May 20, 2015
Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands… Isaiah 49:49:15, 16a
Maybe you saw this video on the news—a mother bear with her three babies chasing camera-toting tourists down the road in Yellowstone. It’s kind of funny, watching the people scramble as the foursome loped toward them. And the cubs are as cute as can be. But the Park Service released the video as a cautionary tale: even though you may like to see wildlife, watch them from a distance. It recommends getting no closer than 100 yards from any creatures you may come across in the parks.
It’s also a reminder that mothers of all kind, from humans on down to the animal kingdom, aren’t to be tangled with. Those little cubs were probably curious about the running, yelling things on two legs—but their momma knew better. She recognized them as a potential threat, and she stood ready to defend her family. Moms are like that…
Except for the seriously negligent ones, of course. But even good moms slip up. A friend of mine, pregnant with her third child, drifted off one afternoon on the couch, only to be woken by a phone call from a neighbor, letting her know her two boys were dancing naked on top of her car. Twice in two weeks I let my baby fall out of her seat, once from a table to the floor, and then from her carriage into the street. As a child, I got left in the grocery store (It’s okay, I’m over it, Mom!). I’m sure you have your own stories…
It shouldn’t surprise you that God compares Himself with a mother—a perfect one. He offers motherly comfort and compassion from conception on (Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 46:3, 4; 66:13). He never goes to sleep or lets us drop (Psalm 121:3). He never makes mistakes (Psalm 18:30) or leaves us (Hebrews 13:5; Revelation 1:8, 18;).
He’s also fierce as a momma bear: “For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under his wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark” (Psalm 91:3, 4; see also Psalm 121: 7, 8; Isaiah 43: 1, 2; and 2 Timothy 4:18). Believe me, you don’t want to face His wrath (Psalm 6:1, Hebrews 10:26-31, Revelation 16:17-21)!
So stay away from the wild animals in the parks—but stick close to Mom…