The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Brenda Rivera of Orlando, Florida from the tape, GC 1301-S, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 21."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1982. All Rights Reserved.

Question (an excerpt from a question asked about working mothers)

Should a mother nurse her baby?

Now Hannah becomes to us a model of the biblical standard, that is, that the man is the bread winner and the woman is the one who commits herself to the husband, to the home, to care for the widows, to show hospitality to strangers, to wash the saint’s feet and on and on, as 1 Timothy says. Hannah becomes a perfect illustration to that, because she would not go with her husband until, you remember the child, had reached the age where he was weaned, she saw this as her responsibility. 

I really feel that, that it is the obvious intention of God that mothers nurse babies, I mean I don’t think you have to be Phi Beta Kappa to figure that out. I mean when a mother has a baby she gets milk to feed that baby, I mean that’s just basic. I mean when you have a baby you don’t all of a sudden deliver 48 bottles of Simalac or whatever. You get milk in the place God intended that milk to be delivered, and that I believe is God’s plan. Now there are some medical or physical reasons why can’t happen, but it is the proximity of that child to that mother in those early years that is very profound in effect on the life of the children, of that child. And I think that’s a very obvious thing and I think Hannah provides a great model for us. 

I think the mother today, who has a baby, sticks the baby as soon as she can get over the trauma of birth, into some other deal and splits to go to work, forfeits the God given responsibility, she is saved in child bearing, that is she is delivered from a second-class consideration, in the fact that she has the greatest impact and influence on that life at its most formative time. So I really believe that God’s standard is for anytime, even today. 

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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