Biblical Motherhood

Series: TopicalText: Various

By: Shaun Marksbury Date: May 14, 2023

Venue: Living Water Baptist ChurchOccasion: AM Service

Introduction

I had not originally planned to do a special message on Mother’s Day. I don’t want to establish precedent here, creating expectation that I plan to preach topical sermons each Mother’s Day. I understand that there are many women for whom Mother’s Day is a difficult time, and I much prefer to continue in our exposition of the Book of John.

Still, we do take breaks for important moments. This is especially true when it seems that there is a cultural bias growing against the family. There is a whole movement out there of younger people who are choosing to forgo traditional marriage and have a childfree lifestyle, bragging about it to others. Even supposed conservative voices seem to have given ground to the redefinitions of marriage and family around us, and Christians are increasingly departing from biblical norms. So, it is important for us to lay some groundwork together.

I’m reminded of the third book of C. S. Lewis’s space trilogy, called That Hideous Strength. The book takes place on earth and explores how secret, evil forces are moving to reshape society. The book doesn’t start with that, though. It opens on the marriage between a young man and his wife, both of which are individuals well-educated in the world.

They both express ambivalence toward traditional roles. The female protagonist, Jane Studdock, for instance, does not want to be held back from her own scholarly goals and wants to avoid childbirth, even though she is experiencing loneliness. When someone tells her that motherhood is both natural and necessary, thus leading to a feeling of fulfillment, she replies, “I don’t believe it’s a duty. It’s a biological function, and nothing else. If you wanted to include it in a system of ethics, I should say that you were placing an animal function on the same level as activities like study or social work.” Her husband Mark expresses similar feelings, saying, “There are so many things I want to do first” and then growing more against the idea as the novel proceeds.

Now, I hope I’m not spoiling the book, as this is only part of the story, but they don’t remain in their opinions. Separately, this worldly couple realizes that they each were already influenced by the thinking of “that hideous strength” which threatens the world. As they begin to understand the dangers around them and the grave future which may face this planet, both characters essentially repent of vaunted ideals and finally develop a sense of love and joy in each other unlike before. They evidence a change in their view of family and children. They begin to find value in what God created.

This book, published decades ago, expresses contemporary viewpoints. Today, people see children as secondary or even a nuisance to one’s own life’s ambitions and dreams. Some may even see marriage as secondary to childrearing, choosing single parenthood over the natural sense of family. Not only are these traditional categories challenged, but so are ideas of natural procreation, as gay couples employ surrogates to birth children for them or artificial insemination, trying to create the illusion of family. Understand, though, that the issue is not culture but biblical fidelity.

As such, we’re going to be in many places in Scripture this morning, seeing the glory that the Lord has bestowed on the females among us. We’ll see the glories of motherhood in the biblical narrative, in biblical culture, and finally, in biblical character. Let’s consider the first of those.

The Glories of Motherhood in Biblical Narrative

We might not expect the Bible to bring motherhood to the forefront, but it does. Keep in mind what the Lord says of us in Genesis 1:27–28. There, in the creation mandate, we read, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Women are equals with men, bearing the image of God, but they have a unique role in fulfilling the mandate — only they are able to bear the children which would fill this earth.

We noted a few weeks ago that the glory of the Lord bookends the Bible in Genesis 1 and Revelation 22, but we also have motherhood near that same spotlight. Consider the first revelation of the gospel message in Genesis 3:15, where the Lord says to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” One author notes:

The Bible’s story begins with a statement that the seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head (Gen 3:15), and ends with a depiction of a dragon trying to devour a woman and her male child (Rev 12:1–17). That child, the seed of the woman, is the Bible’s main character, and his life depends on his mother giving birth to him. From this alone it can be seen that motherhood is vital to the main plot of the Bible, but it is not the main plot alone to which motherhood is vital.

So, the first book of the Bible begins with importance of motherhood and the last chapter ends with it. It’s no surprise that, after the fall of man from grace, Adam chooses to call his wife’s name Eve because “she was the mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20). She would go on immediately in the next chapter to give birth to Cain, seemingly excited, saying, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord” (Gen. 4:1). There’s hardly any doubt that she thought he might fulfill the garden prophecy, though he did not. Still, she went on to have many other sons and daughters (Gen. 5:3–4).

As the Bible proceeds, it follows mothers who bear a vital role in procreation. As another author notes, “The Bible refers to every aspect of motherhood: conception (Gen. 4:1; Luke 1:24), pregnancy (2 Sam. 11:5; Luke 1:24), the pain of childbirth (Gen. 3:16; John 16:21), and nursing (1 Sam. 1:23; Matt. 24:19).” It describes more than that, as we’ll see in a few minutes.

Before we move on from here, I understand that many women may feel excluded. Some don’t have children, and some cannot. Some are operating as mothers to children to whom they did not give birth. Yet, this shouldn’t be discouraging. One Bible encyclopedia notes, “Sometimes the stepmother is spoken of as the real mother (Gen 37:10). Sometimes the grandmother or other female relative is thus spoken of (Gen 3:20; 1 K 15:10).” Motherhood is more than a simple, biological reality, and we have women serving the whole church, including its children, in various necessary ways.

In fact, motherhood is even used metaphorically in Scripture. Often, we read of Israel as a mother, like in Ezekiel 19. In the New Testament, Paul refers to Jerusalem above as a mother of all who live by God’s grace (Gal. 4:26). Such motherhood can also be negative, such as when Babylon is described as “the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (Rev. 17:5). We see both positive and negative references, none of which would be possible unless motherhood was important in the human experience.

In fact, it is through motherhood that the Lord chose to save the world. When God the Son came to earth through the incarnation, it is theoretically possible that He could have taken another route than becoming an infant and allowing Himself to undergo the birthing process. However, He choose to identify with our condition, being born in the line of Abraham and David. And He choose to come through a mother, one He loved enough to assign the Apostle John her care while He suffered on the cross (John 19:25–27).

The Lord honors mothers in biblical narrative because they bear both His image and attributes. The Lord is compassionate, and mothers naturally have compassion on the children of their womb (cf. Isa. 49:15). Mothers comfort, and so does the Lord (Isa. 66:13). It’s no surprise, then, that the Bible compares Christians to “newborn babies” needing to suckle the milk of God’s Word (1 Pet. 2:1). He patiently cares for His beloved children, and that is an attribute He shared with mothers in a special way.

Those who are new mothers do not need to fear; the Lord gives what we need for life and godliness. Where we find that we fall short, either due to biological deficiencies brought on by this fallen world, or due to sin, He gives grace to the humble. Seek Him, and if you have erred, He not only offers forgiveness in Jesus Christ, He offers guidance moving forward.

Now, some may think that this is too sentimental. They may counter that this contradicts what we find in the ancient world, where women and mothers are second-class citizens. However, just as the Bible exalts women, so does a biblical society, bringing us to the next point.

The Glories of Motherhood in Biblical Society

Our society often perceives women in Scripture as oppressed. That’s due in part to modern notions of freedom which clash with biblical roles. However, in both ancient Israel and in the New Testament church, the role of mothers in particular was honored.

One Bible dictionary notes, “In the Hebrew family, the mother occupied a higher position than that enjoyed by women in many other nations. The mother’s duties were primarily domestic, but she was held in high regard by her family and Hebrew society.” Another puts it this way, “In vain do we look in the Scriptures for traces of the low position which woman occupies in many eastern lands.” It continues that it was “Mohammedan rule” which created the situation where women are devalued (i.e., Islam).

In biblical society, we see they had a voice. For instance, even when the men were discussing the possibility of Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac, they asked her if she wanted to go (Gen. 24:57–58), and her mother had an equal say in the matter (v. 28, 55, 57). Years later, when Jacob fled from Esau, we read that he did so out of obedience to “his father and his mother” (28:7). The Ten Commandments would call for children to honor both father and mother (Exod. 20:12), and the Law demanded the same death penalty for those who strike or curse their father or mother (Exod. 21:15, 17).

Women also held prominent positions. Beside Moses leading Israel was his sister, Miriam the prophetess (Exod. 15:20). Deborah was one of the judges of Israel (Jgs 4:4). Sometimes God allowed women prominent positions to shame men who were not leading properly (cf. Isa. 3:12), but He has also always honored women, and mothers in particular. We don’t see this same exaltation in other ancient cultures.

With that noted, let’s consider some of the character traits among women which make them so saintly in Scripture. That brings us to our final point:

The Glories of Motherhood in Biblical Character

When we are talking about the roles of men and women biblically, one of the best words to describe their interactions is complementarianism. That word means that God designed men and women to complement each other’s strengths, not in the sense of thanking one another (although that is nice to do) but in the sense of filling in deficiencies. That means that there are roles that God designates only for men (like leadership within the home and the church) and some only for women (like making homes for their children and the church family). This goes against the egalitarian view that men and women are interchangeable; the simple fact that only women can bear and rear children is proof that we are each designed with different means of glorifying God. This also means that if you were born female, God created you as such for His wonderful purposes, even if you struggle with that at times.

Eve stood beside Adam, made from his rib, to help fulfill the creation mandate. His was an essential role, as was hers; neither could fill the earth and subdue it without the other. They both exercised dominion, and motherhood was a role that Adam could not fulfill.

Now, part of this is seeing something else that is countercultural. Where would mankind be if Eve adopted the view of Jane Studdock in That Hideous Strength? Many women today, in contradiction to their foremother who was excited when she started bearing children, see marriage and children as a burden and an impediment to their lives’ goals. We need to adopt the view of Scripture, which says in places like Psalm 127:3–5, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” Children are a blessing from the Lord.

Of course, living in a fallen world, women sometimes struggle with motherhood, and that isn’t always their fault. Still, through the struggle, they learn. They learn to be more compassionate and patient. They also grow personally as they teach their children about the Lord.

And, indeed, women are to teach their children. Note the words to the son in Proverbs 1:8: “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Again, in Proverbs 6:20, he is told to “observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.” This is what blessed Timothy so much, as Paul reminded him in 2 Timothy 1:5; “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” Fathers are indeed responsible to ensure that the children are hearing about the Lord, but they must also learn from their mothers.

Mothers also discipline their children! As we already noted, children must obey their mothers as much as they do their fathers. In Proverbs 29:15, we read, “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.” The mother doesn’t just wait until father is home; she often applies the rod of correction herself.

This is good for children to hear! Scripture says, “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother” (Prov. 10:1) and, “Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you” (23:25). May children bring joy, not sorrow to their mothers!

It is also good for mothers to hear this, for Scripture also speaks of bad mothers. For instance, there’s the sad case of Ahaziah; we read, “He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin” (1 Kings 22:52), and another place says, “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.” She wasn’t the only one; in the New Testament, there’s the case of Herodias: “But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist” (Matt. 14:6–8). Children may have to make the sad decision one day to follow the Lord instead of their mothers, for the Lord said that He would even divide some families (Luke 12:53).

Mothers who fear they have dishonored the Lord can always repent and seek God’s grace to set it right. Jesus died for the sins of parenting, as well, and the Holy Spirit can guide us in redeeming the time properly. None of us need live in guilt and shame before the Lord when there is forgiveness available in Christ Jesus. We simply ask His grace to move forward in thankfulness, obeying and trusting that He can sort out any issues in His timing.

Conclusion

I certainly hope this encourages everyone in the congregation in a variety of ways. First, I hope soon-to-be and current mothers see that you are on the right path. Don’t listen to the world which tells you that motherhood is a distraction from your goals, that you must invest in yourself instead. You are fulfilling one of the highest roles in all creation, so do so to the glory of God! I hope that you will take some of the advice from the older individuals here who have been where you are.

Second, I hope husbands walk away with a greater appreciation for motherhood. There are struggles and trials unique to manhood that can tempt us to neglect or ignore how difficult womanhood can be. Scripture says to “live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). We can take the lead and serve them so that our children receive the best from their mothers that they can.

Third, I hope women who can’t have children are discouraged, as though you have failed in some way. Nothing is further from the truth. While I can’t ever say whether the Lord is sending punishment, He often allows barrenness for other reasons; there are times when a physical malady is unrelated to sin but done for the purpose of glorifying God (John 9:2–3). Many women in Scripture, such as Sara, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah were barren until God opened their wombs. Other women in Scripture have no record of children, but they still were vital individuals in continuing redemption’s story in Scripture, such as Deborah. There is no telling how God can use you, and you may even be in a position to serve the Lord and this church that mothers cannot.

Fourth, I hope this encourages the young people here, both female and male. I hope you will reject the world’s message that children are bad and annoying. I hope that you don’t swallow the lies of that hideous strength out there, that you just need to grow up pursuing your own ambitions. Some of you young ladies are uncomfortable (a normal feeling) and are being told and tempted to change gender. However, you are made the sex you are by God for a reason, and there is something glorious He created into growing into mature womanhood, finding a husband, and bearing and raising children in His name. I hope none of the young or unmarried men and women in here think poorly of marriage and parenting, but that you would reject those thoughts for what is right.

Fifth, and finally, I hope that the older members of our congregation will do what they can to support and help younger couples and families in the church. It’s difficult to look upon years gone by, especially if you are now single, but remember that they need prayer and encouragement. Children and young people also need to be reminded why this is better than what they’ll find in the world. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of the family of God, and we can all serve to support and exalt the glories and motherhood and individual families, together.