THIS MONTH IS THE 45th ANNIVERSARY of the Supreme Court decision, Roe V Wade, that “found” a “right” to abortion in the constitution. Since the decision approximately 60 million babies have been aborted in the U.S. As we mourn this event, it is important to remember that abortion is a sin with a long history. It is an earthly manifestation of the spiritual warfare that rages about us daily.
Jesus told his disciples that the Devil “was a murderer from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44).
Satan hates humanity, and he aims his hatred at the most vulnerable amongst us, our children. This has been his pattern for millennia.
Think of Deuteronomy 12:31 written over 3,000 years ago. Moses warned Israel not to worship the god’s of the other nations. “They even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.” The Moabites, Ammonites, Canaanites, and Phoenicians all engaged in the abhorrent practice of infant sacrifice. They sacrificed their children to their gods. Since these people were unknowing members of Satan’s Kingdom (Jn. 12:31), the Devil was the ultimate author of this practice. He was the god to whom they sacrificed.
The Canaanites worshiped Baal, and infant sacrifice was its cornerstone In The Expositors Bible, F. W. Farrar quotes an ancient eyewitness. “Children were sacrificed by being put in a leather bag and flung down from the top of the temple, with the shocking expression that ‘they were calves, not children.” Another eyewitness in 8th century B.C. Carthage watched in horror as mothers threw their infants into a gigantic bonfire built to receive this, their most costly offering.
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| An infant offered to Baal |
The contrast is astounding. Our father in heaven is about protecting and nurturing children at all stages of development. “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech [or Baal]…I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 18:21). In addition, the sixth commandment prohibits murder. This includes the murder of infants at any stage of development. Because the practice of infanticide was murder, it was a capital crime. The penalty was death by stoning (Lev. 20:1).
The same dark spirit behind the ancient practice of infanticide motivates today’s practice of abortion. Abortion is just the modern version of the Devil’s ancient work. Like the Canaanites,we also sacrifice our children to our gods, but the ,motives are selfish. The pregnant mother doesn’t want the bother and hassle. Or she is determined to let nothing obstruct her career ambition, so she just eliminates the “obstruction.” In the modern world, it’s all about me.
In addition, Satan works through the massive abortion industrial complex, ready and willing to provide the abortion, motivated by nothing but money.
However, there is Good News. The ultimate expression of this unseen spiritual war against children occurred in the New Testament. The Devil manipulated the Jews and the Romans to slaughter the ultimate Child of the ultimate Parent, Jesus Christ. Meanwhile God proved that he was wiser than Satan. Through death God’s child destroyed the Devil and his work. Jesus took the capital punishment that every Believing parent,who once engaged in abortion, deserves. Here is the most amazing love. Jesus took the death penalty in our place.
How should we respond? First, we should hate infanticide, and its modern expression, abortion, as God hates it. Second, if you have been involved in an abortion, God wants you to run to the gospel. Receive God’s free love and forgiveness. God offers it to you at Christ’s infinite expense. God loves you so much that his Son took the death penalty in your place. Third, “keep yourself in the love of God” (Jude 21). Wash away the guilt and stain of this sin with God’s inexhaustible love. Do it regularly. Do it daily. God will be delighted.
