What the Womb Tells Us About God's Mercy

 

God Accomplishes His Will in Spite of Us 

During a Women's Aglow meeting, God orchestrated a message in a way I would never have imagined. I was the treasurer at the time, and Pam, the President, was ill and could not attend, so I was to take her place in sharing announcements and, most importantly, introducing our guest speaker. I had absolutely no idea who was speaking. I thought the speaker who was coming was a man, so when a lady showed up with a guitar, I quickly said, "Hello," and asked if she was there for worship. She said, "Um ... yeah, and I am the speaker." I explained that Pam could not come due to illness and that I was filling in for her. She was pretty gracious about all of this, especially considering she practically had to introduce herself because I knew nothing about her or her message.

As treasurer, I would generally share something and pray over the offering. I wasn't sure what to share until a couple of days before. I looked through some notes in my Hebrew studies and came across the Hebrew words for "womb" and "mercy." I will share with you what I shared that night and how God, in all His splendor, works all things for His glory and the good of those who love Him.

Womb and Mercy

My message began by studying the Hebrew word for womb, rechem (רחם). Most Hebrew words consist of three root letters, and each letter carries a picture concept that describes the word. The three root letters of the word for womb are resh רֶ, chet חֶ, and a closed mem ם.  A mem ם is closed when it is at the end of a word) Simply put, the resh רֶ is a picture of a person. The chet חֶ is a picture of a fence and carries the concept of protection and being surrounded. The mem ם is a picture of water; because it is a closed mem ם, it can symbolize something hidden. Combining the three concepts shows that a womb is a place where a person is protected, surrounded, and hidden in water. 

The same word for the womb is also used for God's mercy. It is not the most commonly translated word for mercy.

The most common word translated as "mercy" (loving-kindness) is the Hebrew word chesed (חסד). This word describes God's loyal love connected to our covenant relationship with Him. It concerns His most faithful promises to love and care for us based on His most faithful love. Chesed (חסד) is not based on emotions or circumstances. It is His consistent, unconditional promise to love us. He has obligated himself to do so. 

Comparatively, the less commonly used rechem (רחם), also translated as mercy, is about God's feelings towards us. It speaks of being affectionately surrounded and protected in His love. It expresses the same tender emotions a mother feels for the child within her womb. And as we can see from the word picture above, His mercy protects, surrounds, and hides us. Psalm 103 gives us an example.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness (chesed חסד-loyal covenant love) and tender mercies (rechem רחם—most tender affections), 

— Psalm 103:1-4

His Mercy Is Like a Mother's Love

In the case of God's rechem חםֶרֶ, His love and mercy towards us is illustrated by maternal love. God's maternal love is also demonstrated by the prophet Isaiah.

As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

— Isaiah 66:13

The reference to a mother's womb is specifically noted in the following verse.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.

— Isaiah 49:15

His affectionate love never fails.

This I recall to my mind,
Therefore, I have hope.
Through the LORD’s mercies (chesed סדֶחֶ-loyal covenant love) we are not consumed,
Because His compassions (rechem חםֶרֶ-most tender affections) fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore, I hope in Him!"

— Lamentations 3:21-24

The above two verses show that not only has God obligated Himself to love and care for us, but that His heart is all in it, all the way. 

And when Jesus went out ... He was moved with compassion for them ... 

— Matthew 14:14

God's mercy is like a mother's love that wraps around us, surrounds us, and protects us. He is moved with compassion for and pities us, knowing how fragile we are. He cannot forget His affection for us and moves Him to forgive, heal, and redeem. 

As I finished my sharing, the Speaker, Carla Burton, came up to speak and told us that her whole message and life story centered on the womb, protection, love, and mercy. She began to sing a Hymn:

"Walk across the Water" 

When the waters of our mother broke, 

And the world first came to be, 

It was in that instant God done spoke, 

And said, "Walk across the water to me" 

On the day we came to be baptized by the Word, 

In the water freed, Jesus looked into our wondering eyes, 

And said, "Walk across the water to me" 

And when Israel fled from Egypt's land, 

They were chased up to the sea, 

Moses, God said, "Take them by the hand, 

And walk across the water to me," 

Is that my Lord a walking, 

On the Sea of Galilee? 

Jesus says, " If your faith be more than talk, 

"Walk across the water to me."

 After the song, Carla began telling the story of a ministry that began one day when she scrubbed her kitchen floor. She had been watching the news, and there was rioting being reported about in a protest over abortion. Carla said she knew what she believed, but didn't think what she saw on TV would accomplish much, so she prayed, "Lord, what can I do to help?" Later, Carla had a vision of a home for pregnant women with nowhere else to go, and she described how that vision has now become a reality in Winona, Minnesota.

"Grace Place" offers God's mercy to hurting women and families. It shows His tender love and compassion for our culture's most vulnerable, especially those still in the womb. Grace Place advocates, mentors, and supports family restoration, providing temporary, safe housing for those in need. Her whole ministry and message were about "The womb" and "The mercy of God."

How great is our God!!
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

— Psalm 139:13-16

Related Article Links

Cow Paths and Ruts of Righteousness

What Knees and Camels Tell Us About Blessing


 © 2010 Tamarajo

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