Maranatha Messenger

WHAT TO DO
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO

Do Right
(Part 2)


DOES GOD HAVE A PLAN FOR MY UNBORN CHILD?

David gave us this great insight in Psalm 139. He said,

Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them (Psalm 139:13-16).

Notice four thoughts that David shared concerning his own birth.

1. First of all, David informs us that the womb is a place of protection (v. 13). The Hebrew word cakak {covered} means to screen or protect. The safest place in the entire world for an unborn baby should be the mother’s womb.

2. Secondly, David tells that conception is a work of God (v.1 4). The tiny little baby placed in the mother’s womb is a creation of God. Therefore, David cried out saying, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works” (v. 14b). Child birth is a miraculous work of God!

3. Thirdly, David informs us that the eye of God is on the fetus (v. 16a). The Hebrew word golem {substance} literally means embryo or fetus. Concerning this verse, Hebrew scholar Willem VanGemeren said, “Even when unborn (‘when I was made in the secret place,’ v. 15) and little more than a physical being (‘my frame’; lit., ‘my bone’) in the womb (‘when I was woven together in the depths of the earth’), the Lord had a purpose for the undeveloped embryo (‘my unformed body,’ v. 16).[1] The Creator of life had a purpose for King David.

4. Fourthly, David explains that an embryo is a person. Take a pen and circle these important words. Mark the phrase “all my members.” This is a reference to the body parts of David. Now take your pen and circle the words “were fashioned.” This expression comes from the Hebrew word yatsar which means to form, frame or create. David’s bodily members were in the process of being formed by God and written in a book! He is describing a person with hands, feet and eyes. Nevertheless, notice the last phrase of verse 16, “when as yet there was none of them.” In other words, even though the fetus was not completely formed, God still describes him as a person. While his hands were developing David was a person. While his eyes were growing David was a person. While his face was maturing, David was a person. This scripture clearly teaches that the embryo is a person.

The third question we must answer, does God call people to His service from the mother’s womb?

CALLED FROM THE MOTHER’S WOMB?

He did Isaiah! Isaiah said, “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant” (Isaiah 49:1-2; 5).

1. God qara' {called} or commissioned Isaiah to be a prophet even while he was yet in his mother’s womb (v. 1a). God fashioned and formed Isaiah to be the servant of Jehovah from his mother’s belly.

2. What about Jeremiah? Jeremiah said, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 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 1:4-5). God qadash {sanctified} and nathan {ordained} Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations even before he came out of his mother’s womb. God set him aside to this sacred calling even before he was formed in his mother’s belly.

3. What about John the Baptist? Without a doubt, God had a special plan for John the Baptist. Luke tells us “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb” (Luke 1:15). Only a living person can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, John was filled with the Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

[1]Willem A. VanGemeren, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Psalms, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 5:838.