There is no doubt that Scripture presents God in the masculine. He’s our Heavenly Father. Heck, He’s a “He” every time a pronoun is used. Jesus also was for sure male. He was a 8lb 6oz baby boy. When He was describing His relationship with the church, He’s the Groom and we’re the Bride. However, there are several references to God, our Creator, having motherly qualities. This makes sense because in Genesis 1:27 it says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” So His image was used to create both men and women. So there must be feminine attributes within His Person.
There are several metaphors used that describe God as our Mother. Here are Joe’s top 5:
5) Like a Nursing Mother, God Won’t Forget His Children
In Isaiah 49:15 God compares himself to a nursing mother. It actually says that a nursing mother might occasionally forget about her children, but God will never forget His children. I don’t want to argue with Scripture, but my little chunky 3-month old does NOT let anyone forget when he’s hungry.
4) Like a Mother with Wild Kids, God Comforts His Children
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). My kids don’t come to me often for band-aids any more. My rule is unless there’s dripping blood, you don’t get a band-aid. (Those Disney brand Frozen band-aid’s aren’t cheap.) However, my wife can comfort an invisible wound like a trained pediatric nurse.
3) Like a Mom Who Lost Their Kids at the Mall, God hunts for His Lost Children
When Jesus was asked why He sits and eats with sinners, Jesus tells 3 parables. The first one related God to a shepherd that lost one sheep and left all the others to go find it. The last parable described God as a father who let his son leave and squander his wealth, but welcomed him back home when he returned. But the middle parable related God to a coupon-cutting mother of 5, who lost one coin before shopping day. She searched the entire home until she found it. God, like a mother, will never stop reaching out to His lost children. He will never give up on them.
2) Like a Helicopter-Mom, God Keeps His Children Close-by
I think every mom today is a hover-mom. Our newsfeed has far too many real-life horror stories to not be. I don’t know about you all, but I don’t think my wife and I are going to let our kids sleep over someone else’s house. There’s just too much that can happen in this sick world. Maybe we’ll change our minds in time. Scripture uses 2 metaphors to tell us that God is the same with us. He does not let us out of His sight. In Deuteronomy 32:11, God is described as an eagle who hovers over her nest to watch over her little baby birds. Then in Luke 13:34, Jesus is described as longing for His people like a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings when there’s trouble. I’ve seen this maneuver – diaper bag in one hand, stroller in the other, toddler on the run. The tone of voice alone gets the wandering child to come scampering around the legs of the cautious mother. God keeps us close by as well, and when we hear His voice we better come a runnin’.
1) Like a Momma-Bear, God Will Rip-out the Heart of Someone Trying to Hurt His Children
Think I’m exaggerating a little? Read Hosea 13:8 – “I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them.” Boom. God doesn’t play around. He will go all Revenant on someone who tries to take His little cubs.
Let me explain, no, that will take too long; let me sum-up. I am in no way diminishing God’s clearly masculine characteristics described throughout Scripture. He is our Father, our Groom, our Protector, and our Provider. But, He also cares and comforts us like a mother when we need that as well. His love is so multifaceted that it defies limitation.
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Joe Allotta 