Page 115 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Adoption: An Inheritance from God

a person receives a new life and a new nature. In justification, he or
she receives a new standing. And in adoption, he or she receives a
new position.

Old Testament examples of adoption show that certain customs
were common in the times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. According
to these customs, a childless husband and wife could adopt an adult
son who would serve them in life and bury them at death. For this
service, the adopted son would receive an inheritance unless the
parents had a natural-born son at a later time. If this happened, the
natural-born son would become the heir and the adopted son would
give up his rights.

This custom may help to explain the relationship of Abraham
and Eliezer (Genesis 15:2–4). In addition, if a wife were unable to
bear children, she might provide a slave to produce children for her
husband (See Genesis 16:2). Should the slave maid bear children, the
wife, according to law, could not send her away. This helps to explain
Abraham’s concern over Sarah’s conduct (Genesis 21:11–12).

Other examples are found in the Old Testament. Moses was adopted
by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:10). Queen Tahpenes took the son of
an Edomite exile named Genubath into the royal family of Egypt and
raised him as an adopted son (1 Kings 11:20). Esther, who became a
queen of Persia, was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai as his
own daughter (Esther 2:7, 15).

A careful study of the Old Testament shows that the concept of
sonship was more important than the concept of adoption. Likewise,
being a child of God by divine regeneration receives primary emphasis,
but the concept of adoption is not excluded.

We notice some interesting facts about adoption in Exodus 4:22–23;
Deuteronomy 14:1–2; 32:18–20; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 1:10; 11:1; and
Malachi 1:6 and 3:17. First, we see in all these scriptural references
that the people of Israel are identified as the sons of God. Second, we
note that Exodus 4:22–23, Deuteronomy 32:18–20, Jeremiah 31:9,
and Malachi 1:6 refer to sonship by birth. Third, Deuteronomy 14:1–2,
Hosea 1:10 and 11:1, and Malachi 3:17 imply adoption as sons.

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