered. Mary, referring to herself as the bondmaid of the Lord, accepted what the angel had said.

After staying with Elizabeth for three months, Mary went back to Nazareth. When the imperial decree was issued that everyone had to go to his ancestral home to be registered, Mary together with Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, for they both were descendants of King David. Mary and Joseph were betrothed to each other legally, but had not yet come together as husband and wife. One can assume Mary’s pregnancy would have been generally misunderstood, for who would have known that this young pregnant woman was a virgin, according to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. While at Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her Son, Jesus, the holy Son of God. With no room in the inn for this poor couple, the Baby was laid in a manger, a feedbox for cattle! That very night they received visitors: shepherds from nearby fields who had been given this good news by angels.

More unusual things happened when Mary had to be purified and a sacrifice offered. Months later, wise men from the East, bringing precious gifts, visited Mary and the Child in a house in Bethlehem. The family was told by an angel to flee to Egypt to escape the murderous intent of King Herod (Mt. 2:13). The little family later settled in Nazareth and grew to include four more sons and some sisters (v.23, 13:55-56). What must it have been to bring up the holy, sinless Son of God along with very ordinary siblings who did not believe in Him! Luke 2:41-51 shows how Mary and Joseph failed to understand the full importance of having this holy Child.

We refrain from going into detail about Mary’s relationship with her Son after He had entered His public ministry. The episode at the wedding at Cana in John 2 and the times in Mark 3:20-21,31-35, show that this dear mother still did not fully comprehend the greatness of her Son. That she loved Him dearly and He loved her dearly is evidenced by her being at the cross when He was crucified. There, He made provision for her care (Jn. 19:25-27). How she must have suffered as she watched Him hanging on the cross! The last mention of this godly mother is in Acts 1:14, where we find her and her other children – who earlier had not believed in Him (Jn. 7:5) – gathered with the Eleven in the upper room, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Each of these women – and others as well whom there is no space to mention here – have lessons to teach us if we are willing to learn. May God help us to value our wives, sisters and mothers who today are seeking to live lives pleasing to God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

By Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.