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Why Orphans

Why have we established Orbus as a mission project to help orphans specifically?

There are various reasons, but out of love for and obedience to God is one of the main ones, as is the fact that people have an inbuilt love and compassion for orphans. The love of a parent for their child is unique. As powerful as it is though, it is just a faint reflection of the immense love that our Father in heaven has for each of His children. It is easy to want to show some love to a child who is deprived of parental love, and this is not surprising given we are all made in the image of our Father God.

It is clear in God's Word, the Bible, that God has a special concern and love for those who do not have parents. Like parents do for their children, so God protects, stands up for and defends orphans. This highlights the role of God as our Father God (Deuteronomy 32:6 and Matthew 6:8-9).

The following are some of the passages from the Old Testament and the New Testament where God communicates this to us :

"Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword" (Exodus 22:22-24)

“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." (Deuteronomy 10:18)

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands." (Deuteronomy 24:19)

"You are the helper of the fatherless." (Psalm 10:14)

"Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds--his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." (Psalm 68:4-5)

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." (Psalm 82:3)

"Defend the cause of the fatherless..." (Isaiah 1:17)

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

So God’s concern for the orphan is clear. It then follows that if we love God, we should also share this same concern and we should care for those who are loved by Him.

God uses means doesn’t He? As a part of God's Fatherly provision for those who do not have parental love in this life, His people are to actively step in and take care of these children with and for Him.

There are numerous other passages where it is made clear that God has a special consideration for the fatherless, the weak, the destitute and the poor.

Isaiah 10:1-2 says, "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."

The poor, the fatherless and widows are expressly mentioned here, because they do not have the resources to help themselves or to defend themselves. Those with money, resources or connections are less likely to be oppressed and are better positioned to defend themselves.

But as John Calvin says, “God takes peculiar care of the poor (Ex 22:23, Deut 15:9 and 24:15), though they are commonly despised.  He does not allow oppression inflicted on them to pass unpunished.  From this consideration, the poor and weak ought to derive consolation and more calmly endure distresses and afflictions, because they learn that God takes care of them and will not permit injustice done to them to go unpunished.”

The Orbus ministry is a challenge and an opportunity for us to show these disadvantaged children of Malawi that although they have lost one family they have something even better: they have a living Father God who loves His children, who will protect them and provide for them. God uses means, and so these children also have a widespread family on earth, God's people.

As Charles Spurgeon once said: "When a child is left without its natural protector, our God steps in and becomes his guardian: so also when a man has lost every object of dependence, he may cast himself upon the living God and find in Him all that he needs. Orphans are cast upon the fatherhood of God, and He provides for them. No trust is so well warranted by facts, or so sure to be rewarded by results, as trust in the invisible but ever-living God.

Better have God and no other friend than all the patrons on the earth and no God. To be bereaved of the creature is painful, but so long as the Lord remains the fountain of mercy to us, we are not truly orphaned."

 

 


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