Much like a child or a pet that is adopted, you are adopted by God. An adopted child is brought into a family and raised as one of their own.
God does the same for us.
Adoption is another part of our identity in Christ. God sees us as His Sons and Daughters. In addition to being children of God, He sees us as other titles as well. They are: loved, blessed, sealed, and chosen.
The story of Moses
In the book of Exodus, the story of Moses and his upbringing is found. Pharaoh, the king, didn’t want the Israelites to become stronger than them, so he enslaved them. He ordered the male babies to be killed. Thankfully, the midwives didn’t listen to him and feared God more than him (Ex. 1:17).
Moses was born and his mother hid him for three months. When she couldn’t keep him quiet any longer for the fear of being caught, she put him in a tar-pitched basket along the Nile. His sister, Miriam, watched over him (Exodus 2:3-4).
The adoption of Moses
Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the river to bathe and found him. The baby was crying so she took pity on him. Miriam came to her and offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. Of course, she went and got her mother! (Ex 2:5-8).
Moses’ mother nursed him and cared for him. She even received wages from Pharaoh’s daughter to nurse him. When he was old enough to be weaned, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter to be her son (Exodus 2:9-10).
Of all the babies that Pharaoh’s daughter could have found and adopted to be her own, Moses was the one.
God had a plan for this wee one and his leadership for the people of Israel.
Adopted by God
Moses was too little to appreciate that he was adopted by a woman who cared for him and loved him as her own.
Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.
Acts 7:21 ESV
Adoption is like that. One person has a need and another fulfills it out of love.
Being adopted by God is like that too. We were originally under the burden of the law, like being slaves to the law. God sent his Son to be the redeeming sacrifice so that we could be adopted by God as His Sons.
But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5 ESV
God even chose us before the beginning of the world to be His Son.
He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
Ephesians 1:5 ESV
Adopted by God our Father
Every child awakes and cries whether they are adopted or not. I’ve been told that I would wake up from a nap and want my dad. I’d cry out for him but he was at work and I’d have to be picked up and cuddled by my mom.
In the same way as that little child, we cry out for our heavenly Father. He welcomes us into his family and changes our name from ‘son of slavery’ to ‘spirit of adoption.’
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:15 ESV
Eagerly awaiting adoption
When we adopted our puppy, we were excited and anxiously waited to see whether our adoption paperwork would be approved. And we hoped to get the puppy that was our first choice on the website.
After a week, I emailed and asked about the status of our puppy. A couple of days later they called to let us know that we could come to meet him. So we did and brought him home!
Beau is a lab mix and is now over 90 pounds. He is a ton of fun and a great addition to our empty nest family. He loves us both and we love him too.
Similarly, the waiting for the fulfillment of our adopted bodies to be redeemed in heaven keeps us waiting eagerly for Jesus’s return or when He calls us home.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23 ESV
Reflection Thoughts
- What is your adoption story? Have you been adopted by God yet? If not, you can check out this resource about how to have peace with God.
- List off the ways that you are thankful for being adopted by God. Spend time praying that list of thankfulness back to Him.
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A Bible study tool
Curious about a word in your scripture verse(s) that you are reading? Wondering what it means? You can download this free Word Bible Study worksheet and get to studying right away. Here is a link to the instructions as well. You will be asked to share your email and first name. Once you confirm your email, then you will get a link to download the worksheets from the God’s Plan Guided Steps Google Drive.
With any of the Bible study resources, you can spend as much time as you want or you can do what you can and save the rest for tomorrow.
No guilt or shame for not getting it all done in one day! The key is consistent study daily in your walk with God.
Resource Library
Did you know that there are other free resources in the resource library for you? Bookmarks to put into your Bible or a favorite book to save your spot. Bible verse cards that you can download to take on the go or put in your home office. And for the working woman who doesn’t have a ton of time, there is a daily Bible reading plan with one verse for each day of the month. There are study instructions to guide you as well.
