I am thinking about the ones who die in the womb by miscarriage, at birth or before they can leave the hospital? But if you can tell me also...what about children?
*Looking at David and Bathsheba, the baby didnt sin, his parents did.
*Looking at the children in Israel during the time of Moses birth and Jesus birth - all those children (in the womb and those birthed a year and under) who were killed by the Ruler of the land. Those children didnt sin and neither did their parents.
*God's Law says that Children who obey their parents will be blessed with long lives.
The only answers I can think of is that would seem biblical to me are (1) Perhaps that child was not in God's plans for what he has designed or decreed for that person's life.
(2) Perhaps something very horrible would happen to the child (scaring them or their family for life) and it wouldnt be something they could handle. God only allows or directs things to happen that he has made us capable of handling, giving us the grace to go through it, but sometimes there are some things that are beyond that "line" and God's soverign hand comes in and takes care of it in a lesser painful way. And, there are Christians who go through very traumatic situations and they can handle it because of God's grace. Christians can be comforted that whatever trial they go through God's grace is sufficient, and He will carry us through.
(3) Scripture tells us that we are to obey our parents, if we don't listen and we rebell against their rules or direction our life can be cut short. If they obey, they will grow up in the training and knowledge of the Lord and that will guide them and direct their path's even in their later years. But there's no guarantee that anyone will live a long life. Job's children were always sinning and He prayed for them all the time, but God drew the line at some point and they were all taken from this life. We have to make our own decisions in life, to obey or disobey - for older children and teens their lives can be cut short because of their sins.
(4) Don't dispair, whether it is babies or children who die, we can see them again, we are not without hope and assurance about this. God has revealed this to us in 2 Sam. 12:23 "But now he is dead. I can't bring him back. I shall go to him, but he will not return here to me.” and
(5) since God has created us he has numbered our days and knows the end of our life. "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Ps. 13:39
(2) Perhaps something very horrible would happen to the child (scaring them or their family for life) and it wouldnt be something they could handle. God only allows or directs things to happen that he has made us capable of handling, giving us the grace to go through it, but sometimes there are some things that are beyond that "line" and God's soverign hand comes in and takes care of it in a lesser painful way. And, there are Christians who go through very traumatic situations and they can handle it because of God's grace. Christians can be comforted that whatever trial they go through God's grace is sufficient, and He will carry us through.
(3) Scripture tells us that we are to obey our parents, if we don't listen and we rebell against their rules or direction our life can be cut short. If they obey, they will grow up in the training and knowledge of the Lord and that will guide them and direct their path's even in their later years. But there's no guarantee that anyone will live a long life. Job's children were always sinning and He prayed for them all the time, but God drew the line at some point and they were all taken from this life. We have to make our own decisions in life, to obey or disobey - for older children and teens their lives can be cut short because of their sins.
(4) Don't dispair, whether it is babies or children who die, we can see them again, we are not without hope and assurance about this. God has revealed this to us in 2 Sam. 12:23 "But now he is dead. I can't bring him back. I shall go to him, but he will not return here to me.” and
(5) since God has created us he has numbered our days and knows the end of our life. "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Ps. 13:39
We are in a fallen world, there is decay, disease and death. While our children are on earth we rejoice, and while parting is sorrowful to us, it is also sad to God. Psalm 116:15 tells us "The Lord's loved ones are precious to him; it grieves him when they die." Yet we know also that when they leave this world, they go to be with Jesus and that is a wonderful thing. As Christians we'll see them again when we step into eternity and join them in Heaven. The children are in Heaven with Jesus. They are with God. Steven Curtis Chapman and family said it best when they said The child they lost has been made whole again by Him (Jesus) and those who are participants in the tragic situations and the loved ones who are grieving will become whole again one day. They will still be scarred until they are with God, but they can move beyond grief to rise again and carry on as God wants us to.
When my twins died (before they were born) and when my grandmother died... I focused on God, His Word, and the fact that He does what is best all the time, even when we don't understand it and even if we never do. Job never learned all that God was doing behind the scenes and all that was happening with Satan, but God has given us His Word and we can learn from all these things and rest knowing that God is in control. There will be a time of greiving, but as Scripture says "Joy comes in the morning." Their will be better days and a brighter future both later in this life and in the one to come for those who belong to Jesus. This is where my hope and trust are placed, in Him and Him alone.
Books on Death and the Afterlife that might be helpful for additional study are:
"55 Answers to Q's about Life after Death," by Mark Hitchcock
The Book of Psalms, the Bible
"A Grace Disguised", by Jerry Sittser
"Ruthless Trust", by Brennan Manning's
"A Grief Observed", by C.S. Lewis
BIBLE VERSES
Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, My plans for you were made. Jeremiah 1:5
"My times are in your Hands" Ps. 31:15
"The Lord's loved ones are precious to him; it grieves him when they die" Ps. 116:15
"Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing by said "See how much he loved him." John 11:35-36
"We are confident, and desire rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8
"But now he is dead. I can't bring him back. I shall go to him, but he will not return here to me.” 2 Sam. 12:23
"All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Ps. 13:39
Lamentations 3:22-24, “Because of the Lord’s great love..for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait and rest in Him”
I will bless the Lord Who guides me; even at night, my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. Psalm 16:78
.
Books on Death and the Afterlife that might be helpful for additional study are:
"55 Answers to Q's about Life after Death," by Mark Hitchcock
The Book of Psalms, the Bible
"A Grace Disguised", by Jerry Sittser
"Ruthless Trust", by Brennan Manning's
"A Grief Observed", by C.S. Lewis
BIBLE VERSES
Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, My plans for you were made. Jeremiah 1:5
"My times are in your Hands" Ps. 31:15
"The Lord's loved ones are precious to him; it grieves him when they die" Ps. 116:15
"Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing by said "See how much he loved him." John 11:35-36
"We are confident, and desire rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8
"But now he is dead. I can't bring him back. I shall go to him, but he will not return here to me.” 2 Sam. 12:23
"All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Ps. 13:39
Lamentations 3:22-24, “Because of the Lord’s great love..for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait and rest in Him”
I will bless the Lord Who guides me; even at night, my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. Psalm 16:78
.
