Our great and wonderful God is the God who made us (chuwl), who formed us in His image, and gives us life. In fact, He gave us life twice – physically and spiritually.
You forgot the Rock who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. Deuteronomy 32:18
The word chuwl, translated here as giving birth, is a multi-faceted word. It can mean to bring forth, to twist or twirl, to dance, and to be in agony. Strong’s also includes to wait, tarry, be wounded, hope, and to fear. Those meanings seem so different, maybe even conflicting, and it seems difficult to decipher the intent. But as I let them sink in, they seem tied together with a common thread in parenting. A parent knows the agony of childbirth and even childrearing. It is full of waiting and anticipating (chuwl is used of Noah when he waited a week for the return of the dove). Parents experience joy and dancing, there is twisting and writhing. And it is full of both hope and fear.
God gave us birth. His own pain makes our new life possible. God parents us as a mother that brought us forth and nurtures us and as a father that protects and provides. He waits patiently for us and gives us great gifts in the right time. He celebrates us as His children.
Adonai your God is in your midst—
a mighty Savior!
He will delight over you with joy.
He will quiet you with His love.
He will dance for joy over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Bless you Lord, who formed me in my mother’s womb and gave me new life in You. You are El Chuwl, the God who gave me birth - twice.
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. James 1:18
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