Mothers of the Bible - Pt. 1

 

The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand rand take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:20-24 ESV).

 

I am breaking with my personal tradition with the writing of the next three devotionals. For years I have not preached or written a specific “Mother’s Day” devotional or sermon. The biggest reason for that is simple fear. In fact, while pastoring I often used the day to emphasize family, parenting, or even the role of the father in the home. After all, the quickest way to trouble was always in a direct challenge to moms. That’s a battle I was unwilling to attempt. However, in omitting such an important person from the writing calendar I fear I have not been as effective as I might have been. So, today we begin a short series leading us to examine some of the amazing women and mothers who set such a good example for us to follow. I love reading about the moms of the Bible who had real struggles in their midst and yet showed such a faith and endurance. That’s where the stuff of real life meets us and gives us the opportunity to walk out our faith.

 

The first of these amazing moms of the Bible is found in the first five chapters of Genesis, Eve. The first woman and the first mother, Eve laid down the first foundations of motherhood. After God created man and woman, he saw that it was good. However, even in Paradise, Eve gave into temptation and ate the forbidden fruit. She sinned. Her sin could have driven her down a deep path of depression and death, but instead she still chose to continue with the task given to her by God: And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28). It is an amazing picture of perseverance. And, it is another way we are reminded that God does not require performance for relationship. To think that the amazing lineage of life was begun by this flawed couple is an incredible witness to the grace of God to those He has chosen! It is also an incredible example of a woman who rusted in that great grace in the face of great hardship and difficulty.