5 Mothers in the Bible (and How we Can Be Just Like Them)
Moms are special. They suffer to give us life. They sacrifice their own wants and needs for their kids. Their unconditional love for their children is unique and deep. Scripture is full of stories about mothers and their admirable qualities, and there are five particular mothers in the Bible whose amazing deeds can teach us a lot. We’re going to dig into the motherly qualities they demonstrated and discover how we, too, can work toward developing the attributes of these special biblical woman.
1. The Proverbs 31 Mom (Mothers Serve)
“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 sounds a lot like most mothers. She works, she cooks, she takes care of the house, she takes care of the finances. She rises early and never seems to rest. She is always busy serving those she loves in big ways and small ways.
The Bible tells us that we each are called to serve each other. And we must admit, mothers are ahead of the curve in regard to this calling, and we can certainly learn from them how to serve. Mothers give and of themselves without any expectation of reward. Why? They do this out of love. And that choice to serve over and over again becomes a habit. Mothers serve seemingly without even thinking about it.
We too can love enough to serve in the big and the small things in life. And the more we choose to serve, the more serving becomes second nature. Just like it is with mothers.
2. Deborah (Mothers Fight)
“Her arms are strong for her tasks.”
Deborah was described as “a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7). However, her fame is not from her role as a mother, but from her role as a military leader. Deborah led Israel during uncertain times, and she gave instructions to fight and not back down. Because of Deborah’s courage and faith, Israel defeated their enemy.
We too face a war, though not a physical war. We have spiritual battles that confront us, and we fight a spiritual enemy. We fight against sin. We fight against spiritual strongholds. Our spiritual weapons are aligned with Deborah’s prayer, faith, and courage. We each can fight the good fight, just like Deborah did.
3. Joanna (Mothers Give)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth”
Joanna was a follower of Jesus who was healed and, in gratitude, she financially supported Jesus’ ministry. She gave to Jesus and his disciples as they traveled from town to town, making it possible for others to experience healing just as she did.
Have you experienced a miracle in your life that you are thankful for? We can have an eternal impact by financially supporting the church and the spreading of the gospel. Just like Joanna did, we can ensure that others have the opportunity to experience a life changing encounter with Jesus.
4. Ruth (Mothers Love)
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Ruth loved Naomi so much that she was willing to leave her people, her home, and her family so that she could be with Naomi as she reunited with her own family in Israel. When they arrived, Ruth worked in a field under the hot son and brought her earnings to Naomi. She was willing to give up her hopes and dreams to see Naomi’s hopes and dreams fulfilled. But in the end, Ruth was blessed for her devotion to Naomi, and she found happiness and wealth in this new land.
If we would love God so much that we give up our own hopes and dreams to see his will done, imagine the eternal blessings we would find. Mothers sacrifice so effortlessly because of their great love for their children. Love is the strongest motivator of all.
5. Mary (Mothers Reproduce)
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Mary is possibly the most well-known woman in the Bible — maybe even in all of human history — and she is known for her role as a mother. But Mary has another distinction that is just as important (if not more important) as her role as a mother. She was among the first to spread the Gospel! After Mary and the other woman went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away, an angel told them that Jesus was risen. They immediately found the other disciples and told them the good news.
Mary gave birth to the savior of the world, but we can participate in the new birth of souls into the Kingdom of God by spreading the good news that Jesus has risen and is alive forevermore!
Learning From and Emulating our Mothers
Mothers hold a special place in our hearts. They are worthy of our love and our thanks. They are also worth emulating. From the tireless service of the Proverbs 31 woman to the courage of Deborah, the generosity of Joanna, the selfless love of Ruth, and the bold witness of Mary—we see qualities that reflect God’s character and call us to grow. Let’s honor mothers not only with our words but also by learning from their ways and applying their example to our own walk with God.