Mothers Giving Life

We live in a world that devalues the role of parents. Dads are made to look like buffoons. Moms on the other hand are portrayed as neglecting their families for careers. This is not meant to be derogatory to the mom, but it is derogatory, and all too often reality. There is also the epidemic of grandparents having to raise grandchildren became the parents are not present. Incarceration and intoxication have removed many parents from the home as well.

The first parents in the Bible had their faults as well. While not described, I can only imagine the guilt they must have felt because of their first two sons. How they must have felt knowing that their actions had resulted in their sons turning out the way they did. It wasn’t simply depression or speculation, but reality. Let’s look at a couple of passages from Genesis 3 and 4 this morning.

King James Version Chapter 3

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

King James Version Chapter 4

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

King James Version Chapter 4

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

King James Version Chapter 4

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

I. The Father of all dead

While those exact words are not found in the Bible, the concept is very much taught. Adam is the father of spiritually dead mankind.

Romans 5:12 12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

“Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”

Just as God had said, man died because of his sin. However, this death was worse than Adam simply dropping dead at the instant he sinned. Adam was physically alive and spiritually dead. Yes, there was the reality of hell that was now certain for those who died in their sins, but death also became hereditary. Adam passed his death on to his descendants. His legacy was sin and death. It was a legacy that he will never overcome.

As a result of his sin, he passed that sin on to his two sons: Cain and Abel. While Adam was not directly responsible for what his sons chose to do, he knew his actions had planted the seed that germinated in Cain’s heart. When the time was right, it produced fruit in the form of hate and murder. Cain killed Abel.

I cannot help but think that Adam must have asked “What if” a lot.

What if I had not listened to Eve?

What if I had done what I knew was right?

What if I had not eaten that fruit? Would my son still be alive?

What if I had not eaten the fruit? Would my other son not be banished by God?

On the day Cain killed Abel, Adam and Eve lost two sons!

II. The Mother of All Living

This was more that just a title Adam gave his wife.

This spoke of more than Eve having children.

I do not know if Adam truly understood the depths of this statement.

However, when we look back at God’s curse on the serpent, we see how Adam’s statement reached far beyond having children.

King James Version Chapter 3

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Biblical Scholars agree that this is a Messianic Prophecy.

This is a reference to the virgin birth.

While verse 14 speaks of the physical curse on the actual serpent, verse 15 moves to the one who incarnated the serpent; Satan.

There would be enmity between Satan and the woman and between Satan and her seed, Jesus.

While Satan would bruise the heel of Jesus, Jesus would bruise the head of Satan.

Through this seed of the woman, life would be restored to mankind. He would be their savior.

There is a problem though. Abel is dead and Cain is banished.

Had Satan won?

No, Adam and Eve had a third son, Seth. He would be the son through which the Messiah would be born.

Isaiah prophesied that a Virgin would conceive and bear a son and his name would be called Immanuel

Matthew connected this prophesy to Mary.

Matthew 1:18-25 18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Yes, Eve was the mother of all living. She brought physical life into this world. Also, through her, there was hope of salvation.

Romans 5:18-19 (KJV) 18  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

III. The Point

There are those who say that the Bible is a book written by men for men. If this is the case, why are so many heroes women? If a man had written the story, Adam would have fall and then picked himself up, and saved himself.

It is more than a “Story”. It is God’s plan to redeem his creation who rebelled against him.

While Adam messed things up, the mother of all living produced a lineage of which Jesus was the Apex.

This is why Luke traced the lineage of Jesus back to Adam.

The first Adam brought death.

The second Adam (Jesus), born of a woman, a virgin, brought life.

Conclusion:

None of us would be here without mothers. Of course, none of us would be here without fathers either. In God’s perfect plan it takes both. In an ideal situation, a child is not only brought into the world by both a father and a mother, but it is raised by both.

Yes, there is much to be proud of in being a mother, but what kind of mother are you?

Are you a mother who brings life to your family?

Are you a mother who brings hope to your family?

Every mother will have failures and regrets. But, do you move beyond those and guide your family towards hope?

Do they see Jesus in you?

Eve looked forward to an unclear plan of salvation

We look back on God’s clear plan of salvation.

The question is, does our life reflect this plan to those around us?

Mother, are you bringing life into your family? Does it radiate from you? Your purpose goes far beyond bearing children. You are a life giver. You are a hope giver. You are a revealer of God’s plan of salvation.

Are you fulfilling your calling in your family?

If not, it is never too late to begin!