“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,and you were not willing.”
Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
Most of scripture refers to God as a Father, but in this scripture, God expresses His love from the perspective of a mother hen. It’s not the only scripture in the Bible where God reveals His love from the viewpoint of a mother. Isaiah wrote “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” (Isaiah 66:13)
In one Psalm, David describes his contentment with God, to that of a weaned child resting on his mother’s lap. (Psalm 131:2)
These are amazing verses that compare the nurturing love of God to the comfort and security of an affectionate mother.
Jesus took it further by expressing His love for people as that of a mother hen, who wants to guard and gather her chicks in the usual territorial way of a hen, but then He added, “….but you were not willing.”
He laments for those who were not willing to be gathered, revealing the true heart of God towards those who run from Him. We feel the same emotion as Jesus felt, when we pray for those we know, who have no interest in God. We only want everyone to know how good He is, and we pray that one day they will become willing.
There was a time when I was not willing, and had no interest in God but somehow the Holy Spirit changed my heart and I became willing. It proves to me that God isn’t finished with anyone yet. Whether it’s a paternal or maternal passion that drives Him, God has put a hunger in every human heart that only He can satisfy.
One of the most beautiful character traits flowing from God’s grace, is that He loves to regather whatever was scattered. Some people may be scattered spiritually, families may be divided and scattered emotionally. Extreme stress can make us feel scattered mentally, but God wants to regather anyone who is scattered in any way.
There was a news story this week about an apartment complex which was condemned and all the tenants were notified on a Monday that they must leave by Wednesday. With such short notice, people who rented there for years, were being scattered, forced to find housing along with children, cats and dogs. God sees all those situations of people scattered in homelessness, and He surely desires to regather all displaced people. Salvation Army and other groups are getting involved, and I pray they help them all find a place to live.
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came into a locked room, like a powerful rushing wind, and transformed every person’s heart. God loosens what was once locked, opens doors that were once shut, and changes attitudes that were once unwilling to be gathered. It isn’t the end of the story yet because God’s Spirit isn’t finished with anyone yet.
The enemy looks for ways to destroy and divide families, cities, churches or nations, but God is in the business of regathering and reuniting people. The gates of Hell simply cannot prevail over the passion and power of a regathering God.
As people across the world worship Jesus in multiple languages, in various types of worship, Jesus is being lifted up and His name is highly exalted across the earth. He told us that when He is lifted up, He will gather all people to Himself.
(John 12:32)
He is still gathering people to Himself, from every part of the world, and this world desperately needs to be regathered.
Lord, thank you for your divine nature and grace that regathers anything that was ever scattered. Please change hearts to become willing, and show us how we can help regather others to you. Amen
