"Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?"
When these questions were asked, they were likely intended to be rhetorical questions. It is expected that a mother would NOT forget, neglect, or harm her nursing child, and that a mother would ALWAYS feel love and compassion for the children she has borne. Sadly, such is not always the case...
Today a joint funeral service is scheduled in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for 2-year-old Devean C. Duley and 18-month-old Ja'van T. Duley. What happened to these two little brothers?
Investigators say that the boys' mother suffocated her two young sons last Sunday night after a fight with her own mother, then strapped their bodies into her car and rolled it into a river so it would look like an accident.
"Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?"
In the Greek language, the original language of most of the New Testament Scriptures, there are different words that have been translated "love" in English Bibles. One of the words is "storge." This love refers to the love that is shared among members of a family, like the love of a mother for her children. When the word is used in the New Testament (Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3), it is preceded by the Greek letter "alpha" which negates the word. It is translated "without natural affection" (KJV), "without love" (NIV), "unloving" (NKJV), even "heartless" (CEV). In both instances when the word is used, it describes those who have forsaken God, and as a result, have traveled deep into the vileness of sin (see Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Yet consider the initial questions in the context in which they were originally asked:
"Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? Surely THEY may forget, Yet I will not forget you." - Isaiah 49:15
These words were from God through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel. These words also reveal God's love for His people today.
Even though WE are stained with the guilt of sin, God loves us and wants each of us to be His child (Romans 3:23). He gave His only Son to die on the cross for our sins (Ephesians 1:7), so that we might have the opportunity to become His children. By placing our trust and faith in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), and confessing His name before men (Romans 10:9-10), we can be baptized (immersed) into Christ to have our sins washed away and be added to the family of God (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).
God will NEVER stop loving us! And the closer we get to God, the more we will love our fellow man, especially our families.
Won't YOU respond to the great love of God by becoming His child today?
David A. Sargent, Minister
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