Aug | 07 | Boiling Breast Milk

Key Word:- MERCY


Title:- Boiling Breast Milk

Exodus 34:26….."You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.”

The book of Exodus contains some confusing verses for those of us disconnected from such a ‘bloody’ culture. Our verse today and it’s context left me confused for some time, until one day, I was watching a news broadcast where the mother of a missing child (later found to be murdered) was pleading for the safe return of her daughter. I shall never forget the mother's panicked and tear stained face; overnight she had already aged substantially and her poor terror consumed features were already draped in mourning silk. One poet writes:-

“You shall not boil a young goat
In it’s mother’s milk
You shall not clothe a suckling pig
With chiffon or with silk
You shall not disapprove
Of Section 28
You shall not catch a cod
And demand that he should skate
You shall not cause a robin
To pull ten thousand tons
You shall not stick your tongue out
At penguins, bats or nuns
You shall not twist a knife
Or cause a mother pain
You shall not cut a sapling
Nor murder Sarah Jane
You shall not drape a smiling face
With greys of mourning silk
You shall not boil a young goat
In it’s mother’s milk”

Simeon, a just and devout man waiting in the temple for the consolation of Israel, takes the baby Jesus from the arms of His loving mother Mary and as the Holy Spirit comes upon him prophecies, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32.) Then turning to the marvelling Joseph and Mary he speaks directly to them, midway through his proclamation his sad eyes laying for a moment on mother Mary when he says: “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The old seer speaks that which he sees and Mary’s coming pain is not forgotten, not laid aside, but deeply felt. Indeed she is now by the voice of Simeon given over 30 years to prepare herself. She will need this, for her child shall be murdered before her very eyes. He who suckled at her breasts shall be pierced for our sins, while her own soul is pierced in the boiling loss of her own most precious son.

We can learn two things here.

Firstly, that often God warns us of desperate times to come, so that we might prepare ourselves. He is no sadist in such revelation, but in love, asks us to strengthen ourselves for that which is both unavoidable and dreadful.

Secondly, that though this may be the case, never the less, the Sovereign Father takes no pleasure in our suffering. Indeed, He makes a specific command, that mothers should not be a witness to the cruel death and consuming of those they love so dearly. No child should be tortured and consumed before it’s mother’s eyes.

Maybe some governments should take this verse to heart when dispatching young people to desperate wars? Maybe some legislators should bear this in mind when authorizing the mass destruction of the unborn and turning the word ‘choice’ into a ‘death camp’ word for women? For it seems the Father has a special love for those He has created to bear and nurture life. It seems to me God loves mothers, for He had one Himself. Young goats should never be boiled in their mother's milk, before their desperate eyes.

Listen:- Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. Proverbs 23:25

Pray:- Lord, help us to honour all mothers by not murdering their children before their very eyes. God forgive us for these crimes. God forgive us and help us. In Jesus name precious name we pray, amen.