What words would you use to describe Samuel? Judge, priest of the Israelites who was raised by his mentor Eli?
What words would you use to describe Timothy? Preacher of the gospel who was the son of a Roman?
All great men we learn about when we read the Bible, but there is something these men share that deserves some attention. Each of these men spent their early years sitting at the feet of their mothers. Faithful mothers. Named mothers. We are not always told the names of the mothers in the Bible but these three women, Jochebed, Hannah and Eunice, are specifically named.
Have you wondered how Moses, who grew up in the palace with all the advantages of a prince of Egypt, knew that the Israelites were his people? Was he taught that while studying the history, government and culture of Egypt? I suggest he was taught it by his mother, Jochebed. Jochebed knew she would have to give her son up to the princess who wanted him for her own. She knew she had a very short time, possibly 3-6 years until he was weaned, to fill his heart and mind with all the things she wanted him to know.
If I knew that I would have to turn my little boy over to my enemy when he was so young, I would fill his little heart and mind with stories about God: how He created the world then destroyed it in the flood, how He promised Abraham to give him the land, make him a great nation and bless the world through his seed. I would fill my little boy’s heart with love and a sense of belonging to the Creator of all and that these people who were training him to lead Egypt were not his people. That there was something better for him. As Moses entered the palace at such a young age, he had already been filled with knowledge of who he was and where he came from by his mother. So when he saw his own people being abused, he could resist no longer. He fought back, eventually being sent by God to lead his people out of Egypt and the bondage they had endured for years.
Have you wondered how Samuel grew up to be such a wonderful leader of God’s people? A well-loved leader who the anointed kings, Saul and David, looked to for advice and counsel? Samuel was an answer to prayer. His mother Hannah prayed for a son promising God that she would give him back to God all the days of his life. God heard her and gave her a son. She honored her vow. After Samuel was weaned (3-6 years old), she took him to live with Eli, the priest of God. Eli was a good man but he had failed miserably to raise his own sons. How is it that Samuel, being raised by Eli who had failed to raise his own sons properly, grew up to be such a good leader of his people? I suggest that the early years he spent with his mother launched him to a life in service to God.
Like Jochebed, Samuel’s mother Hannah knew she had a limited time to influence her son. As he nursed at her breast, she must have taught Samuel about God. Toddling around her feet as she cooked the family’s meal, she must have told him how God used Moses to lead the Israelites, the nation God promised Abraham, out of Egypt. As she carried him on her back on the way to the water well, she would have told how the Israelites conquered the land that God had promised to Abraham and how God fought for the Israelites through the leadership of the judges. As he entered the home of Eli to be raised a priest, Samuel would have already been filled with the knowledge of who he was and where he came from and ultimately growing to be the beloved judge, prophet, priest who was revered by so many of God’s people until the day he died.
What set Timothy apart from the other Roman boys? Why did he, in spite of growing up in a Roman household determine to follow Jesus when he learned about Him from Paul? We are told by Paul that Timothy sat at the feet of his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois from a very young age. They taught him about God through the stories of the beloved Samuel and the life he led in honor to God. Stories of wise King Solomon and the beautiful temple he built for God. Stories of Daniel who defied King Darius by refusing to bow down and worship him, choosing to pray to God openly as was his custom. Stories of Esther saving her people by what could only be the providence of God and stories of Jonah the prophet who spent 3 days in the belly of a fish for refusing to follow the instructions of God. These stories were seared in Timothy’s mind so that when Paul came to town, preaching about the Christ, who was promised to Abraham so many years ago, his heart was prepared to receive this good news eagerly and ultimately spent his life spreading the word to other Gentiles like himself.
Mothers, you have been given a special gift. You are in a unique position to fill your little one’s mind with the love of God, the stories of His people, the good news of our Savior, the hope of eternal life. Be careful to never squander these precious days. Use the time wisely. Fill their hearts with God and His love. Give them these truths to hold on to when they are faced with the decision to follow God or man, they will choose God.
Foster mothers, you have been given a special gift. The little one who has been entrusted in your care may be there a day or many years. You may be the only person in his life who believes in God. Fill your little one’s mind with stories of the Bible, the good news of our Savior, the hope of eternal life. Fill their hearts with God and His love. Give them these truths to hold on to when they are no longer in your care.
These early years are so very important. They are exhausting. They are rewarding. The little ones in your care, whether your own or someone else’s are precious to you and to God. Give them love. Give them hope. Give them God. Although the seed you planted deep in their heart may lie dormant for years, like Moses, Samuel and Timothy, when the time is right, it may grow into a faith in Jesus and a desire to teach others to do the same.
Diana
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