Biblical Concept of Mothers

Bienhome Muivah *

Mother's Day celebration underway at MBC in 2012 :: Pix - TSE

World celebrates the Mother's Day on the 12th May of this year. Mother represents God on this earth. Literatures praise her as the lamp of the house. On the mother's breast the child grows. In the loving embrace of the mother, the child dreams sweet days. From the mother's lips the child hears the sweet words of love. The cradle still remains a great enigma at the dawn of life-- of the mysterious opening bud of life. God still bows to mothers.

Mother's Day is the day of remembering and honoring mothers. It is quite fitting to remember some of the mothers in the Holy Bible.

Bible and the Mothers

Even in religious societies we find hat women's voices and perspectives are greatly curtailed. On the other hand, we find in the Holy Bible, the commandment "Honor your father and mother as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Deut 5:16). Proverb hails the teaching of the mother saying, (My son, keep your fathers command and not) "reject not your mother's teaching" (Proverb 6:20)

There are numerous stories of barren women, who rejoice when they become mothers. Sarah (Gen 21:17), Rebekah (Gen 25: 21), Rachel (Gen 30: 1-24), Samson's mother (Judges 13) and Hannah (1Sam 1) sing in rejoice when they become mothers.

In the Bible, there are mothers who grieve at the loss and mishaps of their children. There are mothers who fight for their children. There are mothers who take up sufferings for their children. There are mothers who are honored by their children.

The Courageous and Inventive Mother- Jochebed

We find the mother-daughter relationship very rarely in the Scripture. They are never focused. The most developed narrative of this kind is the story of Jochebed, found in Exodus. When the Egyptian king had decreed that every Israelite male child should be killed, the courage and inventive skill of Jochebed, mother of Moses, saves him and grows him up even against the mandate of the Pharaoh.

Miriam, sister of Moses, also finds an important place in the Scripture. The story of Moses, the liberator of the oppressed Israelites, begins only after his own rescue at the hands of midwives, his mother and his sister. Jochebed is remembered as a mother of great love, courage and creativity.

A Royal and Devoted Mother-in-law

We have heard more stories about misunderstanding and quarrels between mothers- in-law and daughters-in-law. But here, in the book of Ruth, we find a different story that focuses on the good relationship between two women- Naomi, the loving mother-in-law of Ruth, the devoted daughter-in-law. Book of Ruth, in the Hebrew Scriptures, highlights the fidelity of Ruth, Naomi's devoted relationship with her daughter-in-law and the initiative taken by Ruth to see the needs of her in-laws. Naomi calls Ruth her 'loving daughter' and assumes responsibility for her welfare. "My daughter, I must seek a home for you that will please you"(Ruth 3:1). It is Naomi who ultimately finds a new life for her daughter-in-law.

Mothers Who Support Each Other- Mary and Elizabeth

In the New Testament, Luke narrates the most prominent mothers of the Scriptures, Mary and Elizabeth. The role of God in their lives is highlighted in both the stories. Both of them respond to the unexpected grace offered to them. They are amazed and disconcerted about their call to motherhood which they accept to fulfill the will of God. The Visitation story forms the most beautiful scene of Motherhood (Luke 1-45).The two women help each other, recognize and trust in the grace of God. The faith in God and the bond of prayer between these two women exposed them as the most blessed women of the Scripture.

While celebrating the mother's day today, let us remember the greatness of motherhood. It is Godly. It is truly divine, it is above all our expectations.

"Nobody is poor who has a godly Mother".

Happy Mother's day to all the Mothers in the world!