The Greatest Father of All

posted in: Features

Usually, when it comes to parenting, fathers are less likely to be given the credits that they deserve. But it’s different in the Bible. Because in the Bible, the love of the father is the one being showcased. But this doesn’t make the role of the mothers lesser. It just displays how valuable the role of the fathers in the family especially when it's faith that is being talked about.

Among the exemplary fathers in the Bible is Noah (Gen.5:32-9:17).  He protected his family by standing firm in his faith to God. He stayed obedient to God's instructions even though everyone around their family were being unfaithful and being disobedient to God's words (Gen. 6:22). You can imagine how they, who were faithless, had heartlessly mocked Noah's family as they're building an ark in the mountains of Ararat. Maybe among those who had laughed at them, were people his sons had considered as friends. You may think also that maybe there were times when Noah's household was about to give up on their faith but Noah, as a father, did not allow it so. He made sure everyone in the family was inside the ark. If Noah would not have been faithful, his family including him could have been among those who were killed in the flood. But it was prevented because Noah stayed faithful and obedient to God, and so, he has found favor in the eyes of the Lord, says Genesis 6:8.

Another very good model of a father is Abraham (Gen.22:1-19). When Abraham was ordered by the Lord to offer his only son, Isaac, whom he loves so much, his faith in God did not waver. He learnt over the years the blessing of staying faithful and being obedient to God. He has learned that through faith he's going to make it through the test. He knew God so well that he declared with faith saying, "...God himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering..." when he was asked by Isaac about the sacrifice in Genesis 22:8. Abraham was already old that time, Isaac could have escaped from his father but he allowed his father to bind him in verse 9. Also, Isaac could have doubted the love of his father towards him but he didn't. That's how Isaac trusted the relationship his father has with God.

Many fathers in the Bible have done admirable things, but surpasses them all is the love of our Almighty Father towards us, His children, from the Old to the New Testament. In Genesis, His love was manifested when He created man according to His image and likeness. In Exodus, when God delivered the Israelites from slavery and in the wilderness, when God guided them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and has never left its place. And how God made the bitter water sweet, how He has fed His people with manna and quail, and how the clothes and sandals of His children for forty years did not wear out. There are a lot of declarations about God's love in the Old Testament that a page wouldn't be enough.

But how He declared his love for HIs children in the New Testament is very special. And this can't be compared to any. This is the greatest love of all--- when God made himself of no reputation, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (Phil2:7). Consider how He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, chastised for our peace, and how with His stripes, we are made whole (Isa.53:5). And all of these, are for the fulfillment of God's redemption plan for His children, that whosoever will believe in Him will not perish but have an everlasting life (John3:16). And He's the most loving and gracious Father of all, when He illustrates His love in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke15:11-32). This is the type of father that He is that God wants us to remember. And not to forget, the parable of the Lost Sheep when a shepherd left his flock of ninety-nine sheep just to look for the one which is lost (Luke15:3-7). How great is the love of our Father in heaven?

Don’t ever hesitate to come to our Almighty Father in prayer. He knows that we need Him right now more than ever. Just come as you are to God. Talk to Him as a child talking to his father because He is our Father. And He’s more than our earthly fathers. His Word says in Matthew 7:11, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” God has great things in store for all of us if we’ll just draw near to His presence.

So for today, as we honor the lives of our earthly fathers, remember JESUS, the Greatest Father of all! Happy Father's Day!