Motherhood Is God’s Blessing – A Tribute To The Woman in the Bible

Genesis 16

May 8, 2022

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Jerry Mongello shares on Genesis 16.

There is an irony that this week that we are celebrating Mother’s day Supreme Court leaks. 

Celebrating Mother’s Day 

Mothers and motherhood/womanhood is the creation of God. Women are created in the image of God, [Genesis 1:27 NKJV] 27 So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.] the true Godly mother demonstrates the Love of God the Father, the Love of God the Son and the Love of God the Holy Spirit, agape love the unconditional love. They love their husbands and children unconditionally and they make many sacrifices all their lives to ensure their wellbeing, comfort and happiness of their family. Celebrating Mother’s Day is all about celebrating the spirit of motherhood/womanhood. 

The Bible documents that God throughout history has held women and Mothers in high esteem. In the time of Abraham and throughout the centuries the world have treated women as slaves and servant. Judging women according to their physical appearance. Not so with God the Father and the Son of God who have elevated women throughout the centuries in the word of God.

  • Eve- Means- Life – Living – Life giver- ḥaûâ – Chavvah – khav-vaw’ 
  • Abigail- Nabal’s wife, 1 Samuel 25
  • Anna- a prophetess Luke 2:36
  • Deborah- a prophetess and Judge, Judges 4 – Sisera – Barak
  • Dorcas- A women of good works- Acts 9:36
  • Elizabeth- Used by God, the mother of John the Baptist – Luke 1
  • Esther- Used by God to save Israel-Book of Esther
  • Hannah- Used by God after pouring out her heart to Him, she gives birth to Samuel Judge & Prophet.
  • Lydia
  • Martha and Mary
  • Mary Magdalene
  • Miriam
  • Proverbs 31 Woman
  • Rachel
  • Rahab
  • Rebekah
  • Ruth- Gentile women used by God in the birth line of Messiah
  • Sarah- Used by God to about the birth of Messiah
  • Syrophoenician Woman
  • Mary mother of Jesus

I would like to focus on the Phoenician women in Matthew 15, a prime example of the spirit of motherhood. 

[Matthew 15:21-28 NKJV] 21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw [it] to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great [is] your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Three points we can take from these passages.

  1. A Gentile woman recognized who Jesus was and is by calling Him Son of David.
  2. The treatment by the disciples was dismissive as if she had value. Explain
  3. Jesus treats the Phoenician women with value, kindness & love!!! 
  4. I believe Jesus stays silent to expose the treatment of women in order to provide us with an example of how to treat our fellow human beings whether man or women.  

Today we will begin our study in Genesis 16 which is fitting because throughout this chapter will see a woman’s sacrifice and God loving treatment of these women. To put chapter 16 context we need to back up to Chapter 15.

[Genesis 15:1-6 NKJV] 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I [am] your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house [is] Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. 

[Genesis 16:1 NKJV] 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no [children]. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 

Two points concerning this verse;

  1. Yes it is true Sarai bore Abram no children.
  2. Sarai secured her Egyptian maidservant back in chapter 12 when Abram took matters into his hands, lie or half lie about Sarai being his sister not his wife. Explain

[Genesis 16:2 NKJV] 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing [children]. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

Two points concerning this verse;

  1. Sarai is correct that God has restrained her from bearing a child. I believe that God wants all to understand that He and only He is in control of the birth line of the Messiah, Genesis 17 & 18 will bring this out.
  2. Sarai makes an extreme sacrifice by giving her servant to Abram to have children. Note: This was the custom in these times, in fact archaeologists have found ancient written marriage covenants where the wife to be was required to provide the husband to be a male child!!! If she didn’t it was grounds for divorce.  I think before trying to blame Sarai for a lack of faith, she was not the one talking with God or hearing the voice of God!!! In Genesis 18 Sarah does hear from God.

[Hebrews 11:11-12 NKJV] 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born [as many] as the stars of the sky in multitude–innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

  1. Abram was talking with God, remember verse 15:6. And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Let’s not be too hard Abram either, also this should be an example to all men and husbands, the spiritual leader of their household. Yes, he could have-should have prayed first about Sarai’s request and he didn’t. The question is how many times have I taken matters into my hands? How many times have you? The outcomes always have consequences!!!
  2. Abraham is the father of the faithful, But like all believers our faith grows as we grow in the Lord. The more we learn about God through our experiences, hearing the Word of God, reading the Word of God and prayer the more we learn to trust Him. We learn like Abraham to pray first and always trust God in all circumstances. Explain about learning.

[Matthew 18:3 NKJV] 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 [Hebrews 11:8-10, 12 NKJV] 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as [in] a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. … 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born [as many] as the stars of the sky in multitude–innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Consequences of not praying first and not being the spiritual leader of your house.

[Genesis 16:3-6 NKJV] 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong [be] upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.” 6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid [is] in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

  1. Sarai is not wrong!!!
  2. Abram’s lack of faith created these consequences.
  3. Abram doesn’t accept the blame, doesn’t handle the problem, doesn’t turn the issue over to God. Instead turns the issue back into Sarai’s hands, which makes matters worse and Hagar flees.

Let’s go back to the beginning, back to Genesis 1, [Genesis 1:27 NKJV] 27 So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.] In Creating man and women, God also creates our roles, purpose and function in marriage. Remember the two become one, man and women are not alone they are created to be one.

 I wants to end with this passages; 

[Ephesians 5:22-33 NKJV] 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord [does] the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife [see] that she respects [her] husband.

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