20 Ways God Used Moms in the Bible
Editor’s Note: Sometimes, motherhood can feel discouraging. We serve and sacrifice, often wondering if anyone sees, questioning whether it really matters. The Bible can meet us in those challenging moments of motherhood as we meditate on a verse or study a passage. Sometimes it’s helpful to step back and consider the whole story of Scripture, to look at themes woven throughout. One theme we don’t often consider is motherhood. But as Eric Schumacher shows us, God used moms in numerous ways throughout his story of redemption. So as you read these 20 ways God used moms in his plan, be encouraged that he’s using you too!
Take a stroll with me through the storyline of Scripture and consider the numerous ways mothers appear in God's plan.
1. A mother is an integral part of the first proclamation of the Gospel (Genesis 3:15).
The first promise of salvation mentions a mother and her son—
I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.
A mother will be fundamental to this plan.
2. A mother is a specific object of satanic hatred (Genesis 3:15).
The Lord puts enmity between the serpent (Satan) and this mother. Satan will hate her (and the mothers to follow) because the One who will defeat him will be born of a woman.
3. A mother speaks the first recorded words of faith (Genesis 4:1, 25).
The first recorded words of faith are those of a mother and relate to motherhood—"I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord." Though conceived through normal means, Eve knows that her son is by God's gracious help. She believes God's promise to provide an "offspring," a second Adam ("a man").
4. A mother is the first recorded to speak the name "Yahweh" and influences a line of Yahweh-worshipers (Genesis 4:1, 26).
In her profession of faith, Eve speaks "Yahweh," and is the first to do so in Scripture.[1] Genesis 4, bookended by her confessions of faith, concludes by noting that Seth's descendants "began to call upon the name of [Yahweh]."[2] This mother's faith continues in a righteous line for generations to follow.
5. A mother is the first person to whom the angel of the Lord appears and the first to confer a name on God (Genesis 16:7, 13).
The "angel of the Lord" is a regular and important figure in the Old Testament. His first appearance is to pregnant Hagar, who fled from Sarai due to mistreatment. The angel is Yahweh himself, who saw this mother and heard her weeping.
In response, Hagar "called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, 'You are a God of seeing.'" She becomes the first human to confer a name on God.
6. Mothers repeatedly act to rescue and preserve the line of the promised redeemer.
Righteous Tamar (Genesis 38:26). Defiant Jochebed.[3] Deborah, “a mother in Israel.”[4] Shrewd Naomi.[5] These are a sampling of the mothers who act to rescue the line of the redeemer.
7. Mothers are to be honored; dishonoring mothers is strongly condemned.
The Law counted honoring mothers (alongside fathers) amongst the greatest of commands.[6] Dishonoring one's mother through violence, cursing, or rebellion was punishable by death.[7]
In the New Testament, honoring one's mother is a core command for children.[8] Disobedience to parents continues to serve as an example of the worst of evils.[9] Financially supporting one's mother (and grandmothers) is an act of godliness. A failure to provide for them is considered a denial of the faith.[10]
8. Mothers were one of God's means for imparting wisdom to kings.
King Solomon was the wisest man on earth.[11] Even so, he commended his wife's teaching as integral to the wisdom of their son.[12]
The mother of King Lemuel was not only a wise woman but a skilled artist. She crafted a remarkable poem to impart wisdom to her son, the king, and all who read it today.[13]
9. Mothers illustrate the compassion, attentiveness, and tender care of the Lord.
The way of a mother with her children illustrates God's way with his people.[14] Such "motherly" qualities are a model for those who care for God's people.[15]
10. A mother-to-be is the first person in both the Old and New Testaments to hear the Lord's ability to do the "impossible."
Both unbelieving Sarah and faith-filled Mary, hearing that an elderly woman will conceive, are told that "nothing is impossible with God." They are the first in each testament to receive this assurance.[16]
11. Two mothers-to-be are the first in the New Testament to believe and speak about the conception of the Messiah and his forerunner, John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-38).
Zechariah was struck silent for his unbelief.[17] But both Elizabeth and Mary believe and speak of these promised children.
12. Two mothers are the first to recognize and announce the arrival of the Messiah in the world (Luke 1:39-45).
Elizabeth and Mary are the first to recognize and announce the arrival of the Messiah.
13. A mother wrote the first hymn of the New Covenant era (Luke 1:46-55).
In her joy, Mary composes the first song in the New Testament, which we know as "The Magnificat." As with Hannah before her, Mary's song finds use in Christian worship and instruction today.[18]
14. A mother is the first to expect and ask for a miraculous sign in the ministry of the Messiah (John 2:1-11).
Mary's request demonstrates early insight into and faith in the Messianic ministry of her son.
15. Mothers are encouraged to find their ultimate worth beyond their relationship to their children (Luke 11:27-28).
A woman shouted to Jesus, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" She, like other Jewish women, measured her worth by the status of her child.[19]
Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Instead of finding their status in biological offspring, Jesus invites mothers to relate directly to God through his word. A mother finds true blessedness when she knows the Word-Made-Flesh and follows him.
16. Mothers' hardships are acknowledged by Jesus as he goes to his own crucifixion (Luke 23:26-31).
The most important work of Jesus is his death and resurrection. He suffered God's wrath for the sin of the world and rose from the dead to redeem those who trust in him. As he went to his death, he noticed a crowd of women who mourned and lamented for him. He told them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'"
Jesus spoke of Jerusalem's coming destruction. In those days, its citizens would need to flee. But pregnancy or care of children would slow or prevent such escape. Mothers would have to watch their children suffer. Amid his own pain, Jesus recognized, acknowledged, and expressed compassion toward the unique hardships of mothers.
17. Mothers were among the last to be with Jesus at the cross when all but one disciple fled (John 19:25).
At least two mothers, along with some other women and John, were the last to remain with Jesus at the cross. Like our mother Eve, they remained faithful, even during painful loss.
18. A mother is the final person to whom Jesus ministered directly, even while dying (John 19:26-27).
The final act of ministry Jesus performed before his death was to provide care for his soon-to-be bereaved mother.
19. Mothers are recognized for their contribution to the faith of church leaders (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15; Acts 16:1).
Paul celebrated the influence of Lois and Eunice in passing on the faith to their grandson and son, Timothy.
20. Mothers are New Covenant blessings promised to those who follow Jesus (Mark 10:29-30; Romans 16:13).
Mothers are not merely good gifts. Mothers are a necessity—a blessing that the Lord does not expect his people to live without. Jesus promises that we will not be left motherless, even if following him requires us to leave our mothers. Even then, we will receive "a hundredfold" of mothers in this life.
As though to illustrate this, Paul called Rufus' mother, "a mother to me as well." She was not likely his biological mother. But this older Christian woman cared for Paul, perhaps with hospitality and practical support. This caused him to view her as a mother—a beautiful picture of the new family we find in the church.
Conclusion
What can we learn from these things?
1. God cares about and speaks frequently of mothers.
The Bible highlights mothers from Genesis through Revelation. The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible's authors to notice, include, and celebrate mothers. We would do well to do the same.
God hears their cries, sees their pain, and pities their suffering. He welcomes their prayers, honors their faith, and prospers their efforts in all manner of work. He calls them to his service (from domestic to spiritual), equips them for the task, and sends them on mission. God loves, values, and celebrates mothers. So should we.
2. The manifold contributions of mothers matter.
The impact of mothers on children (biological, adopted, and spiritual) is undeniable; it should not be diminished. But the Scripture does not limit the significance of mothers to their child-raising. Mothers made remarkable (and necessary!) contributions to the advance of God's redemptive purposes. We must see, welcome, and celebrate such contributions in the same way Scripture does.
3. We cannot grasp the significance of mothers in the moment.
These mothers often did not know the significance of their actions in the grand scheme of redemptive history. They were simply believing God’s promises and exercising covenant faithfulness in the moment.
So, mothers, be content with faith and faithfulness. Believe the Gospel. Be faithful with what God has given you to do. Don’t measure whether you “matter” by what you can see happening; that is out of your hands.
Hear more from Eric Schumacher on this topic in this week’s podcast episode!
[1] English translations used "the LORD" in small caps to designate the translation of Yahweh, the personal, covenant name of God.
[2] This may refer to public, organized worship of the Lord.
[3] Exodus 2:1-10
[4] Judges 5:7
[5] Ruth 3
[6] Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:3; Deuteronomy 5:16; Proverbs 23:22
[7] Exodus 21:15, 17; Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Proverbs 20:20
[8] Ephesians 6:1-3
[9] Romans 1:30; 2 Timothy 3:2
[10] 1 Timothy 5:3-8
[11] 1 Kings 4:29-30
[12] Proverbs 1:8; 6:20
[13] Proverbs 31
[14] Isaiah 49:15; 66:13; Matthew 23:37
[15] Galatians 4:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:7
[16] Genesis 18:14; Luke 1:37
[17] Luke 1:20
[18] 1 Samuel 2
[19] See also Matthew 20:20-21
