God Values Life and Judges Righteously

 

The Bible teaches that God values all life, from conception to death, as He is the Creator and sustainer of all things. Human life is sacred and belongs to God, not to other people. Here are key points to understand:

 

1. Numbers 5 and the Misunderstanding of Miscarriage

• Some use Numbers 5:11-31, particularly the NIV translation, to claim the Bible supports abortion. This passage describes a ritual for uncovering adultery but does not mention miscarriage.

• The phrase “thigh falling away” or “womb shriveling” is understood by most scholars to mean barrenness, not a miscarriage. It speaks of a curse rendering a woman unable to have children if guilty, not the loss of an existing child.

• Importantly, the bitter water ritual does nothing on its own; it is God who judges and enacts consequences. God’s judgment is not a justification for humans to take life.

 

Numbers 5:11-31 describes a ritual to determine whether a woman accused of adultery is guilty or innocent. It involves the priest giving her “bitter water” to drink after a symbolic ceremony. Here’s the explanation focusing on barrenness:

 

The Key Idea:

The ritual does not cause a miscarriage. Instead, it is a test of faith, allowing God to judge directly. If the woman is guilty, the result of drinking the water (by God’s action) is described as her “thigh falling away” or her “womb shriveling.” These phrases are understood by scholars to symbolize barrenness—the inability to conceive and bear children in the future.

 

What Barrenness Means:

Barrenness is the condition of being unable to have children. In this context, if a woman is found guilty, she is cursed by God to be barren as a consequence of her sin. If innocent, she remains able to conceive and bear children, clearing her name.

 

Why This Matters:

• Miscarriage vs. Barrenness: Many translations, like the NIV, use language that suggests miscarriage, but the original Hebrew text does not support this interpretation. Scholars believe barrenness is the more accurate understanding.

• God’s Judgment: This is about God determining guilt and delivering a consequence. The bitter water itself has no power; it is symbolic.

 

This passage demonstrates God’s role as the ultimate judge, but it does not justify human actions like abortion, as only God has the authority over life and death.

 

2. God Knows and Creates Life

• Psalm 139:13-14: God formed David in the womb, intricately crafting each life.

• Jeremiah 1:4-5: Before a person is born, God knows them and has a purpose for their life.

• Ezekiel 16:20-21: Life belongs to God, not to humans. When Israel fell into idolatry, they sacrificed children to false gods, an act that deeply grieved the Lord.

 

3. Life Belongs to God, Not to Humans

• The argument “my body, my choice” assumes full ownership of the unborn child, but Scripture teaches that children belong to God. Each life is His creation, entrusted to human care.

• Deuteronomy 12:31: God detests child sacrifice. Choosing to end a child’s life for convenience, fear, or financial instability sacrifices life for personal benefit.

• John 14:6: God is the God of life. To take life is to reject His authority as the giver of life.

 

4. God Is the Judge of Life

• Romans 2:5-6: God, as Judge, has all knowledge and wisdom to determine life and death. Humans lack this authority.

• Deuteronomy 24:16: Children should not pay for the sins of their parents. Even in tragic circumstances like rape, the child is an innocent creation of God and should not bear the consequences of another’s sin.

 

5. Addressing Difficult Situations

• In cases of rape or abuse, the pain and trauma are significant, but the baby is not responsible for the sin of the father. The child is a unique individual, created by God and deserving of life.

• Instead of viewing the child as a reminder of pain, they can be seen as a testimony to God’s redemptive power, separating their identity from the sinful actions of their parent.

 

6. God’s Love and Grace

• God provides grace and forgiveness for all sins, including abortion, for those who repent and turn to Him.

• Deuteronomy 30:19: God calls us to choose life so that we and our children may live.

• Romans 8:1: There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. His forgiveness is available to all who seek it.

 

A Call to Protect Life

 

The Bible consistently upholds the value of life and calls believers to protect it. Abortion is not merely a personal choice; it is a rejection of God’s authority over life and death. Instead of ending a child’s life, we are called to trust in God’s provision and seek His wisdom in difficult circumstances.

 

Life is a gift, and protecting it honors the Creator who gives it.