Happy Mother’s Day: Mary is the ultimate mother. She trusted in God and was blessed with a child who would save the world. She also raised her son and his brothers. What more can a mother do? Read about Mary’s character and service to God’s people. Read on for 7 motherly women in the Bible who served God well. You’ll be inspired by their lives and faith. Just like Mary, you’re sure to become a better person after reading their stories.
7 Mothers in the Bible Who Served God Well
Sarah – Her Reaction to God’s Promise
Genesis 18:10-12 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”
One of the most amazing stories of God’s faithfulness is Sarah’s. She prayed to God for the power to conceive a child. She understood God’s promise to make Abraham the father of a great nation. She wanted to be a mother, too, just as Abraham was promised to be a father to many nations. God waited patiently for Sarah to respond to his promise.
As the mother of the first Jewish nation, Sarah deserved a lot of praise. She had a unique role in Abraham’s life and was instrumental in the birth of his son, Isaac. During her twilight years, Sarah became pregnant with Isaac and eventually bore the child that God had promised to Abraham. Eventually, she gave birth to Isaac.
While Sarah knowingly went along with Abraham’s sinful scheme, she did not have to. Her obedience was based on her deep faith. She believed that the promise from God to Abraham would result in him being the father of a great nation. She could have refused to marry Abraham, but she listened to his voice and obeyed God. In that sense, Sarah served God well. In other words, she was a good example for all women who want to follow God’s guidance.
Like Abraham, Sarah’s reaction to God’s promise is equally impressive. Sarah was confident that her childbearing days were long gone, but the promise of a child was something she was still uncertain about. She laughed at the promise, not out of cynicism but with wonder. In fact, Sarah’s reaction was one of wonder and joy. Thankfully, Sarah and Abraham were able to trust in God’s promise, and her child was born.
Rebekah – Wife of Isaac
Genesis 24:50-52 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.” 52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord.
Rebekah – Wife to Isaac demonstrates assertiveness at a time when she should have been submissive. Rebekah pushed one of her sons ahead of the other. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a pagan Canaanite woman. Therefore, he sent his servant Eliezer to seek a wife for Isaac. He prayed to God to give him the right girl who would offer him water.
Isaac and Rebekah were not able to have children, and it may have caused Isaac a great deal of frustration. Having children was important in ancient times, and Isaac and Rebekah tried for twenty years with no results. After all, this period of time is long enough to build up a mountain of bitterness. Isaac prayed to the Lord for help, and God answered his prayers. Rebekah was able to become pregnant!
Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah was a direct result of divine providence. Rebekah’s pregnancy was a fulfillment of a prophecy and she prayed to be married to Isaac so she would receive His blessing. However, the decision of Rebekah to lie to Isaac was sinful. She sacrificed the love of her husband and her esteem to obtain the blessing of her idolized son, Jacob.
Jochebed – Mother of Moses
Exodus 6:20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years.
Numbers 26:59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.
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During the Exodus, Moses’s mother, Jochebed, was a Levite. She hid the newborn Moses for three months in a bulrush basket and placed it by the bank of the Nile. The Hebrew child was saved when the daughter of the Pharaoh took pity on him and offered to pay Jochebed to care for him. Jochebed took care of her son and left the ark with a heavy heart, but she did so with the intent of serving God.
Jochebed’s heroic story unfolds during this time period in the Bible. While the Bible does not explicitly state Jochebed’s character traits, there are many aspects of her character that we can emulate. First, she obeyed the decree to protect the child. Second, she acted kindly. She did not resent the fact that the law forbade marriages between relatives.
Jochebed was a Hebrew woman. She did not believe in sacrificing her son for the sake of her own success. She took care of Moses during his formative years. But at a young age, she hid him from the Pharaoh’s daughters and became their son. This example is often cited in movies that depict a parent giving up a child in order to get a better life for their own children.
Hannah – Mother of Samuel the Prophet
1 Samuel 1:20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.
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Hannah, a young Israelite, is a good example of a woman who lives by faith. Hannah seeks to bear children because it is the will of God. She wants to have children so that she can prove her womanhood and impact the next generation for God.
In biblical days, a woman’s main role was to bear children. Being barren was considered a curse, and Hannah joined a long line of faithful women who battled barrenness. Others include Sarah, Abraham’s wife, Isaac’s wife, Rachel, Boaz’s wife, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. While many childless women were wicked and unfaithful, Hannah believed that God was calling her to be a mother.
The mother of the prophet Samuel, Hannah gave up her only son to serve God. Hannah prayed for the coming of the Messiah. The word “messiah” comes from a Hebrew word that translates as “king.” Samuel anointed David as the king. Hannah – Mother of Samuel the Prophet served God well!
When the child was born, Hannah named him Samuel. But, she promised that she would give him to the service of the Lord, so he would live far from her family. Eli would bless Hannah and her husband and tell them that the LORD would give them children. Hannah did so, and the child grew up in the presence of the Lord. Her sacrifice, the lamb, was an example of her dedication to serving God well.
As a mother, Hannah was dedicated to serving God. She prayed fervently for a son. Her prayer was so deep that she describes it as pouring out her soul. It was anguish and grief that she gave herself over to God. Her faith was proven by her obedience. She had long waited for her son, Samuel, as only a mother can. Hannah’s love for Samuel grew into a profound devotion to God.
Naomi – The Mother-in-Law Who Shared Her Faith
The book of Ruth introduces us to Naomi, she was married to Elimelech, and later, the family moved to Moab, where the famine took place. Naomi and her sons died there, and Naomi returns to Bethlehem, accompanied by Ruth and Orpah. Although Naomi had been unable to convince her daughters-in-law to go back with her, she was unable to dissuade them from relocating to Moab.
Though Ruth had a husband Naomi still viewed her daughter-in-law’s blessings as her own, so she stayed steadfast and compassionate. She focused on Ruth’s happiness and future and gave her detailed instructions for their marriage. Naomi even nursed Ruth’s baby, Obed, which became the father of David and Jesse. Nevertheless, Naomi remained kind and compassionate to Ruth.
Elizabeth – The Mother of John the Baptist
The story of Elizabeth in the Bible is an inspiring example of how God can bring about a miraculous event in our lives. She remained faithful to God despite the trials and tribulations of her life and bore a son in her old age. Although she had been barren for years, she never became bitter and she praised God for his mercy and kindness to her. As the mother of John the Baptist, Elizabeth was humble, focused on her son, and knew she was playing a major role in God’s plan to save mankind.
This woman was under the influence of the Holy Spirit, as is evident from her actions. When Luke records Elizabeth, she refers to Jesus as “my Lord.” This is a remarkable change of perspective for someone who lived in a society where men had power. She is the first person in the Bible to use the title of Lord as a personal pronoun, and the use of this word reflects her spirituality.
Mary The Mother of Jesus The Savior of the World
Mark 15:33-37 33 And when the sixth hour[a] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.[b] 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.
When you study the Bible, you’ll find “blessed among women” She welcomed Elizabeth to her home, and despite her virgin status, she was blessed with a son. Her faith was exemplary, and she was the model of a servant of God.
We celebrate the Mother of God by focusing on her relationship with God on Mother’s Day. But how does Mary’s relationship with God compare to our own? This week, let’s explore Mary’s faith, and how she stayed close to her Son. The story of Mary’s birth and Jesus’ life has inspired many a mom throughout the ages. She was not always sure what she was doing, but she was able to follow her son to the cross and witness the greatest miracle ever: the birth of Jesus!
Mary’s relationship with God was one of grace. She was highly favored by God, and this favor impacted her life in a significant way. But as an unwed mother, Mary faced much disgrace. She nearly lost her fiance. She was also rejected by her family, and her son was murdered. Price of Mary’s faithfulness to God’s plan cost her everything, yet she still chose to follow the will of God. This made her a special woman. And as the mother of Jesus, Mary remained by his side from his birth until his death.
Conclusion
Mary – The Mother of All Mothers
The Bible contains examples of great mothers. The Bible contains stories of women who shaped the lives of their children and provided timeless lessons for humanity. Mary is the ultimate mother. She trusted in God and was blessed with a child who would save the world.
The Bible records several events concerning Mary. She is considered to be the mother of all mothers because she was the mother of the perfect man, Jesus Christ. She was chosen by God and lived in humble circumstances in Nazareth, but she still embodied the traits of a holy woman: humility, trust in God, and piety. Her role in God’s plan was highlighted in the many instances in which she is mentioned in the Bible.
Unlike many women today, Mary showed great patience in the face of uncertainty. She rejected her own expectations and accepted God’s will, despite suffering shame and grief. Nevertheless, she trusted in God and her child. Despite the pain and sadness that followed the untimely death of her son, she remained hopeful and trusted in Him. Mary embodied patience in a world of uncertainty and expectant hope.
At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, revealing to her the will of God for her to become the mother of the Messiah. At that moment, Mary’s total “yes” to God was inspiring. In fact, her lack of self-esteem and self-assurance led to the idea of being thrown into a gloomy situation, but Mary trusted in God and remained faithful. As the mother of Jesus, Mary embodied this attitude in our hearts.
When life was difficult, Mary leaned on the Lord and resisted temptation. She knew that the bad things she was faced with were all part of God’s plan for her. In her obedience, Mary followed the Lord’s command. She had to endure many trials, but she never lost sight of God and relied on her strong will to overcome every obstacle. If we were to be like Mary, we must seek to emulate her courage and faith in God.
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