THE MOTHER HEART OF GOD (The God Heart Of A Mother)

Although it is a basic truth revealed in Scripture, if I say it, it will sound like heresy, like modern gobbledygook. Especially with the bruhaha over gender dysphoria. But here it is: God has a mother’s heart. Or, perhaps better, a mother has God’s heart. We think of the genders, male and female, primarily according to biological characteristics and distinctions. Yet, contrary to modern, nonsensical thinking, the characteristics of male and female go far beyond objective biological differentiating traits. But not in the way the woke propose. Many act as if only the male were created in the image of God. But, so was the female. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen 1:27). This is not purporting the God-is-gender-neutral blather. Nor that God is bi-gender. This is the revelation that all that is noble, praiseworthy, in the human race, whether particular to a male or to a female, is the reflection of the image of God The very best of both male and female is that of them that was created in the likeness of God. Male and female are the way they are because God is that way. We marvel at the legendary love, concern, and kindness of a mother’s heart. Where did she get that kind of heart? God created her with it when He created the first mother in His image. I’m not saying God is female or feminine, but all that is noble, amazing, and wonderful about a mother’s heart came from Him. It was first in Him. The mother’s heart is in the image of God’s heart. Note this one example of God’s “mother” heart. The prophet Isaiah writes it down. But it was God Himself showing us His heart. “But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” (Isa 49:14-16) A mother’s heart is like God’s heart. And God’s, like a mother’s. And what’s a mother’s heart like? A mother’s heart is one of Unconditional Love: We quip of a homely child, “He has a face that only a mother can love.” A mother loves the handicapped, the dirty, the naughty, the rebellious child. It is innate. Her child may be on death row for a heinous crime, forsaken by all others, but his mother loves him still. A mother’s heart is one of Un-comparable Sensitivity To Needs: As the Jewish proverb says, “A mother understands what a child does not say.” However much a child tries to hide it, a mother knows when her child is troubled. A father does not even notice when his child’s shoes are so worn his toes are hanging out. A mother is aware that a child will need new shoes six months from now. A mother’s heart is one Uncritical Ease At Being Pleased: A young child bursts through the backdoor from the yard outside with a fistful of wildflowers mixed with wild onions and ugly weeds crying, “Here, Momma, I picked these for you!” The mother cries out in delight, thanking the child profusely while remarking on how beautiful they are and effusing gratitude for the child’s thinking of his mother. A mother’s heart is one of Unequaled Defense and Protection: You don’t mess with a mother Grizzly Bear’s cub. That is fatally foolish. And you don’t mess with a mother’s children—no matter how old they are. You don’t hurt them, say something bad about them, or make fun of them. Not, unless you want their mother’s hands around your throat. A mother’s heart is one of Unmatched Ability To Comfort: When something really hurts, whether a skinned knee or broken heart, no one can comfort like Mom. A mother’s heart is one of Unfailing Support: Even if she has doubts about her child’s ability for a venture, a mother supports, encourages, and backs his efforts. If he does fail, she will be there to comfort him. She will support, back, reinforce, spur on, express confidence, affirm, and bolster her child and his endeavors, dreams, and plans, in any way she possibly can. She is behind him. All the way. A mother’s heart is one of Unreserved Sacrifice: If anything is legendary about a mother’s heart it is this. She sacrifices her body to discomfort and pain just to give birth to a child. She sacrifices sleep, time, career, hobbies, and personal space to nurture and nourish him. She gives the child the last piece, her piece, of pie, her hours, weeks, and years. She gives up the new dress, the new car, and the new furniture so her child’s teeth can be straightened. I have only given a few characteristics of the mother’s heart and how it is created in the image of God’s. I have shared examples of a mother’s heart but have left the parallel to God’s heart to the reader. Until this last: Not even a mother has so unreservedly sacrificed for her children as God has for us. Think of the cross. If you have seen your mother in the descriptions above, you can be thankful for her, and, then, you can say, “God, You have a heart like that--only more so.” God has a mother’s heart. Or, rather, a mother has God’s heart. --Pastor Clifford Hurst