Second in the series, Lesser known women of the Bible
Living in a world filled with selfishness, greed, violence, relative truth and moral decline, it’s normal to fear for the future of our children and grandchildren. Have you wondered what kind of a world they will be growing up and living in? We also fear the influence of their peers which might reflect in their poor choices that can bring long term consequences. All these fears are born out of our genuine love for our children and grandchildren. How do we overcome this?
When we read through the pages of the Holy Bible, we can trace the veiled moms whose names are not mentioned but we can trace their unveiled motherhood. Their influence is so obvious in their children’s lives, especially during difficult times and in different cultural contexts, away from home. Let’s see three of these veiled moms.
First, a mother who raised up her daughter with a determined faith in repaying good for evil in a world filled with retaliation and vengeance:
This unnamed young girl mentioned in II Kings 5:1-4 had been displaced by the Syrian para-military and made her a slave to the wife of Naaman, a high ranking Syrian officer. “Can a young woman be an agent of change?” Though we find that her name and her parents’ names are withheld, her genuine love, sincere concern, loyalty in her work, strong faith in her God, deep trust in God’s servant and her keen intent to ensure her master visits the prophet – were so evident when she said, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” What an affirmative and assertive faith!
Yes, her dreams were shattered, her relationships and friendships were broken, her joy and gladness were robbed, but still how could she extend kindness in return? Wow, what a kind hearted girl repaying good for evil! Where did she get these godly characteristics? Of course from her godly mom. Her mom is veiled in the pages of the scriptures but her motherhood is clearly unveiled in the life of this young girl. Her mom couldn’t go with her daughter but she sent her with her teachings, her faith, her role model of leaning on God and letting the God of Justice do His part. Probably following the Scriptures from Deut 6: 6-9 (MSG) “Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.”
The army snatched her away from her mom but they couldn’t snatch her away from the investment made and faith her mom inculcated in her. The end result was her master was healed physically and more importantly, he found the true living God.
Second, a mother who raised up her son with daring faith not to defile himself in a world of relativism and moral deterioration
Daniel was only a teenager when introduced in the book of Daniel and was an old man at the close of the book, yet never once in his life did his faith in God waver. Veiled mom and unveiled motherhood can be seen when Daniel resolved not to defile himself. Daniel refused to compromise on his convictions. Daniel set an example to God’s people on how to live a holy life in the midst of a compromising and deteriorating culture by holding on to The Truth. His mom taught him that the fear of God not only brings wisdom, helps shun evil but also finds favour in the eyes of the supervisors.
Psalm 78: 4-8 emphasise this, “We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done….. 8 They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God. Daniel’s mom was faithful in passing on about God, His words, His works and particularly about His warnings.
Unveiled motherhood can be seen in Daniel’s decades-long habit of kneeling before his window and praying toward Jerusalem three times every single day. A praying mom modeled before him to seek the Lord always at any time for everything which reflected in his consistent prayer life witnessed even by his opponents.
A brave mom taught him to be calm while facing opponents, kings and even the lions, having a daring faith that the King of Kings is on the throne and the Creator God is in charge of all His creation, nothing happens without His permission.
This unveiled motherhood could also be seen in Daniel’s professional life under three kings that was highlighted by his honesty, hard work, wisdom, excellence and humility. Daniel was an excellent administrator, trustworthy of the kings. He did His best in whatever tasks were assigned to him. Maybe he remembered his mom reciting Proverbs 22:29 that skilled and sincere people in work will stand before kings and not stand in the presence of the obscure people. This helped him to stand apart from other officials in the kingdom.
Every time he faced a difficult situation or accusation of people, Daniel was confident that God would show up since his mom had named him Daniel meaning “God is my judge,” and God did prove Himself as Daniel’s judge and protected him.
When we release our children for their higher education or career or their family life, like Daniel’s mom, teach them to depend on God through prayer, not to compromise on truth and morals, work hard to bring out the best in whatever they do, and let them realise that God is their judge.
Finally, a mother who sent a packet of lunch with delightful faith in a generous heart in a world filled with ravenous greed and selfishness. She trained him well enough to release to serve others without any expectation. A veiled mom who coached him on giving with cheerfulness.
I am sure the boy was hungry and probably wondered whether he would get a share of what he gave. Nevertheless, cheerfully and confidently he released it to Jesus without any expectation. The very fact he was found among the multitudes to listen to ‘The Word’ tells us that the boy was introduced by his mother to ‘The Word’ who brought the whole world into existence with His word as mentioned in John 1:1-3.
Probably his curiosity to see who this Jesus that his mom often talked about made him move closer to Jesus listening to the conversation between him and the disciples. Perhaps he remembered his mom’s instruction to sense someone’s need before it could be verbalised. Spontaneously he tugged at Andrew’s cloak with an eye still on Jesus and said, “Hey, I have some fish and bread which you can take and give it to Jesus.”
He might have wondered, looking at the little he had vs the need of the huge assembly but he remembered perhaps his mom narrating God’s miraculous way of feeding thousands of Israel in the desert with manna. This is derived from a clue mentioned in John 6:4 “it was almost Passover” and Jewish people reminisced about the feast celebrating God’s provision of manna and quail to the Israelites in the desert. He trusted this God of impossibilities who can multiply what little he had for His purpose and he joyfully handed over what he had.
In a world when many want to grab, hoard and multiply, here is a veiled mom who trained her son to release and give spontaneously, selflessly with no strings attached. This was so evident since he was not a recipient of the 12 leftover baskets.
She is veiled in the pages of scriptures but her motherhood is unveiled to bring up a generation to sense the needs of others, releasing whatever little they have for God’s purpose, trusting God who can do the impossible and giving without any expectation in return.
What an encouragement through these veiled moms knowing, the simple and mundane things you do for your family and nurturing your children are part of your offering to the Living God. In a world filled with retaliation, filled with relativism and filled with ravenous greed, will you be a veiled mom but with unveiled motherhood to raise up a generation to overcome evil with good, stand for truth without compromising and live out God daily with their sharing and caring for others?