Breastfeeding Bible Study 

© 1995, 1999  
written by Cyndi Egbert  
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How is breastfeeding praised in the Bible?  
Luke 11:27 

What level of importance is breastfeeding given in Scripture?    
Genesis 21:7, 49:25 

Does an infant need any other nourishment? 
Hebrews 5:12-14 

Is breastfeeding only for nourishment?  
Isaiah 66:10-13 

Think about the significance of the functions accorded  
to "father" and "mother."  
Isaiah 49:23 

There are some basic needs that God gave babies:  
 Physical contact  Numbers 11:12 
 Shared sleep  Luke 11:7 
 Love and care of mother  Exodus 2:1-10 
 Self-sacrificing love  1 Kings 3:16-27 
(The situation in this story could have been SIDS or the mother may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Sober mothers DO NOT pose any danger to their babies!)  

Do you see ways in which breastfeeding encourages the meeting of these needs?  

Does it seem right that a loving God would give babies needs that should not be met?  
Philippians 4:19 

What do these verses say about how a nursing mother feels about her baby?  (Or should feel?)  
1 Thessalonians 2:7, Isaiah 49:15 

How does her baby feel about her/the milk? 
1 Peter 2:2, Psalm 22:9 

What does the Bible give as a reason for no milk? 
Hosea 9:14 

What does God think about a refusal to breastfeed (and those who would discourage it)? 
Lamentations 4:3,4, Job 24:9, 39:13-17 

What does the Bible say about weaning?  Are these accounts consistent with weaning a baby or young toddler?  Perhaps an older child (age 3 or 4)?  
Genesis 21:8, 1 Samuel 1:23, 24 

Why did Job wish his mother had not nursed him? 
Job 3:12, 13 

Hopefully you began each portion of this study with prayer.  I would ask that you pray again before you read the following Scripture.  Please meditate on the significance of Christ's statement and how it relates to today's society:  
Luke 23:26-31  
(Alternate Interpretation) 

If you have questions about any part of this study or are unsure of the relevance of a particular verse, please ask about it. 
 
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Luke 23:26-31 
From the New King James: 

-26- Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. 
-27- And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 
-28- But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 
-29- "For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' 
-30- "Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' 
-31- "For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" 

The usual interpretation of this verse says that the people will be in despair at the destruction that surrounds them and those who have small children and babies to care for will be under more duress than others. 
Consider, if you will, an alternate point of view.  (My thanks to Dave and Kathy Arns for sharing this insight in "God's View of Child Training") 
. 
"weep for yourselves and for your children." 
Whatever it is will be worse than what Jesus is going through right at that moment in time, being led to His execution. 
"For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' 
We are already in those days, are we not? Childlessness is praised and nursing is abhorred.  Jesus said this was worse than being put to death on a cross. 
"For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" 
Indeed these things are very publicly stated and actually honored.  Abortion is being practiced "in the green wood", WHAT is being done "in the dry"?  Right now I would say infanticide (read the daily paper). 
It is something to think about. 

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