John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 49:15

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee." — Isaiah 49:15 (ASV)

Shall a woman forget her child! To correct that distrust, He adds to the admonition an exhortation full of the sweetest consolation. By an appropriate comparison, He shows how strong His concern is for His people, comparing Himself to a mother, whose love for her offspring is so strong and ardent as to leave a father’s love far behind.

Thus He was not content with offering the example of a father (which on other occasions He very frequently uses), but to express His very strong affection, He chose to compare Himself to a mother, and calls them not merely “children,” but the fruit of the womb, for whom there is usually a warmer affection.

What amazing affection a mother feels for her offspring, whom she cherishes in her bosom, nurses at her breast, and watches over with tender care, so that she passes sleepless nights, exhausts herself with constant concern, and forgets herself! And this care is shown not only among humans, but even among savage beasts, which, though naturally cruel, are gentle in this respect.

Even if they shall forget. Since it does sometimes happen that mothers degenerate into such monsters as to exceed wild beasts in cruelty and forget “the fruit of their womb,” the Lord next declares that, even if this should happen, He will still never forget His people. The affection He has for us is far stronger and warmer than the love of all mothers. We should also remember the saying of Christ,

“If you, being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more your heavenly Father?” (Matthew 7:11).

People, though by nature depraved and addicted to self-love, are concerned for their children. What then will God do, who is goodness itself? Will it be possible for Him to set aside a father’s love? Certainly not.

Therefore, even if it should happen that mothers (which is a monstrous thing) forsake their own offspring, God, whose love for His people is constant and unremitting, will never forsake them. In short, the Prophet here describes to us the inconceivable care with which God unceasingly watches over our salvation, so that we may be fully convinced that He will never forsake us, even if we are afflicted with great and numerous calamities.