Feminine Images of the Divine
1. Dead Metaphors Have a Life
Are literal treatments of metaphors dangerous?
2. If we look at Hebrews typological language, we can discern a pattern. Sacrifice, the High priesthood, sacrifice, the exodus etc., is a type of Christ, but Christ is more. Can we say that all that is good in this word, all that gives life, partakes in the divine reality, yet the divine reality transcends it.
3. C.S. Lewis states that the maleness of God is rooted in revelation and in history, first in word and then in incarnation. But does the fact that Jesus is conceived and incubated within the female body necessitate the maleness of God. God does not actually contribute biological or genetic material through a physical process?
4. Only in the post-enlightenment setting is the exclusivity of male imagery evident.
Acts of Peter 3rd century: Thou art unto me father, thou my mother, thou my brother, thou my friend... Thou art all and the all is in thee...
John Chrysostom 4th century: Just as a woman nurtures her offspring, with her own blood and milk, so also Christ continuously nurtures with his own blood those whom he has begotten
Mystical tradition union with the divine uses sexual metaphors so that for the male God is female and visa versa.
Virginia Ramsay Mollencott, The Divine Feminine: Biblical Imagery of God as Female. New York: Crossroad, 1983.
1. Mother: A. Birth
Isa 42:14 For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a woman in travail.. I will gasp and pant.
Deut 32:18 You were unmindful of the Rock that begot [sic. bore] you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Job 38:28-29 Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoar frost of heaven?
Acts 17:28 Areopagus speech quoting some unknown Greek source "in him we live and move and have our being'
Regarding Jesus John 3:5-6 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit .. You must be born anew.
John 16:21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come, but when she is delivered of the child, who no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wail for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Gal 4:19 My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!
B. Nursing Mother
Is 49:15 Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Num 11:12 Did I conceive all this people that thou shouldst say to me "Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries the suckling child, to the land which thou didst swear to give their fathers?
John 7:38 Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.
1 Peter 2:2-3 Like new born babes, long for the pure spiritual milk that by it they may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
C. Child Care - traditional maternal roles
Hos 11:3 Yet it was I would taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them.
Gen 3:21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
Job 10:10-12 Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
Luke 12:28 But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven; how much more will he clothe you.
Isa 66:13 - comforting the crying child As one when his mother comforts, so I will comfort you, and you shall be comforted, Jerusalem
Rev 21:34 Behold the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.
D.Mid-wife
Is 66:9 Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? Says the Lord; Shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb? Says Your God.
Ps 22:9-10 yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst keep me safe upon my mother's breasts. Upon thee was I cast from my birth.
John 17:1 Father, the hour has come; glorify thy son that he son may glorify three
Rom 8:26-29 calling from womb
E. Christ as female Pelican Ps 102:22-26
F. Shekinah Divine immanence, nearness, interaction
Ezekiel 1:28 Deut 12:5 Deut 31:18 muted in RSV
G. God a s Mother Bear Hos 13:8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and will bare open the covering of their heart.
H. God as Homemaker
Ps 123:2 As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress so our eyes look to the Lord our God
Luke 15:8 Story of Lost coin
I. God as the beloved Song of Solomon
J. God as helpmeet Ezer
Exod 18:4 The God of my father was my helpmeet and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh
Deut 33:26 There is none like God,... Who runs through the heavens to your help
Psalm 70:5 But I am poor needy hasten to me O God you are my help and my delivered
K. Baker woman : Matt 13:33 The kingdom is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measurers of flour until all of it was leavened
L. Mother Eagle
Deut 32:11-12 As an eagle sit upon its nest and hovers over its young; as it spreads its wings, take them up, and bears them aloft in its pinions.
Exod 19:4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagle's wings
M. Mother hen : Matt 32:37 Jerusalem How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brook under her wings, and you were not willing.