At its core, the Mosaic covenant is very feminine. In fact, the baptism of Israel in the Red Sea represents very vividly the “birth” of Israel. And what is the first thing they do after setting out from the Red Sea? They cry out for water. Like a newborn crying for food, they cry out for sustenance (Moses literally “cries out to the Lord” in Exodus 15:25).

The imagery of birth here is not that far-fetched. Egypt was like a womb, in which Israel was loved and cared for, with all their needs met. Like the womb of a woman in labor, though, Egypt became hostile to Israel, and it was time for Israel to leave. Just like all newborn babies, though, Israel was not thrilled about being outside the womb:

Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:2-3)

The first stage of life for a baby is learning to trust his mother to provide for him. And indeed, God gave Israel “spiritual breast milk” in the form of manna, a superfood they received daily and that fulfilled all their dietary needs.

Despite being a man biologically, Moses saw himself in some ways as a mother to Israel:

Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? (Numbers 11:10-12)

This was a reaction to, unsurprisingly, another complaint about food. Moses’ journey through the wilderness was similar to that of a new mother, constantly responding to the cries of her newborn for food, comfort, or relief from physical distress. If you’ve had a child, you can probably identify with the back-and-forth between delight in your newborn and frustration/exhaustion with his or her constant demands. This was Moses’ plight.

Finally, consider the promises to Israel in the Law:

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

‘For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.(Leviticus 26:3-13)

The blessings of the Law are very maternal: food, shelter, and protection from fear and distress. In the early days of Israel, these were the things they were most concerned with.

From Provision to Wisdom

As time went on, however, Israel began to grow and mature. After the death of Joshua, God used repeated spankings (captivity to enemies) to develop them spiritually. He used Canaanites to train them to war (Judges 3:1-2). By the time of Jephthah, they were actually able to worship God without a judge (Judges 10:10-16). However, they were still in need of a guiding light. Hence, God gave them a kingdom.

The Torah (the books of the Law) is concerned with blessings and curses, the basis of life. The kingly books, however, are concerned with wisdom, the development of life. The Psalms and the Book of Job show the pains of growing up, as we strive to understand God in a world full of suffering. Proverbs is literally written from a father to his son, explaining how to live wisely, avoid dangerous influences, and be a man. The Song of Solomon explores romance, while Ecclesiastes shows what is important in life and what is not (a topic of intense interest to a senior in high school, for example, who is trying to determine what to do with the rest of his life).

Now, keep in mind what Solomon says about the role of fathers and mothers in a child’s life:

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)

As a child grows, the importance of the mother does not diminish. Rather, the father comes alongside the mother, complementing her teaching and providing the child with both halves of wisdom.

This is the progression we see in Israel. The Mosaic covenant starts with the birth of Israel, then eventually gives way to the Davidic covenant as Israel matures into an adult.