Mothers: Something Special
By Dr. Jack R. Hodges, Jr.
Burke County
God had something special in His heart and mind when He saw the plight of Adam and heard his heart cry. He said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” (NASB) You see, God’s crowning and ultimate creation was “mankind” or humankind. All of humankind was made in the likeness of God. The Hebrew word (adam/אדאמ), translated as “man” in Genesis 1:26-27 and elsewhere throughout the Old Testament represents humanity in its totality rather than just the male gender. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created (him); male and female He created them.” The pronoun “them” reinforces the truth that humanity in its fullest expression as “adam” is both male and female. Both genders are endowed with the blessings, opportunities, and responsibilities of being made in the image of God. The creation account in the Word of God insists that humankind was not complete until Almighty God finished creating two corresponding beings—male and female.
It is also clear from the scriptural record that God created humanity as male and female with the capacity for mutual and intimate relationships. And He commanded them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:27-28). It is of great importance to note that while other non-Hebraic creation accounts were in existence throughout the region, all of them assumed that the female was made from inferior material. But God declares differently! In Genesis 2, Creator God proclaimed and demonstrated that the female was made out of the same substance and elements as the male counterpart, yet remained uniquely different from her companion. And so, when God brought the woman to the man, Adam immediately recognized what God had accomplished and exclaimed (v. 23), “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
God had given Adam one like him who would rescue him from his aloneness. You see, God’s creation of woman represents a redemptive work of God, saving man from his aloneness. At the same time, man does the same work of God for the woman. God blessed them and gave them the power to be fruitful and multiply, both physically and relationally. And the fruit of their union would produce children of like kind, who would be tasked with knowing, loving, and serving God.
That’s where mothers come in. Mothers are special! You are uniquely created by God for an unparalleled purpose. You give meaning and substance to relationships. You are the firm foundation of a covenant marriage. You are a corresponding and mutual companion that is meant to drive away aloneness and accomplish the plans and purposes of Almighty God. You are the glue that holds a family together. And you are the image and expression of God’s love in action.
Someone once wrote of some of the valuable lessons that His mom had taught him. It goes like this: My mother taught me the importance of cleanliness. She said, “If you’re going kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning!” My mother taught me the importance of religion. She exclaimed, “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.” My mother taught me the importance of logic. Her answer was short and to the point, “Because I said so, that’s why.” My mother taught me the importance of meeting a challenge. She barked, “Don’t you talk back to me!” And in the same breath, she would say, “Answer me when I talk to you!” My mother taught me the importance of foresight. She counseled, “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.” My mother taught me the importance of enjoying life. She warned, “Keep laughing and I’ll give you something to cry about.” My mother taught me the science of osmosis when she would quip, “Shut your mouth and eat your supper!” My mother taught me that I was supposed to have eyes in the back of my head. She exclaimed, “Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!” My mother was a great psychologist and taught me about behavior modification. Her counsel was, “Stop acting like your father!” My mother taught me about envy and jealousy. She noted, “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have a wonderful mother like you do!” And my mother also taught me the truth about justice. “One day you’ll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you!”
As Mother’s Day approaches, we celebrate a mother’s wisdom and experience. We rejoice in a mother’s love, care, and compassion. We honor mothers by recognizing and celebrating both their God-created uniqueness and specialness; as well as their God-given task and responsibility to faithfully accomplish exactly what the Lord created them for. A mother who fulfills this God-ordained calling is certainly worthy of praise. For as the writer of Proverbs 31 noted, “…a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” So, let us be thankful unto God for His special gift of a mother.
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Dr. Jack Hodges is the Senior Pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, NC. He has served as a pastor, a biblical counselor, and an International Mission Board missionary.
Read more from Dr. Hodges here.
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