Motherhood: Jumping With Both Feet In

One of the greatest privileges of life is parenthood. Globally, it is estimated that 80-90% of all people living will enjoy this blessing. With the blessing comes a great responsibility. Children should learn of and remember their Creator from their youth (Eccl 12:1). This is greatly advantaged when parents fulfill their obligation to discipline and instruct their children in the Lord (Eph 6:4). The Bible informs us of parents who both honored and neglected this responsibility. Some children were worthless because of their parents’ failure (1 Sam 2:12). Some children were blessed with parents who jumped into their role with both feet firmly planted.

One example is that of Hannah, the barren woman blessed with childbirth. 1 Samuel chapters 1 and 2 tell us Hannah’s petition to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:28 tells us something special about Hannah’s motherhood: “Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” This is how motherhood should be observed: we gain a lot of joy from our children, from the first steps to the first grandchild and beyond. Children are a blessing. However, the greatest joy can only be derived from raising faithful children (3 Jn 4). Such was the blessing Hannah received as she raised a boy who would become, in the truest sense, a man of God - Samuel the prophet.

Another example of a mother jumping in with both feet is the unnamed mother of Samson, who is simply referred to as the wife of Manoah. This woman was barren but was visited by an angel who said she would be blessed with a child. That child would grow up as a Nazirite, a special class of the Jews. As a Nazirite, total devotion to God was expected. Worldly motherhood would insist that the child is for the mother; spiritual motherhood insists that the child is for God. This is why she would later rejoice in the face of God’s approval (Jud 13:21-23). Inspiration tells us, “And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him [Samson] in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.” (Jud 13:25). The Spirit stirred him because his mother raised him to be faithful, much like we see with Timothy (2 Tim 1:5; 2 Tim 3:15).

Motherhood is among the highest privileges; mothers like these show how to steward such a blessing.