Biblical examples of adoption...

Jesus’ adoption by Joseph
Joseph, the husband of Mary, whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ became about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1: 16 & 18-24

Phillip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45
(Note: The lineage of Jesus, as prophesied in the Old Testament, is fulfilled through Joseph (see Matthew 1: 1-17). Joseph is fully and completely Jesus’ father- participating in his naming, protecting him from danger by traveling to Egypt, teaching him a trade, and presenting him at the temple.)


Moses’ adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Then his (Moses’) sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” “Yes, go,” she answered. And the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying “I drew him out of the water.”
(God used Moses’ adoption plan to free the Hebrew nation by using Moses’ influence on his adopted family to free his biological family. See the book of Exodus)

Esther’s adoption by Mordecai
Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother had died. Esther 2:7
(Note: Who would have thought that God would place his hand on a humble orphan girl and her faithful relative? Who would have expected that Mordecai’s work to rear Esther as a young woman of God would lead to her being such a vital link to the survival of the Jews? Without question, the story of Esther’s life is a beautiful example of how God is at work taking our broken lives to perform his will when we are willing. The book of Esther is a beautiful story of adoption and deliverance.)


Hannah gives Samuel back to God
Elkanah had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none… the Lord had closed her womb. And because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkannah her husband would say to her, “Hannah why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you so downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than 10 sons?” … In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. She made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life… I am a woman deeply troubled… I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home in Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”… After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was… brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel: Chapter 1
(Note: Through God’s gift to her of that precious son, Hannah testified that God hears and answers prayer. Then she lived up to her promise, bringing Samuel to the temple and giving him to another to raise.)