Mothers of the Bible: Eve, Mother of All Mankind

With Mother’s Day arriving this month, I thought we would take a look at some of the

The Joys of Motherhood

Mother’s in the Bible.  I originally intended to just explore those women who deeply longed for a child and had often lost hope before seeing their dreams fulfilled.  However, while studying these women several other mother’s and lessons stood out to me.  So, for the next three months we will be studying the mothers of the bible and the lessons we can learn from each of these women.

First, let’s start with the mother to all of us, the first woman to walk the earth, Eve.

Eve was made as a companion and help mate to man.  But, she was also the first one to fall prey to the serpent, as he deceived her.  Because of this sin, womankind was made to “multiply thy pain and conception; in pain shalt thou bring forth children.”  {Genesis 3:16}

In Women of the Bible, we are reminded that “one can sense Eve’s sorrow at what her choice cost her.  Her relationship with Adam was distorted.  Eve could recall the good old days when things were different between them.”

However, Eve was the first woman to have children.  She was the first mother.

Eve, the first woman to know the joys and sorrows of motherhood

In the Women of the Bible Devotional, we are told “she was the first woman to conceive a child”.

With the invention of DNA, we know that all humankind can trace their DNA back to one woman and one man.   Does this not coincide with what the Bible tells us about Adam and Eve?

Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel.   Old Testament Bible History shares this view point of their births, “When Eve called her first-born son Cain (“gotten,” or “acquired”), she said, “I have gotten a man from Jehovah.” Apparently, she connected the birth of her son with the immediate fulfillment of the promise concerning the Seed, who was to bruise the head of the serpent. This expectation was, if we may be allowed the comparison, as natural on her part as that of the immediate return of our Lord by some of the early Christians. It also showed how deeply this hope had sunk into her heart, how lively was her faith in the fulfillment of the promise, and how ardent her longing for it. But if such had been her views, they must have been speedily disappointed. Perhaps for this very reason, or else because she had been more fully informed… the other son of Adam and Eve, mentioned in Scripture, was named Abel, that is “breath,” or “fading away.” “

Adam and Eve trained their children

One can imagine that she and Adam shared with their children how to work hard and to worship God.   Proof of this is seen in Abel’s offering and worship to God.  {Genesis 4:3}.  After all, Adam and Eve still had the memory of walking with God in the Garden of Eden.

Our devotional goes on to say, “God’s judgement on Eve “with pain you will give birth to children” was no doubt exactly what Eve experienced in birthing this first child…The experience [of childbirth] is a combination of the earthly and unearthly…but what is brought forth and the bond experienced between the mother and the child, is, unearthly, something only the Creator of life could forge.”

but Cain was jealous of his brother, Abel

Sadly, though this first family would soon learn about loss and heartache.  Cain became jealous of his brother and that God was pleased with Abel.  So, what did Cain do?

“Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.”  {Genesis 4:8}

In essence, she lost two sons.  One son to death and the other as he was banished to wonder the earth, before he settled in the land of Nod.

Losing one child is hard enough, but imagine the heartache and pain, when it is at the hands of one of your other children.  This is the pain, Eve suffered.   Our devotional says, “sorrow upon sorrow entered the heart of the first woman.”

Eve’s grief

Our Women of the Bible book says, “we can imagine the dashing of Eve’s hopes when Cain brutally murdered Abel, and we can imagine her grief.  One wonders if the burden was ever lifted from her heart…Eve never forgot Abel or Cain, but she never lost hope.” {Genesis 4:25}

No child can ever be replaced, but Eve was comforted when she gave birth to another son, Seth.  When Seth was born, Eve said “God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.”  {Genesis 4:25}   Our Old Testament Bible History explains it this way, “THE place of Abel could not remain unfilled, if God’s purpose of mercy were to be carried out. Accordingly, He gave to Adam and Eve another son, whom his mother significantly called “Seth,” that is, “appointed,” or rather “compensation;” “for God.””

Eve lost not one, but two sons

We do know that there were other sons and daughters born to Eve, other than the three sons we know by name.  {Genesis 5:4}

Our Women of the Bible Devotional leaves us with this last view of Eve, “and the last we see of her we imagine her not as a creature springing fresh from God’s hand, but as a woman in anguish. With her child cradled against her breast, relief begins to spread across Eve’s face.  As she rests, a smile forms, and then, finally, laughter rushes from her lips.  Try as she might, she can’t stifle her joy.  For she remembers the Brightness and the Voice and the promise God gave: sooner or later, despite many griefs, her seed would crush the serpent.  The woman would win. “

Eve knew both joy and suffering

Eve, was the mother of human kind.  She knew both great joy and great suffering in her lifetime.

What has brought you the greatest joy and suffering?

 

Photos courtesy of FreeBibleImages.org

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