5/8/2020
This year May 10 is Mother’s Day. On this special day, we want to remember and thank all the mothers for their love and care for the family. Do you ever think about what kind of mother is the woman after God’s heart? We also learn from the Bible that mother’s faith to God likely has the deepest, greatest and most direct impact on a child’s life. From this, we can see the importance of a mother’s faith. I like to share with you three stories of great mothers in the Bible, let us commemorate and honor Mother’s Day together in the word of God!
#1 Jochebed – Mother of faith and wisdom
Jochebed was the mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. The Bible only mentions her name twice (Exodus 6:20 & Numbers 26:59). She is a great mother with wisdom and faith. Her name Jochebed has two meanings: “the Lord is my glory” and “the Lord is noble.”
Her older son Aaron was the first high priest of Israel. God stipulated that the priests should not only come from the tribe of Levi, but also from the descendants of Aaron; the priests sacrificed every day to cook the affairs of the tabernacle, and they also taught the people to learn and believe in the word of God. The Lord Jesus is now our High Priest (Hebrews 8: 1-13) because he sacrificed himself on the cross for our sins, so that we no longer offer any animal sacrifices.
Her younger son, Moses, was the greatest leader and prophet of the Israelites, who led the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was the author of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Holy Bible) and recorded the Ten Commandments of God. The wisdom and faith of Jochebed can be seen in the three months after Moses was born. When Moses was born, his parents saw that he was a beautiful child, and by Faith they hid the baby for 3 months. But when they could hide him no longer, mom got a papyrus basket for Moses and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. Mom sent Moses’ older sister Miriam stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. From this, you can see the mother’s thoughtful care and wisdom. Jochebed must has taught Moses who their God is; and we ought to trust in Him and pray to Him as often as we can; and her teachings, prayers and life example have built a solid foundation of faith in the boy’s early life.
When Moses had grown up, he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11: 24-27)
We see that Jochebed is a mother with God’s wisdom, love, patience and faith. She is a woman after God’s own heart.
#2 Hannah – Mother of prayer
Samuel’s mother Hannah is known as a mother of Prayer. At first Hannah couldn’t have any children, so she went up to the Lord’s tabernacle, and she poured out the pain in her heart to God through prayer. Her prayer is of faith; it is honest and persistent prayer with a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Because of her earnest request, God gave her a son, named Samuel, which means: “Because I asked the LORD for him.” This praying mother Hannah is Christians’ role model for today. She not only prayed with persistence (Luke 18: 1-7), but also thanked God and presented her first-born son to God as fulfillment of her vow. Sometimes we fail to fulfill our promises/ vows when our prayers are answered by God, we need to repent.
Therefore, Hannah’s prayer is known as “Song of Hannah” (1 Samuel 2:1-10), and is listed among the three magnificent praising carols of the Bible with “Mary’s Song” (Luke 1: 46-55) and “Song of Simeon” (Luke 2:28-32). The LORD later blessed her with three more sons and three daughters; Hannah was changed from a barren woman into a mother of seven children. And that all generations will call her blessed!
#3 Eunice – A godly Mother
Timothy has good spirituality and sincere faith before God, it is because of the teachings of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. His grandmother and mother led him to the path of faith, he learned and understood the Bible since his infancy. Eunice is a mother who served the Lord devoutly; she taught and disciplined Timothy by setting a godly example. Because mother built Timothy’s faith on a solid foundation since his early age, later on he became a servant of the Lord and be used by God to expand His Kingdom the church on earth.
We can imagine that 2000 years ago in Jewish society and culture, a woman without good education and noble social status could never make any changes or spiritual breakthrough, but Eunice possessed a sincere faith to God. Apostle Paul praised and affirmed Timothy that his faith was originated and passed on him from his grandmother and mother. What a great testimony! As parents today we ought to ask ourselves “How can we bring our children and grandchildren to the Lord; and to set a godly example for them?”
Six scripture verses for Mother’s Day:
1. Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
2. Proverbs 6:20-21
My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
3. Proverbs 19:26-27
Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
4. Proverbs 23:22-25
Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it — wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
5. Matthew 15: 4-6
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
6. Ephesians 6: 2-3
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Let us pray:
Dear Lord,
We thank you for who you are and what you have been doing for us and our country, that we can see improvement and good changes in our community. God, we pray for all mothers whom you have entrusted with the care of your most precious little ones. We thank you for creating each mom with a unique combination of gifts and talents. We thank you for the sacrifice of self each mom gives for her children. For their hands calloused from washing, wiping, scrubbing, mixing, baking, hugging, patting, disciplining, holding, writing, painting, and pouring.
We thank you for the gift of time moms give for their kids, whether stay-home moms, working moms, and those have some combination of the two. We thank you for the flexibility of moms, for their tirelessness, perseverance and devotion. We pray you give each mom joy, peace and strength. Help her to see further and to forgive those who undermine her significance.
We especially pray for single moms, who must lean solely on you for the fathering of their children. We thank you that your everlasting arms surround those children who may never know their earthly father. We also pray for mothers who never had the honor of bearing children, but whose nurturing extends to the many adopted children, to the poor and needy.
In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
Our prayers are lifted for:
Judy Davis; Dan (Jim’s nephew); Joan Garland; Martha Glassy; Joan Hassell; Charles Harden; Betty Howell; Crystal (Nancy Jones’ daughter); Sheila Levine; Frannie and Flores family; Angela Rose; Jim Rathmell; Ann Smith; Russell Scheibel; USAF and our Nation
Fellowship United Methodist Church 