The Difference God Makes
Through Children
by Rev. Donald Richman
Jesus’ earthly existence began by
the Holy Spirit. In the way of all children, He was born and raised under the
watchful eye of His parents. Jesus had no biological children of His own, but He
claimed special ownership of the children of the world. He taught and
demonstrated a special love for children. »»»See Matthew 19:14 and 18:10.
The
examples and teaching of Jesus correlate perfectly with the inner needs of a
child's spirit. Parents who love and follow Jesus according to His Word learn
how to love, affirm and correctly discipline their children. They will raise
children who are emotionally and spiritually whole. Christians have left a trail
of orphanages, schools and other ministries that care for the children abandoned
by the world.
William Barclay, in his commentary on Romans, tells how the people of that day
would abandon their unwanted children, leaving them to die of exposure or by
wild animals. The Christian would search out these children and raise them in
the name of Jesus.
INFANTICIDE is the practice of
killing infants. Study of the Old Testament reveals that it became a common
practice among God's people. They who had learned that "sons are a heritage of
the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward" (Psalms 127:3) turned against their
children as they turned away from God's Word.
Molech was the Canaanite deity to
which they sacrificed their children. (In a bizarre ritual they heated the
statue until it was red hot and threw their screaming child into his "waiting
arms.")
SECONDLY, we discover that the
warnings went unheeded. Israel imitated the practice of the unbelievers around
them. Infanticide became a common practice.
Contrary to the practice of the
pagans, God's will is not to sacrifice our children to pay for our own failures
and placate our own fears - but to do justice, love, kindness, walking humbly
with God.
In 2 Kings 15:16 we find
Menachem seeking to destroy the unborn. In 2 Kings 16:3 Ahaz walked in
the way of the Kings of Israel.
THIRDLY, a picture of certain
influences seems to emerge that led God’s people to reject the foundational
teaching of the sanctity of life and to embrace the pagan custom of infanticide:
1) THE ISRAELITES WANTED TO
BECOME LIKE OTHER PEOPLES.
»»»See 1 Samuel 8:19,20 and
Ezekiel 20. Looking toward the ungodly and being jealous over their
licentious living is an age-old problem.
2) THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE
LEADERS, WERE INFLUENCED BY UNGODLY WOMEN.
3) THE WORSHIP OF IDOLS LED THEM
TO PRACTICE INFANTICIDE.
4) THEY WERE INFLUENCED BY THE
OCCULT.
Finally, we can make some
observations about the practice of infanticide in Israel.
A spiritual vacuum cannot exist.
When people turn away from God, whether in the past or in the present, whether
in the teaching of the Church, in private life, or public policy, idolatry moves
in and cruelty to children quickly follows.
Idolatry, the worship of whatever
gods are elevated to the high places of the human heart is, in reality, only an
expression of the lower nature, It is a means of giving social sanction and
personal approval to the sordid practices of lust and hatred toward that which
interferes with our own plan.
Where idolatry is practiced, the
truth of God's Word is compromised and children, among others, become targets of
infanticide, exploitation and cruelty of every kind.
Our faithfulness to God's Word
can be measured by the way we treat our children. We live in an age termed by a
German writer as "Kinderfiendschaft." Children are the enemy. The 32 million
abortions, unprecedented sexual exploitation of children, the rising tide of
child abuse - all are indications that we are becoming like Israel who turned
from God, lusting after the practices of the peoples around them.
The final stage of degeneration
occurred when God’s people sank to the level of sacrificing their own children.
When God "gave His people up," would they finally see their sin and repent? Will
people today, especially in our churches, see how far we have lowered ourselves?
Will people be horrified and turn back to God the LORD?
We grow discouraged as we see our
nation and even many churches imitating Israel in its tragic rebellion against
God. But, there was hope then, even as there is now. God offered forgiveness and
restoration, then, as He does now, even from the horrible practices of
infanticide (abortion).
He who bore our sins in His body
on the tree also bore the sin of infanticide and cruelty to children. The grace
that saves the adult sinner can heal a damaged child and cause a nation to see
what is has done and turn in repentance. "He will turn the hearts of the fathers
to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers" Malachi 4:6).
This Bible study is available in booklet form from LFL.
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