Laboring Woman
Isaiah depicts God as a laboring woman. This seems a bit odd to Winner <and to me>. But, in the end it makes sense.
The concept of vulnerability as a strength. (p150). “The mystery I wish to explore . . . is this: vulnerability as the condition, the enabling condition, for covenant relationship with God. . . . Vulnerability, the capacity to be wounded—what does that mean for us who claim to be the body of Christ in the world? . . . Calling vulnerability a capacity means that it is something more than a negative. . . . A capacity is a positive thing, a kind of strength." Ellen F. Davis
The image of God as a woman in labor should help us to not glorify his suffering.
Besides giving birth (metaphorically) God was also born (actually). Jesus went through the trauma of birth.
In psalm 22, God is compared to a midwife.
One possible metaphor for the Trinity is God as mother, baby, and midwife.
Isaiah compares God to a nursing mother. This image is not used much today, but it was very common in earlier times.
Winner talks about how we need to think about these images of God outside our socio-economic class.
Excerpt From: Lauren F. Winner. “Wearing God.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/9tAcR.l