They changed the world!
Eve is the first mother mentioned in the Bible. She is known as the mother of all living. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God before they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. As a mother teaching the children what the Lord’s intentions for the world was became part of her responsibility. We must remember Eve had no guide, no role model, or anything to go by, she was the first mother.
Sarah was the wife of Abraham, who was promised to be the father of many nations. It was very hard for Abraham and Sarah to be patient and wait for God’s perfect timing to fulfill that promise. Sarah was 90 years old when she had her baby, Isaac.
Rebekah was the wife of Isaac, and had twin boys. These boys could not have been more different than hot from cold. One was a brawny outdoors man and hunter well favored by his father, while the younger son preferred to stay home with his mother and even learn to cook. These two brothers would represent warring nations from that time on.
Rachel was one of Jacob’s two wives, that were sisters. Sibling rivalry plays a big role in this scenario. Rachel was devastated when she failed to bear Jacob any children while her sister produced many. God heard her cry and gave her two sons, and they were Jacob’s favorites. Her first son Joseph also saved his people as prophesied.
Jochebed was the mother of Moses and one of the bravest women in the Bible. In a time when having a Jewish child meant death to the child if it was a male she hid Moses until God’s timing was right to secure his future in the house of Pharaoh.
Naomi and her husband moved away because of the drought, into the land of Moab. There her sons married to Moabite women. Naomi’s husband and two sons die leaving her alone with two daughters-in-law. One daughter-in-law stayed in Moab, her daughter-in-law Ruth came back to Naomi’s native land. Naomi had taught Ruth about the God of her people, enough so that Ruth pledged that Naomi’s God would be her God. Because of that God used Ruth in a great way, bearing Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David.
Hannah was another woman in the Bible who had trouble conceiving. Her husband loved her very much and treated her very well, but she wanted to give him a child. She prayed and prayed for this child so much so that Eli, the high priest, thought she was a drunk. She promised to dedicate the child back to God if he would grant her prayer and let her conceive. She gave birth to Samuel one of the greatest prophets in the Bible whom she gave to serve in the Temple, as promised, because she loved God and her son beyond measure.
Mary this is one mother that doesn’t need much introduction. She was a maid probably around 13 or 14 years old when she was told by the angel that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit and call his name Jesus, and he would save the world. How frightened she must have been having been told that news, at such a tender age.
The one thing all these women have in common is their communion with God. They all prayed for their children before and after they were born. These women are the mothers of epic men of the Bible. These women raised their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, which is one of the reasons God could use them. There are many more great mothers of the Bible, I have merely scratched the surface.
As parents it is our job and privilege to raise the children God blesses us with to the best of our ability. The Bible gives us clear instructions on how to rear children. All we have to do is read the instruction manual and they will turn out all right if we put what we read into practice. How could we do any less for our children?
We as authors would like to have credit given to us for something great. While we may not be the parents of a child who can part the Red Sea, we can write about the ones who were. Their lives were not easy, but the world needs to know who they were and how they lived.
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:20
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Genesis 17:15-16
And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Genesis 25:21-23
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.
Genesis 30:22-24
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
Exodus 2:2
And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 4:17
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
I Samuel 1:20
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
Luke 1:30-31