A Mother in Israel

One intriguing figure from the Old Testament is Deborah, one of the judges of Israel.  The children of Israel were in bondage at the time, and she, “a prophetess”, went out with Barak to fight for Israel and deliver them.  When they were near the opposing army, she encouraged Barak, saying, “Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee?”  Barak went forth with his men and the Lord provided the miracle for them to win the battle and deliver themselves out of bondage (Judges 4:4, 14).  That story is recounted in Judges 4; the next chapter then gives a song of praise to the Lord from Barak and Deborah.  The song says at one part, “They ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).  It may seem odd at this place, where a military victory is recounted, for Deborah to speak of being a “mother in Israel.”  I believe that what she is saying is that she had great power because she was a mother.  It was the virtue of her being a mother in Israel—the greatest and most challenging of all callings the Lord gives—that she had the faith to go forth and guide Barak to victory. 

            This story in my mind highlights the truth that there is a power and determination and strength in righteous mothers that can’t be found anywhere else.  There is an unselfish love and devotion in a mother that will drive her to bless and save and sacrifice for her children like no one else.  I have just finished listening to the part in the new Saints book about the expulsion of the Saints from Missouri in the winter of 1838-1839.  It is hard to even contemplate the horrid scene or fathom how people could perform such atrocities, but one thing that stood out to me in the account was the strength of the mothers in Israel.  Amanda Smith was one who showed incredible faith as a mother.  She was at Haun’s Mill when the massacre took place, and her husband and one of her sons were brutally murdered.  Another son, Alma, who was only six years old, took a bullet in the hip and was wounded badly.  Amanda, after finding out she had lost her husband and one son, still found the stamina to work to save her other son.  She prayed, “Oh, my Heavenly Father, Thou seest my poor wounded boy and knowest my inexperience. Oh, Heavenly Father, direct me what to do.”  She was directed by the Spirit and was able to clean and bandage the wound, after which she told her son, “Now you lie like that, and don’t move, and the Lord will make you another hip.”  Miraculously he was healed, but not immediately, and in the subsequent days with mobs still threatening her and her four remaining children, she remained put waiting for Alma to heal so they could flee Missouri.  She found strength in the Lord, her son suddenly was fully healed, and she took off with her four children to Illinois in the winter.  She remained faithful through Nauvoo, went with the Saints to Utah with her children, and she persevered to the end even though a second marriage with an abusive husband ended in divorce.  She, like Deborah, was a powerful “mother in Israel” who, through her faith, saved the life of her son in a moment of crisis and unbelievable sorrow.