It’s Baby Dedication weekend again (May 21-22). To remind us of how special these little ones are, City News looks at five world-changing babies from the Bible.
This weekend (May 21 and 22) at City Harvest Church, proud parents will be dedicating their precious newborns to God.
Veronica Tang, the pastor who teaches the baby dedication class says that, for her, “Baby dedication is acknowledging that God is the giver of my baby and I want to thank Him for entrusting this baby to me. I want to walk in partnership with Him and to bring up my child in His ways.”
Psalm 139 says that “formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Christians believe that every child is created by God and has a purpose and a destiny.
These five Bible babies are proof.
Rescued From The Nile by Nicholas Poussin
MOSES, THE BEAUTIFUL BABY
Moses was such a captivating infant that his mother defied the Pharaoh’s order to throw their newborn sons into the river (Exodus 1:22 – 2:2). Instead, she kept him hidden for three months and when she could no longer hide him, she put him in a basket and floated him down the river. This beautiful baby boy was saved by the Pharaoh’s daughter, raised as a prince and eventually became the one who led the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt and on their way to the Promised Land.
Infant Samuel by Sir Joshua Reynolds
SAMUEL, THE LITTLE MINISTER
After crying her heart out at the altar of God, Hannah finally received her miracle baby. Hannah fulfilled her vow the Lord God and dedicated baby Samuel to the temple after he was weaned. From that moment, “Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 2:18-19). That cute little ephod-wearing boy grew up to become the prophet who anointed David as the new king, replacing Saul.
The Binding Of Isaac by Domenichino
ISAAC, THE MIRACLE BABY
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born to him, old even by Old Testament’s standard. It was nothing short of a miracle. His mother, Sarah, laughed when the angels told Abraham that she would be pregnant with child. Later she said “God made me laugh” when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:6-7). When Isaac was a young boy, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice him on a mountain. Abraham obeyed the Lord, prepared to give up his most precious possession—and G0d provided a ram in place of Isaac. Despite growing up in a family beset with more drama than your favorite Korean series, Isaac became a man that God delighted in and he “began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” (Genesis 26:13)
Jesus And John the Baptist by Bartolomé Esteban Perez Murillo
JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE ANOINTED BABY
John, like Samuel, was conceived after his parents had prayed very hard. His father, Zacharias, could not believe the angel’s proclamation that a son would be born to him, so the angel shut his mouth and Zacharias could only speak after John was born. When Zacharias opened his mouth to speak, Luke 1:41 says, “And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, ‘What kind of child will this be?’ And the hand of the Lord was with him.”
John was Jesus’ cousin. While John was still in his mother’s womb, he could recognize Jesus in his aunt’s. Luke 1:41 says, “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Simeon’s Song Of Praise by Rembrandt
JESUS, SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
Jesus was conceived miraculously when an angel appeared before Mary and said, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.” (Luke 1:31-32) When Jesus was born, his birth was announced by a heavenly host. When he was brought to the temple to be presented to God, the holy man Simeon declared that his eyes had seen God’s salvation. Jesus grew up, Man and God, and brought salvation to the world through his death on the Cross.
