AS A MOTHER COMFORTS HER CHILD

Isaiah 66:12-13
12 For thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. (WEB)

The Bible says that God created both Adam and Eve in His own image. We read this in Genesis 1:27... God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. (WEB) While God is Father, both the masculine and the feminine reflect His image. Since 1 John 4:16 says that 'God is love', then all true love expressions originate in His heart.

The love of a Father. The love of a brother. The love of a friend. The love of a mother. All that is pure love comes from the heart of God. In today's Scripture reading, we see the motherly expression of our Heavenly Father's heart as He speaks to Israel. He tells them that He will comfort them as a mother comforts her child. In the same way that a little baby is lovingly nursed by their mom, so our Father desires to nurture and care for us.

If we only see the masculine expression of the heart of God, we will miss out on so much of His nature. In Isaiah 49:15, Father God cries out that even though a mother may forget her children, He will never forget us. My prayer today is that we would all open up our hearts to the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) so that He could comfort us just like a loving mother would.

Isaiah 49:15-16
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you! 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. (WEB)