CHILDREN ARE GOD'S GIFT TO MARRIAGE

* Genesis 33:5. "And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which GOD HATH GRACIOUSLY GIVEN thy servant."

* Genesis 48:9. "They are my sons, whom GOD HATH GIVEN ME in this place."

* Joshua 24:3. "I took your father Abraham...and multiplied his seed, and GAVE HIM ISAAC."

* Ruth 4:13b. "The LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION, and she bare a son."

 * 1 Chronicles 25:4-6. "Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hannaniah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: all these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And GOD GAVE TO HEMAN fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order..."

* Psalm 127:3-5, NEB. "Sons are a GIFT from the Lord and children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hand of a fighting man are the sons of a man's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; such men shall not be put to shame when they confront their enemies in court."

* Psalm 127:3, KNOX. "Fatherhood itself is the LORD'S GIFT, the fruitful womb is a reward that COMES FROM HIM."

Martin Luther comments on this verse,

"Genesis 9:1 leads us to believe that children are a gift of God and come solely through the blessing of God, just as Psalm 127:3 shows. The heathen, who have not been instructed by the Word of God, believe that the propagation of the human race happens partly by nature, partly by accident, especially since those who are regarded as most suited for procreation often fail to have children. Therefore the heathen do not thank God for this gift, nor do they receive their children as the gift of God."

* Isaiah 8:18. "Behold, I and the CHILDREN WHOM THE LORD HATH GIVEN ME are for signs and for wonders in Israel FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS, which dwells in mount Zion."