What Are You Teaching Your Child

Two Mother’s

Today we want to say Happy Mother’s Day!

We are going to look at Two different Mothers and see how they raised their sons and how that turned out. The two mothers we look at today are Jezebel and Hannah. A mother’s love is always sacrificial, but what she sacrifices determines the outcome of the child.

I’m reminded of a story about a mother’s sacrifice that went unknown for years.

A little boy grew being embarrassed of his one eyed mother. One day imp articular when he was in elementary school she came to field day to watch her son participate in all the games. This embarrassed him so much and he was so upset that she had came. The next at school being cruel as kids sometimes are. They laughed and taunted over his one eyed mother. He came home that day made at the world and especially his mother. He lashed out asking Why she even came. He would go on to tell her of the embarrassment she had caused him. Never feeling guilty ot sorry for his remarks he went on to bed. Later that night slipping out of bed to go get a glass of water he found his mother softly weeping at the table trying not to wake him. Still no remorse he would ease back to his room feeling sorry for himself. As he laid there thinking about how horrible his life had been. His father had been killed in an accident when he was young leaving in tremendous poverty and his mother having one eye making him a laughing stock. He vowed that night that he was going to rise above above his circumstances and that he did. He studied hard and this would lead to him be valedictorian which would lead to being able to go to a ivy league school. Upon graduating with honors he would go on to the top jobs making big figure salaries. He would marry and have three beautiful kids. Living in the big house, driving the nicest cars, and living dream. Then one day he hears a knock on the door. His youngest little girl runs and opens the door as he is not far behind. The little girl screams terrified of the the one eyed lady standing in the door. He steps out on the stoop brandishing his mother once more. Who are you and why are you here you have scared my daughter to death. the mother replies I’m sorry I must’ve gotten the wrong address. The years would roll bye and he recieved an invitation to his Twenty Year Reunion. Desiring to go to show the world in which he grown up in how successful he had become he sets off. Not wanting his wife to tag along for fear of her finding out his humble up bringing he tells her he’ll be away on business. After his showboating at the reunion he decides he’ll go see the old shack in which he grew up in. While he was just gonna drive bye he sees his mother lying on the ground. He stops and contemplates what to do. If he goes on the authorities will make contact possibly alerting his new life to who he really is, but if he stops he’ll have to face his old life. He gets out and goes over to thin frail body that lies there lifeless on the ground. He calls his wife to tell her the business trip is going to take longer than expected. After the effortless burial of his mother he stands in the shack of a house looking down at the wore out bible that lays on the table his mother had been sitting the night he vowed his success. In that bible he found a letter.

Dearest Son,

After coming and seeing your beautiful home and my little granddaughter I decided that I would never bother you again. It seems that your hard work and dedication has paid off. I’m so proud of you. I have prayed daily for you and your dreams. Coming to your home that day was probably wrong of me and I’m sorry, but I’m so happy for you. With this letter I want you to know the truth of your life. the accident that your father was killed in brought harm to you as well. You see your right eye was severely damaged in the accident. I found a world renowned doctor and spent all we had to get you to him. We didn’t always live in this little home, but I sold everything so I could get you the best. The doctor took my eye and transplanted it to yours. I wanted you to see all the world had to offer.I’m so proud of my son that’s seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.

I miss you so much, I love you, you mean the world to me.

King James Version Chapter 13

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Jesus here has set the example for us to follow. In this passage Jesus is getting ready to go to the cross and has instituted what we call communion. I think this passage goes to far greater depths. Jesus not only serves as an example to us during this but his whole life is an example and we are called to be Christlike! I want to put before us today the examples of motherhood in these two women.

First we’ll look at Jezebel

King James Version Chapter 9

22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? 23 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. 24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

Here in this passage we find the results of the sacrifice that Jezebel made. The example that she set forth for her children was anything, but Godly. Through the years they watched her and she was an example to them. We find in the scripture the sons of Jezebel Joram or (Jehoram) and Ahaziah. He had became King of Isreal and Ahaziah had become King of Judah. Now these boys watched their mother’s actions as they grew up. Mothers are an example good or bad and sacrifice something. The big question here what did she sacrifice? What did she teach her son? In this passage we are told by Jehu the anointed King what kind of example she was. He explains that as long as the whoredoms and witchcraft continue there will be no peace in Isreal. This shows the godlessness of this mother and the example she set forth to her children. This is what her children learned from their sinful mother. So what did she sacrifice? Her son! We read in this passage that he dies. In the mind set and values that he was taught by his mother lead to his demise. He was shot in the heart by the rightful King of Isreal. I think it’s interesting that the writer gives the details of his death. The full weight of God’s judgement was delivered to Joram. Jehu drew his bow with full strength and the arrow went out at his heart. The heart of man is the place where is soul resides. His darkened soul was severed by the full strength of God’s judgement. This was in direct relation to how he was raised. We find that he was sunk down in the chariot in death. I can imagine the attitude he must have had. Arrogant, pompous, and self fulfilled never regarding anyone else trained by his mother. We find that Jezebel would sacrifice her own son.

Next we find Hannah

King James Version Chapter 1

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

Here we find a praying mother. Hannah was barren we find here great struggle with perhaps infertility we don’t know. But we do know she had a great desire for a child. Scripture tells us that she pours her heart to God to the point Eli the priest thought she was drunk. She had prayed so hard she had lost her voice but kept praying from her heart. That’s the kind of praying mothers we need more of. Her prayer she promised that if God favored her with a son she would give him back in the ministry (nazarite vow). We then see God honoring her request and her giving birth to a son (Samuel). It was custom for a child to go before the priest to be dedicated to God. We know that as her husband goes to the temple she does not telling him that she would go when he is weaned. Hannah knew that when she went she would not return with her son. In the passage of scripture I read we find out what happens when the time is right. She follows the command of God she sacrifices and prays. This verse tells us “For this child I prayed.” Thank God for praying Mom-mas! Samuel would grow up into a Godly Man because of the sacrifice of a Godly Mother. He would become a great prophet of God anointing the kings of Isreal.

How Young Was Samuel?

There has been some misunderstanding as to how old Samuel was when Hannah brought him to the Temple.  In reading the record, we gather that his mother brought him to the Temple after he was weaned. That is true, but there are two meanings for weaning.

The first meaning is the time a baby finishes drinking his mother’s breast milk.  Today, that meaning is the most common understanding of weaning. But in Bible culture there was another meaning.

A child was considered weaned when he not only stopped drinking his mother’s milk, but after his mother taught him the milk of the Word of God.  The mother would spend much time teaching her child the basics about God. Isn’t that beautiful?  She would feed her child both physical food and spiritual food.

Weaning from the breast milk varied and it was generally around eight months to a year.  Weaning from the milk of the Word lasted until around five or six years old.  Scientists have discovered the incredible development of a child in ages 2 to 5.  It is a very important time in a child’s life.  No wonder they put forth the effort to instill the basic understanding of God in their children.

So, they brought Samuel, a little boy around 6 years old, to the Temple.  He lived and slept very close to Eli, the high priest and judge of Israel.  He grew and walked with God and became one of the greatest prophets of all time.

So What Are You Teaching Your Child? The whoredoms of this world or the commandments of God

As we gather together where ever that may be. My prayer is that we all know we set examples to others. If we are yet a sinner so your families and friends the new you by accepting Christ today. Maybe you’re already a Christian are you setting the example of Christ today? What Are You Teaching The Children?