The God Impulse By Jack AlexanderSample

Day Six

The Womb of God

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22–23

Before we were born, our mother’s womb gave us shelter and warmth and nourishment. That’s what mercy’s supposed to be: Warm. Safe. A harbor from the cruel, crashing sea of the world. 

Compassion, a word closely related to mercy, means “to stoop” or “bend in kindness.” To give. To bestow favor.

Think about how many times the Bible refers to God as a merciful, compassionate God. Deuteronomy 4:31 says, “For the Lord your God is a merciful God.” “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” Jesus said in Luke 6:36 (NIV). “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness,” we read in Lamentations 3:22–23. Merciful is, in fact, often one of the first words God uses to describe himself. 

When someone asks you to describe yourself, you usually speak first what you feel is most critical about who you are. They likely describe how you see yourself. And very often, you’ll lead with your best attributes. “I’m a hard worker,” you might say. “I care deeply about others.” “I’m creative.” “I’m detail-oriented.”

What does God lead his resume with? How does he define himself? I care for you. I love you. I will stoop down to serve you. I will give you a womb. He defines himself by his mercy. 

Yes, of course God has far more facets to his character. He’s sovereign, omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere). He’s slow to anger but infinitely holy and perfectly just and righteous. He’s worthy of praise for all these things. But the fact that he’s merciful to us when he finds us broken, addicted, and bankrupt should make us fall on our knees and worship. Then, when we need it most, he gives us warmth and safety. He cradles us and gives us space and time to recover, the opportunity to take stock of our situation and grow strong in him again. 

God’s womb is found in the Samaritan’s inn. The hug of a stranger. Food from a friend. His womb is home in the best of senses, the safe place to heal and grow, where we can be protected from the bullets and flames of the world. As Christ-followers, we need to have a vision for being that womb to others. 

Does God feel safe to you? Why or why not?