The mother who ate her son because of famine

Women are naturally considered as possessing the following traits: sensitive, sweetness, nurturing, gentleness, supportive, calmness, expressive  affection, empathy  tenderness, being emotional, kind, kind, helpful, devoted among many others. These traits are mostly revealed in females and although we have individual differences, most women will likely possess two or more of these traits. The compassion of a mother towards their child is so much expressed in different cultures that in some cultures of the world, God is attributed with motherly qualities that show his deep love and care for His children.  The Bible also shares some of the attributes of God using feminine metaphors. For example, Isaiah 49: 15 compares God to a very committed nursing mother: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
Isaiah 66:13 presents a metaphor of God comforting His people just as a mother comforts her child: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
These verses among many others show God’s love, care, compassion, comfort, protection etc. revealed in feminine metaphors. On a daily basis, we experience mothers who go all out to ensure the sustenance of their children. No wonder mother’s day is highly patronized and celebrated across the world. For most people who grew up in broken homes, their mothers were the pillars of their lives.

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my Lord the king!” (2 Kings 6:26)

Thus, it is highly unlikely that a mother would suddenly become so mean, cruel and wicked to her own children. But, it is possible and on daily basis, some mothers are charged with child abuse claims. The Bible records the story of famine in Israel and its consequences. The Aramean king  Ben-Hadad mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. Samaria was the capital of Israel (Northern Kingdom and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah ( Southern Kingdom). This siege brought a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels (see 2 Kings 6:24‭-‬25). Thus, everyone was affected. In a similar incident of famine (commanded by Elijah) we saw the widow of Zarephath concerned about her life and that of her son. However, in this famine, we have different types of women. Two women planned to kill and eat their sons in order to survive the hunger. What! They went ahead and killed the first son and ate him. But, the second woman was unwilling to release her own son to be eaten. The king of Israel passed by the wall and the woman whose son was eaten cried to the king, “Help me, my Lord the king!” (2 Kings 6:26). The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?” (2 Kings 6:27). The king thought the woman was looking for food. 

Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?” The woman answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him” (2 Kings 6:28-29). The king was appalled by these words, and he tore his robes. What type of a mother eats up her son? What sort of wickedness is this? When did this woman lose all her traits of feminine and human sense and turned to a cannibal? Was she the only mother going through the famine? What type of woman was she? What type of friend was she keeping? Was she mentally stable? We could go on asking different questions as to why a mother had the courage to do this barbaric and wicked act to her own son. This woman was living in a war zone like many others, her source of livelihood was taken and the city was shut. The armies of Aram made it impossible for anything to enter or leave Samaria. In this state of extreme lack and vulnerability, this woman and her friend planned and performed a barbaric act that could potentially lead them to be ostracized from the society. They lost every respect and their statuses as mothers were questioned.

What will cause people to be so helpless and vain to the extent of eating their own children? For the people of Israel, they had a covenant with God and breaking this covenant made them susceptible to commit some of the heinous sins of the neighboring nations. Leviticus 26:14-46 lists some punishments for the disobeying God. Leviticus 26:27-29 states this: “ If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.” Thus, the woman’s action reflected the evil of the wider society. 

But, we should take note, whenever you are at your lowest point, be careful of what you say, where you go, what you do and who you talk to. Don’t allow yourself to be at the mercy of the law because you failed to control your emotions. Hunger is real, but no hunger should necessitate that you kill to eat. Be open and ask for help when possible.  No murderer, thief or wicked person had a place in Heaven (Revelation 22:15). If your condition has caused you to become accustomed to sinful acts, a clarion call is being made to you today.