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Some feel that abortion isn't murder because the foetus, or even embryo, isn't alive. They admit the foetus/embryo is growing, but insist that (somehow) life isn't involved. "I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth" (Daniel 10:21). The LORD Creator says, through David, that He sees the unborn and that they are written in His Book. "13 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...
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect [i.e., embryo, foetus, not yet fully formed]; and in Thy Book all my members [limbs] were written, which in continuance [or, period of time] were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them [not yet fully formed]" (Psalm 139:13-16). David said that the LORD recognized him as a person from conception, while his little foetus body still had no limbs, or "members" . If God recognized him as a person, should we not conclude that every foetus from the moment of conception is a person? Since "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34), would not God treat all foetuses as people?
The phrase in the King James Version, "my substance, yet being unperfect" (Psa 139:16) comes from the Hebrew word golem, Strong's number 1564, means "embryo" or "foetus". "verse 16 'my substance, yet being unperfect' [Psalm 139:16]. One word in the original, which means strictly anything rolled together as a ball, and hence is generally supposed to mean here the foetus or embryo." --quote by J. J. Stewart Perowne, from "The Treasury of David" by C. H. Spurgeon. Even at conception, when the new human is "rolled together as a ball," God records that a human being has begun its journey of existence. "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy Book all my members were written" (Psalm 139:16). Why can't ignorant man learn from an All Wise God? At that moment of conception, the Power of God's Creation begins another human life. That human life will exist for an Eternity.
If allowed to be born, and allowed to mature to moral agency, that human life will have the privilege of exercising his/her free will in the "image of God." Whether this life will honour God with right choices and ultimately abide in Heaven with his/her Saviour and Father, or whether this life will justify God's punishment in Hell with wrong choices-- one thing is certain. The child, though yet unborn, is none the less a child. Whether the unborn demonstrates his zeal for life by the unusual "kicks" and "punches" from the womb, or whether the babe leaps "for joy" at the entrance of his/her Saviour, as did the unborn John the Baptist at the entrance of his unborn Saviour, Christ Jesus-- the unborn child is none the less a child.
"41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my LORD should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the LORD. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the LORD, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Luke 1:41-47). (Please note, dear Catholic readers, Mary needed saving by her Saviour just like every other human being does. Please see our article "An Earnest Appeal to Roman Catholics ---- Or, Roman Catholicism Examined in Light of the Scriptures".)
Even before a woman outwardly shows the form of the one growing inside her, she is said to be "with child".
• "And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child..." (Genesis 16:11).
• "Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father" (Genesis 19:36).
• "...she is with child by whoredom" (Genesis 38:24).
• "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her..." (Exodus 21:22).
• "Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered..." (1Samuel 4:19).
• "And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child" (2Samuel 11:5).
• "And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do... and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child" (2Kings 8:12).
• "Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs" (Isaiah 26:17).
• "Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 1:18).
• "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" (Matthew 1:23).
• "To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child" (Luke 2:5).
• "...as travail upon a woman with child..." (1Thessalonians 5:3).
• "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered" (Revelation 12:2). If Scripture pronounces the foetus to be a child, and Scripture is God's Own Word, then God verifies to all who would listen, "Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of The Judgment" (Matthew 5:21). "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee" (Isaiah 49:15). "And the LORD said... for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood" (Hosea 1:4).
Life begins when God tells it to begin. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). If the LORD is mighty enough to GIVE life (i.e., "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me" [Psalms 119:73]), then the LORD is mighty enough to command WHEN life begins.
"1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, Who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?... 22 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach" (Genesis 30:1-2,22).
Almighty is His Name. "By the God of thy father, Who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, Who shall bless thee with blessings of Heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb" (Genesis 49:25).
It is only the providence and permission of the Almighty Life Giver that determines if a closed womb will bear the fruit of life.
Elkanah "4 gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb... 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?... 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 < span style="color:red">And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head... 19 Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD" (1Samuel 1:4-5,8,10-11,19-20). When the Almighty Life Giver commands life to begin, even the natural forces of age and impossibility cannot stop the unleashing of that Power of Life.
• "11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son... 1Sam 21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him" (Genesis 18:11-14,21:2).
• "Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him Faithful Who had Promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable" (Hebrews 11:11-12).