“Now, listen to me, my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one. I am Yahweh, your Creator, who shaped you in my womb. Hear what I have to say to you: ‘Don’t fear. I will help you, O Jacob my servant, Do not fear, my pleasing one, Israel. 3 I will pour refreshing water on the thirsty and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your children, my blessing upon your descendants. Isaiah 44:1-3

The first thing that stands out in this passage is the description of God shaping us in His womb. Brian Simmons offers a footnote. “The love God has for us is similar to a mother’s love. The Hebrew concept of compassion carries this thought, for compassion (racham) is the same word as “womb.”

The God who transcends time and space can be anything. He is certainly more than the qualities that make up a man and a woman. God fulfills both roles in our lives. We need Him to be our strong masculine leader and our nurturing feminine mother. He is both to us. The Bible uses many metaphors to describe us and our relationship with God, son and daughters, heirs, children, sheep, even a bride. This is because there are some many ways in which God loves us and relates to us. 

I love that God tells us not to fear but rather look for the refreshing water God will pour out when we are spiritually empty and dry. I also appreciate that rather than condemnation we are called, “my pleasing one”.  God is pleased with us, both because of our knowledge or works, but simply because we were born-again into His family. We are children loved completely by a good and perfect God.