MOTHER'S DAY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS LIST
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Mother's Day is celebrated to honour the mother of the family. Mothers have a great influence
in the Church and in society. The following special mothers from the Holy Bible
teach us valuable lessons from their own lives.
20 SPECIAL MOTHERS FROM THE HOLY BIBLE - PART I
Please click this link for Part - II of this lesson
1. Eve - Mother of all
the living
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Eve
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
