Post by hadassah on Dec 8, 2007 22:05:50 GMT -5
God's Motherly Love
Can God be a mother to us? The Bible does not call Him mother but God does play the role of a mother. I would like to share with you from God’s Word on scriptures where He plays the role of a loving mother.
God has many names.
One of His names is Elohim. Elohim means God or goddess. If you don’t believe me then buy yourself a Bible concordance and look it up for yourself. The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek. When it was translated to English the names of God were just translated God. By translating God’s names into just God takes away from the meaning of who God really is. If you have a Bible concordance and you look up God, you will find His names in place of God.
Now back to Elohim. Though out the Old Testament the Jewish people called God Elohim from Genesis to Malachi. There are some other names of God though out the Old Testament. I will be also talking about Elshaddai later on.
Then Elohim (God or goddess) said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So Elohim crated man in His own image, in the image of Elohim He created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27
The Holy Spirit in Creation
PROVERBS 8 AND 9: 6
Talks about Wisdom being at God’s side in creation. It also refers to wisdom as a female. This wisdom also sounds like the Holy Spirit.
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? Proverbs 8: 1-2
The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with waters; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before He made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there when He set the Heavens in place, when He marked out the horizon on the face of the deep. When He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep. When He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundations of the Earth. Then I was the craftsman at His side; I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence. Rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind. Now then, My sons, listen to Me; blessed are those who keep My ways. Listen to My instructions and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My doors, waiting at My doorway. For whoever finds Me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find Me harms himself; all who hate Me loves death."Proverbs 8: 22-36
Elshaddai.
Elshaddai is translated Almighty God. If you really study this Word you will find a deeper meaning. Elshaddai is three Hebrew Words. El- means God, Shad means Breast, Dai means more then enough, to satisfy. Shad is talking about a breast that gives nourishment. You could say that Elshaddai means "God 's nursing breast that gives more then enough nourishment to satisfy." When God called Himself Elshaddai, He always speaks of blessings that He wants to gave to His children. God’s love for us is like a love that a mother has for her baby.
Here are some scriptures on the blessings of the breasts:
"Because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Elshaddai, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Genesis 49:25"
"Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment: yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery? Says the Lord. "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery? Says your God. "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." For this is what the Lord says:" I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Isaiah 66:7-13"
WHO IS MOTHER JERUSALEM? LETS GO TO THE NEW TESTAMENT TO FIND OUR ANSWER.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but His son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. Gal 4:21-27
Do Christians have a mother as well as a father? Yes, but the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. Galatians 4:26 This Spiritual Jerusalem is not a physical city but God's Spirit. God's Spirit is the one who gives us new birth.
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to the Spirit. John 3:5-6
The word birth in the Greek word is gennao. Gennao is used for a mother giving birth to a child but it is never used for a father giving birth. Gennao is also used for God’s Spirit giving birth.
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. I John 3:9
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
I John 4:7
For everyone born of God overcomes the World. I John 5:4
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. I John 5:18
For you have been born again, not of perish seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
I Peter 1:23
Spiritual Milk, a mother's gift.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. I Peter 2:2
Today when this verse is read Christians picture a mother or father feeding a baby a bottle but when this scripture was written all children was breastfeed. The early Christians picture a nursing mother nursing her baby.
WHO WAS THIS NURSING MOTHER? JERUSALEM SHE IS OUR MOTHER.
Isaiah 66: 11 and 13 for you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Jerusalem is the nursing mother and I believe it is also God's Spirit.
