20 SPECIAL MOTHERS FROM THE HOLY BIBLE
Mothers have a great influence on their children at home, in the Church and in society. The following special mothers from the Holy Bible teach us valuable lessons from their own lives.
1. Eve - Mother of all the living
St-tekla.orgEve was the first woman created by God and she was also the first mother. Eve experienced pure undefiled fellowship with the creator God before sin and the downfall of man. Eve and Adam, the first man to be created lived in the Garden of Eden. But they had to leave the beautiful garden when they disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” They had to farm the land and work very hard to make their living. Soon they had children. Cain and Abel were the first two sons born to Adam and Eve. Later they had many other sons and daughters also. Eve was the first woman ever to have experienced all the pain and emotions of motherhood. Eve did not have any role model or examples to follow in bringing forth or bringing up her children, but with God's care and guidance, she became the "Mother of All the Living."
Bible Reference: Genesis 2 – 4
2. Sarah - Mother of Isaac
Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac, through whom the nation of Israel was born. Her earlier name was Sarai, and it was changed into Sarah. Sarah was unable to have a child for many years. God appeared to Abraham when he was 75 years old and made a covenant with him. God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, with descendants more numerous than the stars in the sky. After waiting for about ten years, Sarah decided to have a child through her servant maid Hagar, since she could not have a child herself! But this was not how God intended to give Abraham and Sarah an heir. It was a mistake. Hagar started to despise Sarah. In return, Sarah dealt harshly with her handmaid.
Once Hagar had her son Ishmael, she was sent away from home. Years passed and Sarah still remained childless. Finally, when she was 90 years old, God once again reminded Abraham of his promise. Sarah was standing behind the tent door, when God spoke to Abraham and she laughed. God chided her and declared that at the appointed time, according to the time of life Sarah should have a son. Miraculously, Sarah conceived a child in her old age, and gave birth to Isaac, the son of promise. Even though she struggled with disbelief at times, she along with Abraham in hope believed, against all hope, and so became the mother of Isaac, the son of promise and through him the “Mother of many nations.”
Bible Reference: Genesis 11:26 – 23rd Chapter
3. Hagar - Mother of Ishmael
Hagar was an Egyptian slave and a maidservant to Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Sarah did not any children for a long time, and she decided to get a child through Hagar. It was Sarah's idea and not God's plan. Enmity developed between Sarah and Hagar, when Hagar was about to have a child and Hagar fled into the wilderness. An angel of the LORD met her and told her to return to her mistress Sarah. He also promised her numerous descendants through her son whom she was to name Ishmael. Many years after Ishmael was born, Sarah too had a son, Isaac.
One day Sarah found Ishmael making fun of Isaac and she got angry. So, Hagar and Ishmael had to leave home. They travelled to the desert and soon the water they had brought got over. Hagar was desperate because she did not want to see her son die of thirst. God heard the voice of the child. Hagar heard a voice speaking to her from heaven. God told her not to be afraid. God promised her that Ishmael would not die and he would become a great man. God opened Hagar's eyes and she saw a well of water. She got water for them, and they survived. Ishmael grew up and his descendants became a great nation of people. Hagar was a destitute mother who struggled to provide for her child. But God kept a watch over her, cared and provided for her and fulfilled his promises.
Bible Reference: Genesis 16, 21
4. Rebekah - Mother of Jacob and Esau
Rebekah is one of the matriarchs of the nation of Israel. Rebekah lived with her father Bethuel and brother Laban in the town of Nahor. One day some visitors arrived in her hometown in a big caravan. They were her father's relatives. She met them near a well she was drawing water from. She immediately drew water from the well for them to drink and for their camels also. She also showed hospitality and generosity by taking them home to stay. One of the visitors was a man named Eliezer. He was the chief servant of Abraham. He wanted to take Rebekah as a bride for his master Abraham's son Isaac. Rebekah agreed and went with Eliezer to become Isaac's wife. Rebekah did not have a child for a long time and when Isaac prayed for her, she conceived and gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. When the babies were still in the womb, she could feel the babies jostling within her. When she asked the LORD why this was happening, He told her that two nations were there in her womb. One people would be stronger than the other, and the older would serve the younger.
But in the ancient days, according to the culture, the older would have never served the younger, and the firstborn son would have inherited double portion of his father's inheritance as a special blessing. Esau and Jacob grew up. Isaac, their father who was old in age, told Esau to hunt and prepare food so that he could receive his blessing. But Rebekah overheard this and told Jacob to take the food she had prepared to Isaac first and receive Esau's special blessings for himself. Jacob was unsure about deceiving his father, but Rebekah encouraged her son. Even though Jacob took his brother Esau's blessings, he had to face the consequences of his choices. He was cheated ten times by his uncle Laban. He was not truly blessed until he learnt some hard lessons after many years. Rebekah too had to face the consequence for her actions. She never saw her favourite son, Jacob again. She passed away before he returned twenty years later. It is not God who instigated Rebekah to deceive, Rebekah may have remembered what God told her when the babies were jostling. God is sovereign despite the good or bad choices we may make, and His plans and purposes will stand. Rebekah is an example of that and became one of the matriarchs of Israel through her son Jacob.
Bible Reference: Genesis 24 – 27
5. Leah & Rachel - Mothers of the 12 Tribes of Israel
Leah and Rachel were the daughters of Laban, the brother of Sarah. When Jacob, son of Isaac went to stay with his uncle Laban, he met Leah and Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel and wanted to marry her and was willing to work seven years to marry her. She was the younger of the two sisters. After completing his seven years of work, Jacob was disappointed when Laban tricked Jacob by giving him his older daughter Leah in marriage. A week later, Rachel was given in marriage to Jacob, but he had to work another seven years for Rachel. Despite all the love and affection she got from Jacob, Rachel did not have any children for many years and this caused her a lot of sorrow. Leah had 7 children, 6 sons and one daughter, named Dinah. After many years, Rachel had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. However, she was in great pain and died in childbirth when her second and youngest son Benjamin was born. Even though their pain, sorrows and struggles were different, Leah and Rachel’s life is so intertwined that it is difficult to tell one without the other. Leah’s life was tough, she was given away in marriage by her father through deception and she also knew that she was not favoured by her husband Jacob. But she found favour with God. One of her sons Levi became the priestly tribe of Israel and another son Judah became the royal tribe, from where many generations later, kings would be born. Through Judah, she became the ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ, the Messiah also. Rachel too had a role in the eternal plans of God. Her son Joseph was used by God to save the lives of many including his brothers during the great famine (Genesis 50: 20), so that the line of Messiah would continue. Leah and Rachel’s sons formed the 12 tribes of Israel. Thus, they became the mothers of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Bible Reference: Genesis 29 – 36
6. Jochebed - Mother of Moses, one of the great prophets and leaders of Israel.
Once when the Israelites were living in Egypt, Jochebed, a Levite woman gave birth to a son. A new pharaoh had come to power in Egypt who did not like the Israelites. The Pharaoh was worried about the Hebrews outnumbering and overtaking the Egyptians, so he made them slaves. He also commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill Hebrew baby boys when they were born, but the Hebrew midwives were God-fearing, so they did not kill the baby boys. Then Pharaoh made another law. The Israelites had to throw their baby boys into the Nile River. Jochebed decided to protect her baby boy from the cruel Pharaoh. So Jochebed hid her baby for three months and when she could no longer hide him, she thought of a plan. She coated a bulrush basket with tar and pitch, placed the baby in it, then she set it in the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. Jochebed’s daughter, Miriam, watched to see what would happen. Pharaoh’s daughter came there to bathe. When Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket, she took it and looked inside. She found the baby crying. She felt sorry for him. Miriam, the sister of the baby asked Pharaoh’s daughter if she would like her to fetch a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed. Miriam brought her mother Jochebed to Pharaoh’s daughter. Pharaoh’s daughter told Jochebed to nurse and raise the baby until he was old enough to come live with her. She was even given a pay to do that.
When Moses was born, Jochebed knew he had a special purpose. We read in Hebrews 11:23, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.” And because Jochebed knew this she took the task of raising Moses quite seriously. Even though she had only a short time to prepare Moses before handing him over back to Pharaoh’s daughter, she taught him the significance of being a Hebrew, the suffering of fellow Hebrews as slaves and worshipping the God of Israel at an early age. Her words were so ingrained in Moses that he hated being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, detested the treasures of Egypt and wanted to suffer along the children of God (Hebrews 11:24 – 26). God in his sovereignty allowed Jochebed to raise Moses herself and to teach him faith and godliness. Then, when he was older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And this was all part of God’s plan to rescue the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Jochebed along with her husband are listed among the “heroes of faith” in Hebrews 11.
Bible Reference: Exodus 2
7. Pharaoh's Daughter - adoptive mother of Moses
Once when the Israelites were living in Egypt, Jochebed, a Levite woman gave birth to a son. A new pharaoh had recently ascended the throne. He was worried about the Hebrews becoming numerous and stronger than the Egyptians. The Pharaoh decided to keep the Israelites under control. The Pharaoh made a law to throw every Hebrew boy that is born into the Nile River. Jochebed hid her baby for 3 months and when she could hide him no longer, she coated a bulrush basket with tar and pitch, placed the baby in it, then she set it in the reeds along the bank of the Nile. Jochebed’s daughter, Miriam, watched to see what would happen. Pharaoh’s daughter came to the Nile River to bathe. When Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket and looked inside, she found the baby crying. She took pity on the child. Pharaoh’s daughter knew that it was a Hebrew child which had been thrown there because of the orders of her father. Yet she did not want the baby to die. Pharaoh’s daughter even though she was a heathen princess, had a motherly instinct when she saw the Hebrew baby crying. The baby's sister Miriam asked her if she would like her to fetch a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby; Pharaoh's daughter agreed.
Miriam brought Jochebed who took the baby with her to nurse him. Pharaoh’s daughter paid Jochebed to nurse and raise the baby until he was old enough to come live with her in the Egyptian palace. She then adopted him as her son and named him Moses. She gave him the best of education that was available in Egypt at that time and trained him in all the skills required to be a leader. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds (Acts 7:22). Pharaoh’s daughter saved Moses from certain death from both the Nile river and from the Pharaoh. According to the eternal plans and purposes of God, Moses brought Israelites out of Egypt. Just like King Cyrus, a heathen king who was used by God to rebuild the Temple of God many centuries later, Pharaoh’s daughter was used as an adoptive mother for Moses by God to keep him safe and train him to be a leader to lead the Israelites into the land of promise.
Bible Reference: Exodus 2
8. Samson's mother - who gave birth to the strongest man in the history of the world
Samson’s mother, although unnamed in the Holy Bible, played an important role in Samson’s life especially his Nazirite vow. Her husband's name was Manoah, and she was from Zorah, a village in the tribe of Dan. She did not have a child for a long time. One day an angel appeared to her and told her that she would have a son and he was to be a Nazirite for life. Because the boy was to be a Nazirite from the womb, Samson's mother also had to follow the vow until he was weaned. Nazirites must abstain from wine and all other products of the wine, they must not allow the hair of their head to be cut by a razor, and they should not go near a dead body. After the visit from the Angel of the LORD, she told her husband all about it. Manoah was quite moved by what he heard, but he wanted to hear it for himself again. The Man of God did return again and reiterated what He had told Manoah’s wife. After Manoah listened to the Man, Manoah and his wife offered a sacrifice. The Angel ascended in the flame of the offering and didn’t appear to them again. Manoah realised that he had seen God. Manoah knew that that no one can see God and live, and so he told his wife that they are doomed.
But his wife replied that if God had meant to kill them, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from their hands, nor shown them all these things. God had accepted their sacrifice, and so Manoah’s wife was confident that they would live. The words of the Man of God did come to pass. Samson’s mother abstained from foods and drinks forbidden to a Nazirite. After the child was born, his mother named him Samson. Samson’s mother is one of the few women in the Old Testament who named their sons at birth. The angel who announced the birth of Samson, had also told her that he would deliver the Israelites from the hand of the Philistines. Samson was supernaturally strong. His strength was unparalleled. However, Samson did not stand firm in his vows and consecrations. Instead of delivering Israelites from the Philistines, Samson was lured by Philistine women. He even wanted to marry a Philistine woman. Neither Samson’s mother nor his father was pleased with Samson’s choice of a Philistine woman for his wife, so they pleaded with him to marry one of the daughters of their own people meaning the Israelites. Samson did not heed his parent’s advice and kept going back to Philistine women. Samson didn't use the Spirit that was moving him, to subdue his desire. Samson’s choices ultimately caused his downfall and death. At the very end of his life, just before his death Samson repented, which helped him to deal a strong and final blow to his enemies, the Philistines which brought some respite for the Israelites. Samson’s choices did not make his mother proud or happy. However, we can learn many important lessons from her life as the mother of a consecrated son. Samson’s mother was a great woman of faith whose life of sacrifice, in being a part of the Nazirite vow for the sake of her son is an outstanding example of a godly mother. She was obedient in carrying out God’s will without questions. She was also a woman of conviction who tried to persuade her son from making wrong decisions.
Bible Reference: Judges 13 – 16
9. Hannah – Mother of Prophet Samuel
Hannah was the wife of a man named Elkanah. Hannah was distraught and in despair, because she was unable to bear children. She was often provoked by Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, who had many sons and daughters. Once when Hannah and her family had gone to the Tabernacle to worship the Lord, Hannah poured out her heart to the Lord. She made a vow and said that if God gave her a son, she would give him for the Lord’s service all the days of his life. After Hannah prayed, pouring out her burdens before the Lord, she was no longer sad. She fully trusted the Lord to answer her prayer. God answered her prayers and gave her a son. She named him Samuel. Hannah kept her promise. After she weaned Samuel, she brought him to the Tabernacle and left him there to serve God. She also brought a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine as sacrifices. Immediately after giving her young son to the Lord, she praised God with a song and worshipped Him. She did not know that God would bless her with more children.
But Hannah did not stop caring about Samuel. Every year she stitched a new coat for Samuel and brought it to him when they came to worship God at the Tabernacle. Hannah was a dedicated mother and a woman of grace and humility. Hannah is recognized as the mother of Samuel—who was a prophet, judge, and also was given the privilege to anoint the first two kings of Israel. Hannah had Samuel with her only long enough to wean him, but her spiritual influence is reflected in his holy and righteous life.
Bible Reference: I Samuel 1, 2
10. Naomi - Mother of Mahlon & Kilion and Grandmother of Obed (the Grandfather of King David) who brought him up along with his mother Ruth.
Naomi was the wife of Elimelech, a man who lived in Bethlehem. They had two sons Mahlon and Kilion. In those days there was a famine in Bethlehem. So Elimelech and Naomi went to live in a neighboring country called Moab along with their two sons. During the ten years the family lived in the land of Moab, Elimelech died leaving Naomi a widow. Her two sons grew up and married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died. Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. Naomi heard that God had provided bread in Bethlehem and decided to return to her homeland. She asked her two daughters-in-law to return to their families and she kissed them goodbye. They both wept aloud. Orpah went back to her family, but Ruth stayed with her. Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law. When the women of Bethlehem saw Naomi, they recognized her. Naomi told them to no longer call her Naomi which meant “pleasant” but "Mara," meaning "bitter." They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Ruth went to work in the field belonging to a man called Boaz, who was a kinsman redeemer. Later, Boaz married Ruth. Ruth gave birth to a son. Naomi was overjoyed, the women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” His name was Obed, and he was the grandfather of King David and whose genealogy would come to our Saviour Jesus Christ. Naomi’s life teaches us many very important lessons. Naomi fully experienced the pain of loss and became destitute in a foreign land, yet she continued in her faith. True to her name Naomi had a sweet spirit and lived out God’s presence each day. Naomi, despite her poverty, opened her hand and advised her daughters-in-law to go back to their relatives, praying for the best of blessings for them. Her faith in God motivated her to seek a blessing for Ruth and Orpah. Naomi’s godliness was so attractive that Ruth was convicted and converted by it. Even though Naomi’s life seemed out of control and beyond restitution, God was still in control of her life.
Bible Reference: The Book of Ruth
11. Ruth - Mother of Obed & Ancestor of Jesus Christ
Ruth was a woman from a country called Moab. She married Mahlon, one of the two sons of Elimelech, an Israelite from a town called Bethlehem. Elimelech’s wife was Naomi. Elimelech and Naomi had settled in Moab because of a famine in his country. Elimelech had another son called Kilian. Kilian’s wife was Orpah. Within few years Elimelech died, and then the two sons also died. Shortly, Naomi heard that the famine in Bethlehem was over. She decided to return to Bethlehem. Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their families in Moab. Orpah agreed and went back to her Moabite family. Ruth chose to stay with Naomi, expressing her commitment to Naomi and devotion to Naomi’s God, the God of Israel.
Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem. It was the barley harvest season. Ruth decided to go into the fields to pick up leftover grains that are left behind during the harvest. The field that Ruth went to work belonged to a man named Boaz who was a relative of her father-in-law Elimelech. When Boaz heard that it was Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi who was gleaning the leftover grain, he spoke kindly with her. He told her that she could work safely and peacefully in his fields and get a drink from his water jars when she was thirsty. Boaz was a kinsman redeemer of Naomi. In ancient Israel, there was this practice called as kinsman redeemer, where a person would redeem his relative who was in trouble, danger, or need by willingly regaining the possession of something or someone by paying their redemption price. Boaz went before the city elders to purchase a land sold by Naomi. As a kinsman redeemer Boaz married Ruth also. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed. Ruth’s grandson was Jesse, the father of King David whose genealogy would come to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus Ruth, a foreigner and a Moabite was richly rewarded by the Lord under whose wings she had come to take refuge.
Bible Reference: The Book of Ruth
12. Unnamed mother - in the days of King Solomon
This is the story of an unnamed young mother who lived during the days of King Solomon. The young mother lived with another woman in the same house and both of them had a baby within a short time of each other. One night while the women were sleeping, the other woman rolled over on top of her baby by mistake and the baby died. The woman felt terrible. She wanted to have a baby desperately, so she quietly switched the babies. She left the dead baby beside the young mother in the bed and took the baby that was alive. When the young mother woke in the morning to feed her baby, she saw that the baby was dead and when she checked the baby, she knew that it was not her baby. But the other woman refused to accept that the dead baby was hers. They yelled and fought, however, there was no end to the dispute. So, they decided to go to King Solomon to help them find the true mother of these babies.
King Solomon patiently listened to both the women, but he did not give any reply to them. He ordered his soldiers to bring him a sword. They brought a sword and King Solomon ordered the soldier to divide the living baby in two and give the two women each a half of the living baby. The young mother who was the true mother of the living baby was shocked, she did not want the baby to die, she pleaded with the king not to kill the baby, but to give it to the other woman itself. But the other woman was unconcerned. She calmly told the king to cut the baby into two halves and to hand over one half to each of them and that would be a fair decision. Now King Solomon knew which one of these was the true mother and which was not. King Solomon told his soldiers to give the living baby to the young mother, because she was the true mother. The love of a mother for her child is pure and selfless, she cannot bear the thought of the child being hurt. In this story, the young mother’s pure love, affection and care for her child, protected the child and helped the mother to get her baby back from an unconcerned woman.
Bible Reference: I Kings 3:16 - 28
13. Unnamed mother - A widow from Zarephath
There are many mothers in the Holy Bible whose names are never mentioned, but their actions are carefully recorded. Once there was a severe famine in Israel during the times of Prophet Elijah. Prophet Elijah was staying near a brook called Kerith and he was fed miraculously by God. But soon the brook dried. God instructed Prophet Elijah to go to a place called Zarephath. God also told him that a widow would supply him with food. When Elijah arrived, he saw a woman gathering sticks, and he asked her for some water and a piece of bread. She told Elijah that she didn’t have any bread–only a handful of flour in a jar, and very less oil in a jug. She wanted to prepare a final meal with her son before they would eventually starve to death. But Prophet Elijah told her to prepare a small piece of bread for him. He told her that that, there would be enough flour and oil for them till the famine is over. The widow did as Prophet Elijah asked. She took the flour and oil and made a small piece of bread and brought it to Prophet Elijah.
The next day when she went to check the jar for any leftover flour to make a meal, she found that miraculously there was enough flour and oil to make food. The poor widow and her son were thrilled. This kept happening, every day the jar kept filling until the famine was over. The poor mother had enough to feed her son; her faith and obedience saved them from dying of starvation. Elijah stayed in the upper room of the widow’s house. Sometimes later, the woman’s son died of an illness. The mother was unsure why this happened, she even wondered whether God was judging her for her previous sins. But Prophet Elijah pleaded with God to restore the boy’s life and the child was brought back to life. This is an extraordinary story of God’s providence where God chose this mother from Zarephath to provide for God’s servant Elijah and in turn she and her son were also delivered from starvation and sure death.
Bible Reference: I Kings 17: 7 – 24
14. Unnamed mother – Shunammite Woman
There was a respectable woman who lived in a place called Shunem. She is unnamed in the Holy Bible and is referred to as the Shunammite woman. One day Prophet Elisha happened to visit Shunem. He met this notable Shunammite woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food at her home. Whenever Prophet Elisha passed through that town, he would turn in there. Shunammite knew that Elisha was a holy man of God. She requested her husband to build a room for him so that he might stay there whenever he passed by. Prophet Elisha wanted to return her kindness with some favour. The Shunammite replied that she was living happily and satisfied among her own people. But Elisha’s servant Gehazi told him that the woman had no children, and her husband was also old. Prophet Elisha called the woman and told her that in due season, about that time next year, she would embrace a son. It happened just as Prophet Elisha told her; the woman had a son in due time. The child grew. One day, the little boy went out to his father, to the farm. While he was there, suddenly, he cried to his father saying, "My head, my head!" The father told a servant to carry him to his mother. The child was brought home, but he lay on his mother’s knees till noon and died. The mother went up and laid the boy on the bed of Prophet Elisha, shut the door behind, and went out.
She went to meet Prophet Elijah at mount Carmel. As soon as she saw Prophet Elijah, she caught him by the feet. Prophet Elisha realized that she is deeply distress. Elisha told Gehazi to take his staff, go to her house and to lay it on the face of the child. Gehazi did as was told, but there was no response from the child. After a while, Elisha and the mother of the child arrived as well. When Prophet Elisha entered the room, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. He went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child; and the child’s body became warm. Prophet Elisha returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him. The child’s body became warm, the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. The child was brought back from death and Elisha gave the boy to his mother. The mother went in, fell at the Prophet’s feet and she picked up her son. The Shunammite woman extended hospitality voluntarily to the holy man of God and in return she received a blessing she did not even ask for. As a mother she went through a hopeless situation when her child died, but she did not give up. She trusted in God and went to meet the man of God and brought back her son from the grips of death.
Bible Reference: II Kings 4:8 - 37
15. Unnamed mother - A Prophet's wife
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There was a certain woman who lived during the days of Prophet Elisha, whose husband was also in the company of prophets. Her husband had died, and she had to bring up her two young sons alone. During certain situation the prophet had taken a debt but had died without repaying it. During those days, when someone had a debt they could not repay, the individual or their children were forced to work as slaves so that the debt could be recovered from their wages. The prophet’s wife could not repay the debt her husband had taken, and she did not own any possession with considerable value that could be sold. The only thing she owned that had any value was some oil, but very little of it was left. She would have nothing after it is spent. The lender wanted to take her two sons to work for him to repay the debt. The mother could not imagine parting with her sons and sending them to be slaves, so she decided to go and meet Prophet Elisha to ask for help.
Prophet Elisha listened to the woman and asked her whether she owned anything, that she could use in this time of need. The woman replied that she owned nothing except a little oil. Prophet Elisha told her to borrow all the empty jars from her neighbours that she could possibly get, close her doors, and begin pouring the oil from her jar into the borrowed jars. Prophet Elisha’s suggestion might have sounded impossible and ridiculous, but the poor woman did not question the man of God. She went back home, and her two sons borrowed as many jars they could get from their neighbours. The widow began to pour oil from her jar into the borrowed jars.
Miraculously, the oil kept on pouring! One by one, she filled each jar, until there were no empty jars left. In the olden days, in ancient Israel, oil was a precious item in international trade. Oil was used as a religious offering (Leviticus 2:4) and as a balm to heal wounds. Oil was also the base for making perfumes and fragrant ointments. The widow was delighted seeing the overflowing oil. The widow went to meet Prophet Elisha and told him what had happened. Prophet Elisha instructed her to sell the oil and pay off her husband’s debts. The woman and her sons were then able to live on the money that was left over. God miraculously provided for the needs of the poor mother who was desperate to keep her children safe and trusted in God to meet her needs.
Bible Reference: II Kings 4: 1 - 7
16. Jehosheba – Aunt like a mother
Jehosheba was the daughter of King Jehoram. Princess Jehosheba was married to the high priest, Jehoiada. Jehosheba was a half-sister to King Ahaziah, the King of Judah. King Ahaziah’s mother was Athaliah. King Ahaziah died after ruling for only one year. Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah, was evil. She wanted to take the opportunity to become queen and rule over Israel after her son died. She sought to have the entire royal family killed, which included her own children and grandchildren. This would essentially end the royal line of King David. This is the line through which the Messiah would come. Jehosheba found out that her nephews are going to be killed including baby Joash. Baby Joash was the son of King Ahaziah. Jehosheba wanted to protect them. But she could only manage to bring Joash out of the palace stealthily without anyone’s knowledge. She hid him in the Temple of God where her husband served as the Chief priest.
Little Joash was the only member of the royal family who was saved from death. Jehosheba took on the motherly role and along with her husband Jehoiada brought him up for seven years. Jehosheba and Jehoiada instructed Joash in the ways of the Lord and taught him about his royal legacy and royal duties. When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada knew the time was right. He brought Joash out and crowned Joash in front of all of the people of Israel and presented him with a copy of the covenant. As one of the Davidic line of kings, Joash is an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Courageous Jehosheba played an important role in saving Joash from the evil queen, Athaliah and preserving the royal line of David. She took on the mother’s role also and brought up Joash for seven years.
Bible Reference: II Kings 11
17. Elizabeth - Mother of John the Baptist
Elizabeth was the wife of Zechariah, a priest in the Temple of God at Jerusalem and a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Elizabeth belonged to the priestly tribe and was a descendant of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were described as "righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly." Angel Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah ministering in the Temple and told him that Elizabeth would soon have a child. Zechariah found it hard to believe the angel’s message and because of his doubt was made mute. Elizabeth soon conceived a child and was visited by Mary, the expectant mother of Jesus. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped with joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth recognised Mary’s divine assignment and blessed her. Elizabeth gave birth to a son whom they named John, as the Angel Gabriel had commanded, and Zechariah’s speech returned. Elizabeth is one of the miracle mothers in the Bible who had a child in her old age. Elizabeth was privileged to be the mother of John the Baptist, a prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Bible Reference: Luke 1:5 - 80
18. Salome - Mother of James & John
Salome, a follower of Jesus was the wife of Zebedee (Matthew 27:56). Salome was a mother who gave a huge contribution to our Christian faith. She is also referred to as the “righteous Salome,” to differentiate her from the other evil Salome, the daughter of Herodias whose dance led to the death of John the Baptist. Righteous Salome brought forth and brought up two great apostles of Jesus Christ, the apostles James and John. We have only three recorded accounts of her life in the Holy Bible. The first account is recorded in the Book of Matthew when she asked Jesus to let her sons sit on his right and left side in the coming kingdom (Matthew 20:20-24; 27:56). The second incident recorded is at the crucifixion. According to Mark 15:40-41, Salome was present at the crucifixion with the ladies who followed and ministered to Jesus Christ. The third time Salome is mentioned is in the Book of Mark, while going to the tomb of Jesus Christ along with Mary, Jesus’s mother, and Mary Magdalene. They intended to anoint his body with spices. However, when they arrived, they found the stone was rolled away and Jesus had risen (Mark 16:1–8). Salome was among the women who were some of the first witnesses of Christ’s resurrection. From the bits and pieces of information scattered in the gospel narrative about her, we can understand that Salome is a great example of a godly mother who raised her children in the Lord and then encouraged them to do God’s plan for their life.
Bible Reference: Matthew 20:20-24; 27:56, Mark 15: 40, 41; 16:1-8
19. Lois & Eunice - Mother and Grandmother of Timothy
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Lois and Eunice were the grandmother and mother of Timothy, whom Apostle Paul considered his own son. In the second letter written by Apostle Paul to Timothy, he remembers and mentions the responsibility and devotion of these women in raising Timothy with such unwavering fervent faith. Apostle Paul wrote, “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5). Eunice was a Jewish believer married to a Greek man (Acts 16:1),
Lois was either Eunice’s mother or her mother-in-law. Timothy’s godly upbringing is referenced again in 2 Timothy 3:14–15: “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Even though Lois and Eunice are mentioned by name only once in the Holy Bible, they are examples of the powerful influence a mother or grandmother can have on a child’s life. The life of Lois and Eunice reminds Christian mothers that their godly influence has an eternal bearing on the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Bible Reference: II Timothy 1:5; 3: 14,15
20. Mary - Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord
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Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ is the most honoured mother in the entire human history. She was the vessel chosen to be the human mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God when he incarnated in this world in the human form. Mary was human in every way, living in similar circumstances to all the other women. Yet, she was chosen by God for the most important task a human being has ever been chosen for throughout all of earth’s history. Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was favoured by God to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was the humblest woman and a vessel of grace. God considered her humility and did great things for her; Mary knew that from then on, all generations would call her blessed (Luke 1:46 -49). It is no surprise that the Son of God who did not consider equality with God as something to cling to and who humbled himself to the point of death was brought forth by Mary. Even though Mary received the most outstanding privilege ever to have accorded to any woman, she suffered enormous shame, pain and heartache; still never doubted God’s will for her life.
When Mary gave birth to Jesus there was no place for them to stay. They had to stay in a stable. Mary wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes and placed him in an animal feeding trough. Even though angels were sent to announce the birth of her divine son, no special provisions were made for her to bring him into this world. But she did not murmur or complain. She accepted honour and humiliation with equal submission. When Jesus was born, satan instigated jealousy and insecurity in the heart of Emperor Herod to stop God’s eternal salvation plan. Herod gave an order to kill all the boy babies in Bethlehem under two years old. Mary and Joseph were warned by an angel and fled to Egypt to protect baby Jesus. Those were days of grief and sorrow because the birth of her son led to the mourning of many mothers who lost their babies to Herod’s wicked plan. Joseph and Mary had to live as strangers in a foreign country. When Jesus Christ started his public ministry, he became famous throughout the land, Mary neither coveted a position for herself among the disciples nor tried to make a name for herself using her son’s fame. Mary silently remained in the background. Mary was present when Jesus Christ performed his first miracle in the wedding at Cana. During the final days of Jesus’ life on this earth, she saw her Son carrying his cross outside the city gate. She saw him being ridiculed, ill-treated, nailed to the cross and hung on it as a criminal to slowly die in agony. When all of Jesus’ disciples ran away in fear for their lives, Mary along with the other women who served Jesus stood near the cross showing her courage, and motherly love.
There is no indication in the Holy Bible that Mary had any special revelation about Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. She only knew that she had been told that a sword would pierce her heart also. It was while she stood near the cross that Jesus carried out his last duty towards her as a son. He committed her into the hands of his closest friend John to care for her. After Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension to heaven, Mary was with the other disciples united in prayer and fasting, waiting for the “power from on high” which Jesus had promised (Acts 1:13,14). This is the last time she is mentioned in the Holy Bible. Mary is the ultimate example of biblical humility. Mary’s humility, submission, obedience, faith, patience, endurance and motherly love are qualities for every Christian mother to emulate.
Bible Reference: Matthew 1st & 2nd Chapter; Luke 1st & 2nd Chapter; John 2:1 – 5; 19:25 – 27; Acts 1:13, 14
Go ahead and use these lessons to encourage and celebrate the mothers in your Church and community!
Any day is a good day to celebrate godly mothers!
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