The blue whale cow maneuvered her ponderous bulk and with a mighty effort gave birth to the calf of several tons – not surprising since the blue whale is said to be the largest mammal this planet has known. She managed to bump the baby to the surface of the bay where it immediately took its first breath. Then she moved the calf again into a position where it could begin to nurse, which it did hungrily. Now it would spend a few days eating and resting before she led it on the long trip to the arctic. It was on its way to maturity – only made possible because of the mother’s love.
If it had not been for a natural law governing motherhood, and if the whale cow had not responded to that law, the whale calf and all other whale calves would have died.
Romans 1 and its context speaks of a list of things that God demands of us. Among these sins (remember, sin is transgression of the law) are “unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful; who knowing the ordinance of God, that they that do such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them.”
As humans, supposedly the top of the line of creation it looks as though our love for our children would be supreme. But it is not so. Children are abandoned. They are left without spiritual teaching, guidance and protection. The animal kingdom outshines us in many instances when it comes to parental love and nurturing. The love for their babies, so important in the animal kingdom, is natural affection.
Ephesians 6:4 commands the Christian parent: “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.” What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” says the old proverb. Both fathers and mothers should have love for their children. “Nurture” is a powerful word. Children loved and nurtured in God’s Word will develop into wonderful Christians.
The whale mother could teach us a great lesson in regard to love and care for our children.
