Motherhood: A Gift from God

In the world, it is not surprising that God’s view of motherhood is not promoted or proclaimed. From the world, we hear messages that teach motherhood is a choice, something to be prevented, and something that can be discarded if an unwanted pregnancy comes upon a lady. But biblically, motherhood is a gift and a blessing from God. For all of us who are reading this article, we ought to thank God for the gift of moms because without them we would not be here.

God created mankind, male and female. And God’s initial blessing to mankind involves the gift of motherhood; “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it’” (Genesis 1:28a). The first use of the word mother in the Bible is found in the context of the first marriage; “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). According to God’s design, motherhood is a blessed gift for marriage, as intimacy between a man and woman is to be reserved for the marriage relationship. And in the context of the marriage relationship, the original blessing of God is for the husband and wife to be fruitful and multiply. May God’s view of marriage and motherhood control our worldview of the womb rather than the counsel and thoughts of the ungodly world around us.

Something happened in Genesis 3 that has resulted in mankind perverting and twisting God’s good gift. Sin entered the world. And now we live in a world in which “the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now” (Romans 8:22). Thus, even some married couples desire to have children but are physically unable. But even in a world that is marked by sin, motherhood is a gift from God that points us to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 3, when Adam partook of the forbidden fruit, God would have been just to sentence mankind to immediate death. But God was merciful even in judgment. When He spoke to the serpent, He shared good news for mankind as He mentions the seed of the woman; “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” And it is immediately after all the judgments are announced that Adam called his wife’s name Eve. Up to that point she was just called “the woman.” But now she was called Eve, because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). God’s gift of motherhood to mankind is what gives us physical life. But God also used motherhood, as Mary supernaturally conceived Jesus and gave birth to the Son of Man. “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Praise the Lord for God’s gift of motherhood as the seed of the woman was born “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:5)

God’s gift of motherhood is held high by the Apostle Paul. He exhorts the young widows to marry and bear children (1 Timothy 5:14). In Second Timothy, Paul references the genuine faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5) and then implies the spiritual significance of godly moms and grandmothers when he writes, “from childhood [literally the term is infancy and can refer to a baby in the womb] you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). For those who have had the privilege of having a godly mom, you have a double reason to give thanks to God for his gift of motherhood as your Mom not only gave you life, but also taught you, through the Scriptures, how to possess eternal life. May our churches be full of life, where children rise up and bless their virtuous moms who fear the LORD! (Proverbs 31:10, 28, 30-31).

In a world where motherhood is discouraged, discredited, delayed and destroyed, it is right and proper for us to honor mothers (Ephesians 6:2-3). Moms are a gift from God!

Here you will find encouraging articles to equip you with biblical principles for the practical issues of life.  Read along, be encouraged, and stay updated with the ministries of FBC as we continue to be changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ!