An unborn baby in the womb of a mother is called a “child” on twenty-five occasions (in twenty-four verses) in the Scriptures. Notice the words “with child” as a description of a pregnant woman:
1. In the Old Testament the phrase “with child” is found seventeen times in sixteen verses.
Here are the verses:
1. Genesis 16:11, “And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.”
2. Genesis 19:36, “Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.”
3. Genesis 38:25, “When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.”
4. Exodus 21:22, “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.”
5. I Samuel 4:19, “And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.”
6. II Samuel 11:5, “And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.”
7. II Kings 8:12, “And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.”
8. II Kings 15:16, “Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.”
9. Ecclesiastes 11:5, “As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”
10. Isaiah 26:17, “Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.”
11. Isaiah 26:18, “We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.”
12. Isaiah 54:1, “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”
13. Jeremiah 30:6, “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?”
14. Jeremiah 31:8, “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.”
15. Hosea 13:16, “Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.”
16. Amos 1:13, “Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:”
2. In the New Testament the phrase “with child” is found eight times in eight verses.
Here are the verses:
1. Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
2. Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
3. Matthew 24:19, “And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”
4. Mark 13:17, “But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”
5. Luke 2:5, “To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
6. Luke 21:23, “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.”
7. I Thessalonians 5:3, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”
8. Revelation 12:2, “And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.”
3. Does life begin before conception?
According to God’s Word, the Bible, life begins BEFORE conception. Most argue today whether it starts AT conception or AFTER. The Bible says BEFORE.
The Lord told Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I KNEW THEE; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations,” Jeremiah 1:5. It was said of Levi, “For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him,” Hebrews 7:10.
Jesus Christ suffered for my sins almost 2,000 years ago. How could this be? I was not even born yet. God, by His foreknowledge, already knew me, and in His omniscient mind’s eye I already existed. Thus the sacrifice of Christ was efficacious for me. Praise God! Long before my mother discovered she was pregnant, God already knew all about me. Life, to God, begins BEFORE HUMAN CONCEPTION.
Six times in the book of Revelation it speaks of the Lamb’s “Book of Life.” The names of those written in that book were written BEFORE the foundation of the world. Not after their physical birth, but before creation (Revelation 13:8; 17:8).
4. Thou shalt not kill.
The 6th Commandment is “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Jesus put it this way in Matthew 19:18, “Thou shalt do no murder.”
Consider what Moses said in the law, “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,” Exodus 21:22-23. This is not a reference to abortion, but the Lord said that the fruit of the womb is a c-h-i-l-d. A child, NOT a mass of tissue.
If the child, or any human, is killed, the Lord says, “life for life.” In the New Testament, God authorizes government to be the “... revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil,” Romans 13:4.
Genesis 9:6 says, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” God authorizes the human race to carry out capital punishment of murderers, but God never authorizes the human race the right to put to death the unborn. Capital punishment takes away the life of the guilty. Abortion takes the life of the innocent.
5. Mind boggling values.
If the Bible is true, and the unborn is a created being by God, what price tag can be put on it? What is your life worth? Is a career more valuable than a priceless human being? Are economics a factor? Overpopulation? Is saving embarrassment more valuable than a priceless human being? Is sexual activity more valuable? Of course not. Yet these are the treasured “values” that pro choice advocates cry for. Their rights, with no concern for responsibilities, are a sad commentary of our selfish society.
Whatever happened to living for others? Selfishness epitomizes itself in abortion—to abort because they might affect “MY” life? It is mind boggling.
6. Forgiveness always.
True Bible Christianity takes a narrow stand on sin. On the other hand, true Bible Christianity always ends with a message of forgiveness.
David said in the Psalms, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned...,” Psalms 139:13-16. God can forgive the worst and most selfish of sins. God loves you and I. We are all sinners at best and in need of mercy.
There is no sin too great that God cannot forgive. Please remember that if you are reading this and have had an abortion, God does not hate you! He loves you. He will forgive you and save you the moment you believe! God hates sin, but loves sinners. Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him (Jesus Christ), seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
7. What about ...
... overpopulation?
Walter Williams, professor of economics at George Mason University, studied and found out that there is enough habitable land space in the state of Texas for every family of four in America to have 2.9 acres. He also found out there is enough habitable land space in Texas, California and Alaska for every family in the world to have .9 acres.
Land, food supply and overpopulation are laughable to those in the know.
... Unwanted children?
Every child is wanted by someone. Even in our medium sized church there have been a few couples who could not have children. Waiting lists for adoption are well documented. Someone somewhere wants every baby that has ever been aborted. Often those who adopt are paying $7,000 to have one. Many of us reading this were “unwanted, unplanned” pregnancies, but our lives were not terminated because of this. Our parents learned to love us and care for us.
... economics?
Some say they can not afford to have a baby or another baby. Again, adoption is a viable alternative than to end the child’s life. How much does it cost to raise a child? It depends on how you want to live. If you are a salt-of-the-earth person who is not greedy and covetous, it’s not that much. Some have suggested the cost is $5,000 per year/per child. I think that is way too high, but it all depends on how you want to live. If you are a “my kids have got to have the best” parent, then maybe so.
A great negative in our economy that we will be running head on into soon, because of abortion, is the eroding tax base. Since the Supreme Court voted 7-2 in favor of abortion in the Roe vs. Wade case in 1973, there have been an estimated thirty-five million abortions. Thirteen and a half million of these would have been tax paying citizens by now. As America keeps getting older and more are retiring, where will the tax base come from to pay for social security, defense, education, etc? Besides economically, what other contributions would these men and women have made to our country if they had been allowed to live?
... incest?
In Genesis 19:36 it says, “Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.” This is a terrible, yet truthful story. Still the Scripture teach they were “with child.” These daughters had children who were named Moab and Benanmi who became the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites.
As horrible as this situation is, the father should be the one punished and not the innocent in the womb. If Government so severely punished men who committed incest or rape then men everywhere would fear to do this to women or daughters. Fear of retribution is the only way to make these sexual scourges disappear from society so innocent women and girls can live safely. Matthew 18:6 says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” God will deal with them severely, but government must also. One of the main reasons for government is the punishment of evildoers (I Peter 2:14). Rape was punishable by death under Israel’s law (Deuteronomy 22:23-24).
What about the innocent woman or daughter who is impregnated by a man against her will? Why should she have to suffer when abortion is an option? This is an extremely difficult question to answer. Our rejection of God and His Word in our society for so long has led us into this confusion. Some questions do not have easy answers—like this one. The availability of abortion on demand has given some men an excuse for any behavior. Thus some have become more irresponsible and incontinent. Why be responsible and temperate when there is a quick fix called abortion available? Abortion has become a birth control method that has cheapened the sanity of life and sexuality.
Two wrongs do not make a right. Rape and abortion are two wrongs. Incest and abortion are two wrongs. Government must start to severely and quickly punish rapists and men who commit incest. Only a severe “we will not tolerate this behavior” action from government will stop this behavior.
Nevertheless, a pregnant woman is still “with child” according to the Lord. The innocent child in the womb should never suffer for the misbehavior of an adult (Deuteronomy 24:16).
... the life of the mother?
Today because of the advancement of the medical field this is an extremely rare case. In fact abortions performed for rape, incest and the life of the mother are about 1% of the abortions performed. 99% are performed for convenience.
All through history there have been mothers like Rachel who have died in child birth (Genesis 35:16-19). This is very rare today. Todays medical advancements, including the c-section delivery makes it much safer today for women. The good Lord also promises to be with the godly women and oversee her delivery. I Timothy 2:15, “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace.”
There are still many complex questions for sure but for the Bible-Believer and his/her views on political science, the truth is God calls a pregnant woman “with child.” This innocent, defenseless, voiceless child has a right to live.
8. A word to the wise.
A teenager once asked his grandfather what he wore to have safe sex. The grandpa answered, “A wedding ring.” Another young man asked his grandpa how they avoided unwanted pregnancies. He replied, “We abstained.”
I’ve never met anyone who regretted abstaining from physical intimacy until marriage. Abstinence can sure save one from a lifetime of heartache. The government, churches and parents should cry out “Abstinence” so loud and so often it is all the youth of our country hear. Those who impregnate a woman should be required to support that child for the rest of their life. Men and young men should be expected to be examples of virtue and purity from the Presidency on down.
Abortion is wrong and should be reversed. The behavior of some men and women should be reversed also.
The shedding of innocent blood is a horrible sin in the sight of God. Consider: II Kings 21:16, “Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.” II Kings 24:4, “And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.” Psalms 106:38, “And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.”Proverbs 6:16-17, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” Jeremiah 7:6-7 “If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.”
