A son's inheritance, part 2

Yesterday we discussed the value of sons in God's design. Be sure to read that post before this one.

A son in ancient times had extreme value.

He perpetuated the life of his father. We understand genetics enough to know that a son would carry on many of his father's traits. We get the image of a father perpetuating himself in his son.

In Homer's Odyssey, which provides another glimpse into ancient thinking, nothing had higher honor than a worthy son. God used that ancient understanding to explain his view of his children.

Sons were seen as the strength of their fathers, something seen in Jacob's remark about his first-born son Reuben: “my might and the beginning of my strength” (Gen 49:3)

To sons were given the right to inherit family property and to carry the family name.
Overall, the image of sons in ancient times was of cherished people who grew into their family name and inheritance.

When we think of being "sons" in God's view, we can see ourselves as cherished people who carry his name and his image.

Yesterday we discussed how Paul intended to show that we all sons in God's design. We all are cherished, given his name and promised his inheritance.

There's no second place in God's plan.

A son's inheritance

Linda leaned forward over her open Bible and glared at me. "So does this apply to me?"

We were reading from Ephesians where Paul used the metaphor of adoption to explain God's redemption. But the kicker for Linda was that Paul said "Because you are sons...."

As a new believer, Linda detested language which seemed to exclude her. The text appeared to be for men and raised her suspicions that Christianity was a sexist religion that wanted to shut her out.

I hastened to assure her that ancient texts said "son" but really mean "sons and daughters," so she was included. Her feathers smoothed and she settled back for the rest of the lesson.

But I may have been partly wrong in my answer to her. Although I am absolutely convinced that God does not prefer males over females, I have been challenged recently by an observation from Russell D. Moore in his book, Adopted for Life, to look at this text in a different way.

Moore, dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, points out that Paul could have included the Greek word for daughters had he meant to include daughters in his statement. So Paul, by Moore's thinking, said "sons" because he meant "sons."

I have to be honest. As I read Moore's opening statements, my feathers bristled a little bit. But Moore went on. In the ancient culture where Paul wrote, sons and daughters received different inheritances. Had Paul said "sons and daughters," his readers would have assigned different inheritance practices to each.

In other words, they'd have recognized the complete inheritance given to sons while then applying the limited inheritance to the daughters. So, to the ancient reader, God would have given different inheritance to sons and daughters.

They wouldn't have questioned that. In fact, it would have fit their understanding well.

But if Paul intended for them to know that both male and female in Christ got the son's inheritance, they would have understood better the full provision of God's redemption.

The ancients couldn't apply their cultural biases to God. Instead, they could see that God treated all like first-born sons - male and female.

We are all "sons" in God's design.

Adopted for Life

I agreed to review Russell D. Moore's book, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches, because of my interest in pro-life issues. If we ask women in crisis pregnancy situations to bear their children, we should be willing to take those children into our own homes.

However, Moore's book is not a nuts and bolts book about adoption. Neither is it a recruiting manual for wanna-be adopters. In adopting two Russian boys a few years ago, Moore and his wife bring a tapestry of emotions and experiences to the table.

Moore weaves those experiences and emotions into our adoption as children of God, bringing a new vividness to those themes. He compares our adoption by God with bringing two little boys home from Russia, finding common themes in the situations.

Although Moore does include information on how to adopt if you feel God's leading, and the considerations involved in that decision, his insights into our spiritual adoption is worth the cost of the book alone.

This is a thoughtful book and one that will enrichen your walk with your heavenly Father. I highly recommend it.