…Deborah, arose,
Arose a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7 (NKJV)

In honor of mothers and the celebration of Mother’s Day, it’s fitting that we should visit a few more Special Bible Ladies today. We can celebrate these ladies as we honor our own dear mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and neighbors. 🌺

 

Let’s celebrate Miriam and her mother, Jochebed:

And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. Exodus 2:4 (NKJV)

When I think of Miriam, I imagine a little girl of about five or six years old, as she was often depicted in Sunday School stories. I see her clinging to the skirts of her mother, Jochebed, anxious for her baby brother Moses’ safety.  You are likely familiar with the story.  Pharoah had proclaimed that all the Hebrew baby boys should be drowned in the Nile River. Miriam’s mother just couldn’t do this to her little baby, so she hid him for three months.  When he was too big to hide any longer, she made a basket of reeds lined with pitch. She put Moses in the basket and set him afloat in the Nile River. Big sister Miriam watched from behind a bush on the shore.  When Pharoah’s daughter found baby Moses, Miriam bravely ran forward to ask if she needed a nurse for the baby (Exodus 2:7). Pharoah’s daughter accepted her offer, so Miriam ran to bring her own mother to nurse baby Moses for the Pharoah’s daughter.  When Miriam and Moses and brother Aaron grew up, they never forgot their relationship.  Aaron was Moses’ mouthpiece and high priest for Israel.  After the crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam led the Israelites in singing and praising God. I love how Miriam, Jochebed, and the Pharoah’s daughter all stood up for LIFE of this baby who would one day lead God’s people. All three are special Bible ladies to be celebrated. (See also Numbers 26:59, Exodus 6:20, Hebrews 11:23)

Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them:

“Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!” Exodus 15:20-21 (NKJV)

 

Dear Lord Jesus, help me stand up for the LIFE of babies like Miriam and her mother, Jochebed, and even like Pharoah’s daughter who adopted Moses. I claim your promise to triumph over the enemy.  Help me praise You always as Miriam did.

Let’s celebrate Abigail whose wisdom saved her household:

The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb. 1 Samuel 25:3 (NKJV)

We meet Abigail in 1 Samuel 25.  Her husband, Nabal, was having a sheep-shearing party.  His shepherds had returned with their sheep unharmed because of the protection of David and his men in the field.  I imagine David had a heart for shepherds because he was one once, too.  (And the Son of David, Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd.) When David heard that Nabal was having a party, he sent some of his men to ask for food. But Nabal turned them away empty-handed.  This made David so angry, he took 400 men to do vengeance upon Nabal.  When the shepherds told Abigail, she quickly loaded donkeys with food fit for a king and took it all to David and his men. She even dismounted her own donkey and fell down before David, begging forgiveness for her household.  David accepted her gift and turned back from harming Nabal.  After the Lord struck Nabal and he died, David invited Abigail to be his wife.  Abigail was mother to David’s second son, Chileab (1 Chronicles 3:3). 

How Abigail washed David and his men’s feet was symbolic, for one day David’s seed Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and told them to go and do likewise. Abigail saved David from avenging himself (1 Samuel 25:26) and making himself a fool like Nabal. David was called to fight for Israel not himself. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Abigail gets credit for saving David from this disaster.

Dear Lord Jesus, give me Your understanding and make me beautiful inside to shine out to others and wash feet like Abigail!

Let’s celebrate Timothy’s faithful mom and grandma:

When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.  2 Timothy 1:5 (NKJV)

We don’t know too much about Timothy’s mom Eunice and grandmother Lois.  We first meet Timothy in Acts 16:1. Paul took Timothy in hand to be his missionary companion. Later, when writing to Timothy, Paul set out to encourage him by reminding him of the faith of his mom and grandma.  Because of his grandma’s faith, his mom had faith. And because of his mom’s faith, Timothy had faith in the Lord Jesus.  And you, dear one, have faith, too! Jesus said that if we have faith like a mustard seed, we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20)!   

Dear Lord Jesus, give me mountain-moving faith like Timothy’s mom and grandma.  May our children and grandchildren follow our example and seek You as Timothy did. 

Today’s TEA CUPP: All these ladies are beautiful daughters of the King, and so are you, dear sister! Jesus loves you so much that He came to earth and died on the cross for you. Whether you are a mom, a daughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, a grandma, a teacher, or a neighbor, you are very special to God the Father. Find a mother or friend to bless this Mother’s Day. 🌺

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4 (NKJV)

A gracious woman retains honor… Proverbs 11:16 (NKJV)

Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10 (NKJV)

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:28 (NKJV)

…She has done what she could. Mark 14:8 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.