Meaning Of Motherhood

Today is Mother’s day, 2013. Let me show you a couple of slides that depict motherhood a bit.

Slides:

1. Four generations of women

2. A mother and baby

3. Psalm 131

4. Mom with shouting son

5. Mom and finger pointing daughter

6. Mom pointing finger at teenage son

7. Mom and dad arguing with child covering ears

8. Mom, did you ever get “the look”? Kids with eyes rolled back

When God made Adam and Eve He blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and plenish or fill the earth…”

God’s blessing upon man and woman was first of all parenthood. Think of it. God gave us the ability to procreate in His image, to bring new lives into the world and spread the image of God all over the planet. How does that strike you? Do we even believe that today? We live in the days of planned parenthood, where childbirth is managed medically and where children are not seen as a heritage of the Lord so much as a responsibility to be manipulated and planned and managed. But where does God’s word fit into the planning? Our culture has whole heartedly bought into this management concept. The Bible says that children are a heritage from the Lord. But planned parenthood has distorted the meaning of motherhood to the point of exterminating the unwanted unborn in the name of women’s rights or healthcare. Yes, pregnancy is seen in terms of a healthcare issue rather than a reflection of God’s gracious blessing to spread His image. If you want it, it’s a precious baby; if you don’t, it’s a disposable fetus.

We do live in a fallen world… and yet, one of the loveliest human images is still that of a mother and her baby. Is that not true? God’s blessing is seen there and it is hard to hush. In spite of all the enemy can muster against it, God has made motherhood for His glory and it remains a blessing in the world.

God designed motherhood. His plan for motherhood is still the best one. No one can improve on it, though many have certainly tried. Since today is Mother’s Day, it seems appropriate to look a little bit at God’s plan for mothers. What we learn is something more than a mother’s heart. We also see something of the heart of God our creator and His love for us.

Isaiah refers to or compares God’s love and a mother’s love twice. Let’s look at two of God’s plans for mothers.

Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.

Isaiah 66:7-13 “Before she travailed, she brought forth;

Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.

8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?

Can a land be born in one day?

Can a nation be brought forth all at once?

As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.

9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD.

“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

10 “Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her;

Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her,

11 That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,

That you may drink deeply and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”

12 For thus says the LORD, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river,

And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;

And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.

13 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;

And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

One of God’s purposes and plans for creating motherhood is to reveal His own love toward His people.

A few years ago I was a bus captain for Inner City Outreach. I remember once asking the kids, “Does your daddy love you?” A few hands went up, but not even half. Then I asked them, “Does your momma love you?” and every hand went up.

God says, “Can a mother forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb?”

God knows that this image will bring most people into a reminder of the closeness they felt with their mothers. But God also knows that this image is sometimes marred by sin. Sometimes, some mothers don’t act like mothers. So God says, “Even if these forget, I will not forget you!”

God’s love is deeper, richer, longer, higher, stronger, fuller, wider, older, fresher, newer, truer, lovelier, kinder, firmer, wiser, purer, costlier, freer, better… than your mother’s love.