Other Mothers - Part 1

I wanted to know, besides Galatians 4:26 (which the WMSCOG misinterprets), are there any other references to a "mother" that would indicate a "Heavenly Mother" as the WMSCOG preaches?

I did a keyword search for "mother" in the Bible.  In the NIV there are 320 results.  The vast majority of those refer to actual, human mothers.  But what about the others?  Here are the verses about a "mother" that is not an actual, human mother....

2 Samuel 20:18-19  She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it.  We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
This is when Joab was pursuing Sheba to the city of Abel Beth Maakah.  This is another city being likened to a mother.  It's not a heavenly mother.

Job 17:14  if I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
Here is Job lamenting about the grave, calling his mother the worm that will destroy his physical body.  It's not a heavenly mother.
 
Isaiah 50:1  This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away?  Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?  Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
These verses talk about Israel being sent into exile in Babylon.  The "mother" here is the nation of Israel, not the WMSCOG's "Heavenly Mother."

Jeremiah 50: 11-13  Because you rejoice and are glad, you who pillage my inheritance, because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and neigh like stallions, your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who gave you birth will be disgraced.  She will be the least of the nations—a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.  Because of the LORD’s anger she will not be inhabited but will be completely desolate.  All who pass Babylon will be appalled; they will scoff because of all her wounds.
In this passage, the "mother" is the nation of Babylon, the ones who have pillaged Israel and aroused the Lord's anger.  Could this represent the WMSCOG's "Heavenly Mother"?   Hmmmm....

Ezekiel 16:1-3  The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.  (also in verses 44 and 45)
Talking about nations again, in Ezekiel 16 the Lord is telling how He chose the nation of Israel despite her miserable heritage.  He loved her and blessed her even though she was unfaithful.  If the WMSCOG can use Gal. 4:26 to prove that there is a "Heavenly Mother" then perhaps they can use this verse to prove there is a "Heavenly Grandmother"?  (I'm being sarcastic here, can you tell?)

Ezekiel 19:1-2, 10  “Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel and say: “‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions!  She lay down among them and reared her cubs.... “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.
Once again, the "mother" here is the nation of Israel.  In poetic language, Israel is being compared metaphorically to a lion and a vine.  It is not a heavenly mother.

Ezekiel 23:2, 4  “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.  ... The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
And here we are again in Ezekiel with "mother" symbolizing the nation of Israel.  Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom, and Jerusalem was in the Southern Kingdom.  More poetic language, but not about a heavenly mother.

I'm not quite done with the list yet, but I think that's enough for today.  To be continued...

Click here to go on to Part 2.