Jin Xiu's Journey

November is national adoption month. Here is excepts from an essay that my cousin wrote Adoption is a natural unity that has been threaded throughout history. Throughout the bible and the Talmud it is written that adoption is as natural as giving birth to a child. It always presents adoption as a positive, gracious act that is part of God’s plan. It is a blessing that unites two destined souls together. The bible says that children are not a right -- they are a gift from God: children are a heritage from the Lord. (Psalm 127:3) and the Talmud states, "Whoever brings up an orphan in his home is regarded as though the child had been born to him." (Sanhedrin 19b) The most famous biblical adoption is that of Moses. When pharaoh ordered all male children slain, Moses mother placed him in a basket to save his life. Baby Moses was plucked from the Nile River and saved from death by Pharaoh's daughter. He was eventually adopted into this royal family and was given the name Moses, “from the sea”. Raised as an adopted Egyptian prince, Moses becomes the redeemer of his people, the Jews, from slavery. He went on to become a faithful and blessed servant of God. He was part of God’s overall plan for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. (Exodus 2:1-10)There are many other biblical adoptions woven into the bible. Abraham adopted his servant Eliezer; Abraham, refers to Eliezer as his heir, and calls him "son of my house", that is, his heir presumptive; (Gen. 15:2), The Talmudic sage Abaye often quotes wise sayings in the name of his foster mother, and Mordechai raised his orphaned cousin, Esther. The Book of Esther says, "And he adopted Haddasah, i.e., Esther...and when her mother and father died, Mordechai took her to him as a daughter." (Esther 2) . Esther, became a prominent female figure in the Old Testament. Esther became a queen and God used her to bring deliverance to the Jewish people. Esther appears in the Bible as a "woman of deep piety, faith, courage, patriotism, and caution, combined with resolution; a dutiful daughter to her adopted father, docile and obedient to his counsels, and anxious to share the king's favour with him for the good of the Jewish people. There must have been a singular grace and charm in her aspect and manners, since 'she obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her'. Perhaps the most beautiful statement about adoption concerns Michal, the wife of King David. According to the Bible, “she never had children all her life” (2 Samuel 6:23); yet the Bible also mentions her five sons (2 Samuel 21:8). Noticing this discrepancy, the Talmud remarks, "Her sister Merab gave birth to them and she raised them, therefore they are called by her name. This teaches that “ whoever brings up an orphan in his home is regarded, according to Scripture, as though the child had been born to him." (Sanhedrin 19b) A similar passage occurs in the midrash, where the question arises about what Hebrew name to use for a woman raised by a foster father. The decision is to use the foster father's name, because "he who brings up a child is to be called its father, not he who gave birth." (Exodus Rabbah 46:5) Jesus was also adopted. His earthly father Joseph adopted him. In the New Testament, God's one and only Son, Jesus Christ, was conceived through the Holy Spirit instead of through the seed of a man (Matthew 1:18). He was adopted and raised by His mother's husband, Joseph, who took Jesus in as his own child. Adopting parents can learn a great deal from Joseph! This man of God was truly unselfish; he was willing to rearrange his whole life in obedience to God. Joseph gladly accepted Jesus, providing Him with all the love, encouragement, and guidance that a son needs from a parent. Even though one might Passover these unions as insignificant, It shows us the importance of adoption to god. In Jesus case, the gospel Mathew traces the bloodline not through his biological mother, Mary, but through his adoptive father Joseph. This fact is very significant, for it shows us that god does not view biological children as more desirable than adopted children…for his own son was adopted.