[Jody M]

As an adoptee who grew up in the church and Sunday School, I am amazed that I never identified with the adoptees and orphans in scripture. I just was not aware and I wish I had been. Moses, the most famous adoptee in scripture and his adoption story being the baby found in the bulrushes by Pharoah's daughter is not hidden. Also Esther who was orphaned at a young age due to her parents deaths, was adopted by her uncle Mordecai. Samuel who was born to Hannah left his mother at a very young age to live in the house of Levi the priest and grow up to serve the Lord. His mother visited him yearly I believe and so he was separated from her during his growing up years. Also Joseph who was abandoned my his jealous brothers and sold into slavery lived separated from his birth family for much of his childhood, youth and adulthood- until he was reunited with his siblings after He became a honorable ruler. If you have a chance, read these biblical accounts of persons who were orphaned, adopted, or separated from their birth parents and families. It encouraged me to see that adoption has been around for a long long time and a way God allow families to be formed when circumstances prevent birth parents from parenting and when other couples wish to have a child and struggle with infertility.
Have you ever identified with those in the scriptures who were adopted, or struggled with infertility, or were separated from their birth family? Please share.

[newmama]

When i first considered adopting my son, I held back due to my single status. I wasnt initially sure of adoption in my status was right and the only text I really back on was the text in James about true religon being that we care for orphans and widows in their distress. I also think we have the greatest example for adoption being God adopting us as HIs children but i never really considered Joseph, Moses or Samuel.
Thanks for pointing it out
Joyce

[longingtomeetyou]

Originally Posted by newmama

When i first considered adopting my son, I held back due to my single status. I wasnt initially sure of adoption in my status was right and the only text I really back on was the text in James about true religon being that we care for orphans and widows in their distress. I also think we have the greatest example for adoption being God adopting us as HIs children but i never really considered Joseph, Moses or Samuel.
Thanks for pointing it out
Joyce

yes we are adopted into Gods family if we ask Jesus into our hearts....
yes im adopted! Jesus

and God is the best ever!!

[One_Happy_Momma]

The Son of God, Jesus, Himself was the foster child of Joseph.

[FullQuiverMamma]

I love this thread!!! I have so many times been ecouraged by thinking about how we are all adopted children of God.

[AveryStreet]

As a cross-cultural adult adoptee, and follower of Jesus Christ, I identify a lot with Moses. I find it so encouraging that God used both Moses' natural and adopted cultural backgrounds towards accomplishing His will and purpose for His people.
It was no mistake that Moses grew up in the courts of Pharoah...what other Israelite could possibly be more equipped, qualified, and prepared to re-enter those same courts years later on behalf of God and the Israelites?
As an adoptee who struggled growing up with ethnic identity and always felt that God made me the wrong ethnicity, being able to relate with Moses's own similar struggle with racial identity, and then to see how God redeemed, affirmed, and used Moses's unique ethnic and cultural upbringing to bring deliverance for an entire nation...WOW, it's changed my whole outlook on everything.

[bromanchik]

Originally Posted by Jody M

Moses, the most famous adoptee in scripture and his adoption story being the baby found in the bulrushes by Pharoah's daughter is not hidden.

It always kills me when people point to Moses as a great adoption story.

1. Moses was seperated from his birthfamily because his adoptive family was killing all the babies of his race. The birthfamily had no choice.

2. He fled from his adoptive family after killing one of their race for hurting one of his race.

3. He only came back to the land of his birth to lead his people out of it. With God's help, he sent plagues and death.


How is this a good example of an adoption story?

[Mockingbird]

bromanchik,
Granted the life of Moses was NOT a great adoption story for the adoptive family--but it was for the adoptee (Moses), who was able to survive by being adopted (rather than being slaughtered), and went on to lead a life of purpose.

[FullQuiverMamma]

Originally Posted by bromanchik

It always kills me when people point to Moses as a great adoption story.

1. Moses was seperated from his birthfamily because his adoptive family was killing all the babies of his race. The birthfamily had no choice.

2. He fled from his adoptive family after killing one of their race for hurting one of his race.

3. He only came back to the land of his birth to lead his people out of it. With God's help, he sent plagues and death.


How is this a good example of an adoption story?

Notably, and flying in the face of modern (racist?)views of not blending ethnicities in families, Moses also married an Ethiopian!!!

[Biblemom]

Moses is an adoptive success story. Look at what he was put through, knowing what had happened to he and his family. Like everyone else he was not perfect. So many adoptive/foster children have lived through and seen more than anyone person should have to know/see in their lifetime, yet look at what he was able to accomplish for God!

[bromanchik]

Originally Posted by Biblemom

Moses is an adoptive success story. Look at what he was put through, knowing what had happened to he and his family. Like everyone else he was not perfect. So many adoptive/foster children have lived through and seen more than anyone person should have to know/see in their lifetime, yet look at what he was able to accomplish for God!

I really don't get this from an adoptive parent perspective. If you adopted and your child killed someone, ran away, came back years later to work against you and allied with his/her birthfamily, would you really see that as a successful adoption? I think not. Moses went on to do great things not because of the guidance and nurturing he got from his adoptive family, but despite what he was taught by his adoptive family.

i guess I prefer the adult adoption of Ruth as a good "adoption" story.