We are hardwired as human beings to want closeness with a female because of the familiarity she represents. Life can be likened to a quest where we can only make sense of the journey by returning to our original destination. For humans, this equates to a fascination with orgasm and the female body, for that is where we originated. As a result of orgasm, we are conceived, and our first experiences take place not in a labor and delivery room, but in the female uterus and vagina. The womb is our first “home.” No wonder the female genitalia is a mesmerizing mystery — to both men and women!
And the moment we emerge from that womb, we’re immediately thrust…where? Not to the male breast, but to the female breast. It became our new “home” from which breakfast, lunch, and dinner flowed. I was recently visiting a friend who’d just had a baby, and her fussiness level revealed it was feeding time. The newborn squirmed and squealed relentlessly until her mom brought her to the breast, and then she relaxed completely, whimpering multiple sighs of relief and contentment. Indeed, our survival instincts make the connection that this soft, warm place is where comfort, security, and nourishment reside.
This desire is what drives many to distraction — looking at pornography, visiting topless bars and strip clubs, seeking a prostitute, a sexual affair or a lesbian partner. But could there be an even deeper spiritual longing behind such sexual longings?
However, because most denominations embrace a strictly masculine image of God, we only hear Him referred to as “Father,” never as “Mother.” This creates two psychological dilemmas. First, for the woman who was abused by her father or a significant male in her life, connecting with God as a “Father” can feel like a dangerous proposition. However, she might feel safer connecting with God as a “Mother,” since mothers often paint a softer, gentler picture of God in our minds than fathers do.
We simply weren’t designed to fully complete each other, only to compliment one another. We must look to God to complete us. This can only be done as we embrace not just the masculine side of God, but also the feminine side.
If you’re thinking this sounds more “New Agey” than biblical, consider that the Hebrew word shaddai comes from the root word “breast,” and one of the most common words for God, El Shaddai, can be translated “many breasted one,” used forty-eight times in the Old Testament. In other words, God isn’t just the Father-figure who protects and provides, He is also the Mother-figure who nourishes and comforts. This is a God who can meet ALL our needs . . . if we’d only let Him.