How does the sovereignty of God impact adoption advocacy?

In any conversation with prospective adoptive parents, this question is important for two reasons. First the topic of adoption has a very personal dimension. Typically the conversation about family size takes place between a husband and wife. But in the case of adoption, couples may invite adoptive parents to give their advice and share their experiences.

Secondly, for many adoption advocates there is a deep sense of urgency. Kristin and I had the privilege of attending a Christian adoption convention last year. During one of the workshops, we listened to an intense debate between two earnest Christians. One brother had seen malnourished orphans in China and spoke convincingly of the need to mobilize God's people immediately to rescue these children. Another brother also spoke convincingly about the need to educate prospective adoptive parents about both the risks and rewards of adoption. Passions were aroused on both sides. How should Christians grapple with these kinds of issues? As Christians, we need to have a doctrinal foundation from which to speak.

Consider this definition of God's sovereignty found in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. God...works out everything in conformity to the purpose of His will. In other words, He has a plan and everything is going according to plan. We've all been in situations where things haven't gone according to our plan. But God isn't like us. He actually has the power to execute His plans.

At the same time, He gives His people the privilege of freely making decisions of all kinds. Decisions about marriage, about children, about work. And God's sovereignty and our decision making privileges exist at the same time.

Here's an interesting story from 1Kings 17, during the time of the prophets, around 870 BC.

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."

"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die."

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.' "

She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

What strikes me about this story are the two realities of God's sovereignty and His people's choices. Observe God's words to Elijah. “I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” How does this command unfold? Does Elijah give this widow a heavy handed order? No. Instead he asks her, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink? And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

The question “would you?” and the word “please” are significant. Elijah is showing that he is beholden to the widow's decision and at the same time Elijah trusts that the Lord is working out His plan. Elijah is not about to take the bread by force.

The widow explains her desperate situation to Elijah who then comforts her with the Word of the Lord. “Don't be afraid. The flour and oil will not run out.”

Then the widow went away. Notice again the freedom in this small detail of the narrative. She left Elijah's presence. That she came back to Elijah with bread shows that she is putting her faith in the Lord and freely giving of her material sustenance.

This issue of faith in God seems of importance. Anything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23. Do the believers we are speaking with have the faith, however small it may be, to decide to adopt? If so, then we can feel confident as we encourage them to go forward.

What if they don't sense God' call to adoption? Consider this verse from Ephesians 2.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If they don't sense God's call to adoption, then we can give them the freedom to decline. We can be assured that God is in control and is working out His plans. We can believe that God has other good work for His people, work that he prepared in advance for them to do. And we can believe that God will raise up Christian couples who do have the calling to adopt. And we can entrust every waiting child into His loving hands.