Are Birth Defects God’s Plan?

Genesis 3:8
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees in the garden.”

Most creationists are pro life because they see conception and birth as one of the clearest evidences of God’s original role as Creator. Scripture is filled with examples showing that God not only created the heavens and earth in six days, just as reported in several places in Scripture, but that He is still intimately involved with His creation.

In other words, God did not create the heavens and earth and then leave the earth to spin off on its own in space on automatic pilot as mindless natural laws took over. This means that there is no such thing as chance. Can birth defects, therefore, be ascribed to God’s will?

The Bible also tells us that God created a perfect creation, with no sin, death or defect of any sort. It was we humans who changed the creation when we sinned by abandoning God. He never left us. Unfortunately, our sinful condition brings its own results – including more sin, genetic defects and death. Jesus’ disciples once asked Him about a man born blind, “Master who did sin, this man or his parents?” Jesus’ answer shows us God’s intimate involvement in human life. He told the disciples that the man was born blind to show forth the works of God. Then Jesus miraculously healed his blindness.

There is no worse thing for us than sin and its results now and forever. But the lesson is if we allow God, our Creator, to work, there is nothing so evil that it cannot, in His hands, show forth His mighty works!

Prayer:
I lament, Lord, that because of sin, You no longer walk and talk with us as You did with our first parents before the fall. But I thank You that through Jesus Christ, we are restored to a relationship with You and that You speak with us each day in Your Word. Amen.

Notes:
Photo: 17th century depiction at Stokesay Castle of the serpent that tempted Eve. Courtesy of Nick Hubbard. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.