Widows and Fatherless Children

Bible Reading: Exodus 22-24

Exodus 22:22-24 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

God takes the care of widows and orphans seriously.  He instructed the children of Israel not to afflict them.  He also warned them that if they did and their cry came before him, he would return vengeance upon those who did it. 

A widow is a woman whose husband has died and her children are fatherless.  Unfortunately, our culture has many women with children and no husbands but the dad is not dead!  Either he abandoned his family or she decided she would rather live without a husband.  The result is fatherless children.  

What is the answer?  First, teach and model Godly, Biblical marriage.  Young people need to know what God's Word says about marriage and Christians need to fear the Lord when they marry and keep their covenant of companionship with their spouses.  Second, Christians need to honor widows who are widows indeed and help to care for them.  Our wars produce some widows but disease and hazardous jobs produce others.

The New Testament tells us what true religion really is:

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

God has not changed his mind on this matter.  We need to be compassionate toward those who are disenfranchised and help them to fulfill their calling by God!

In Christ,
Rody