Father's Day

'Father's Day' is a day of recognition for fathers. It has been on the calendar longer than I have been in existence.  To my knowledge, it is not celebrated in a religious atmosphere by society however that is not the focus of today’s article.  I would like to briefly notice what GOD has told us in His Word about fathers.  As with Adam, GOD has given instructions and responsibilities to all fathers.  For those who carried out their responsibilities per God’s instructions, God blessed them. How well man has listened to his Creator since then is really the purpose of today’s article.

We know that from Adam to Noah, wickedness increased until God purposed to destroy all humanity. Obviously fathers were among the wicked. Yet we read of Noah in Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” It begs the question, ‘why’? What was different about Noah? Our answer can be found in the following passages:

Genesis 6:9 – Noah was “...a righteous man and perfect in his generations...” 

Genesis 6:22 – Noah did “…according to all that GOD commanded him, so did he.”  

Genesis 7:1 – Noah was told “…come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation...” 

As a result, it is recorded that God, “…preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 2:5).

We then read of a father (Abraham) in Genesis 12. Abraham, like Noah, was different from those of his day. GOD told Abraham, “...and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed”. (Genesis 12:2-3). GOD sent Abraham far away from his family to make a covenant with him.  GOD’S instructions to Abraham in regard to this covenant are recorded in Genesis 17:9, “...and as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations”. Again, it begs the question, why Abraham? We are given the answer from God’s own words. GOD said of Abraham in Genesis 18:19, “...for I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him”. 

Two things stand out in these two great patriarchs.  First, they were faithful to their Creator.  Secondly, their effect upon their families.  In particular, was their effect in commanding their children and their household to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’, to ‘do righteousness and justice’.  In order to do this, both men had to be righteous.  This speaks of the example that they set before their children and their household.  Both these men are held in the highest esteem for their faithfulness to GOD.  I wonder if we were careful in our reading of their faithfulness to take note of how that in being faithful to GOD they had to command their family “that they may keep the way of Jehovah”?   As a father, they had this responsibility.  It would never have been recorded of these two men of their great faith in Jehovah had they not taught their children and household to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’.  This command of fathers has not changed since the days of Abraham.  Throughout the remainder of the Old Testament and the history of Abraham’s descendants we have record of godly fathers and ungodly fathers.  The same two characteristics were present in all godly fathers of Abraham’s descendants. 

1) They were faithful to GOD as seen in keeping His commandments. “...and it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Jehovah our GOD, as He hath commanded us” (Deuteronomy 6:25). [See also Deuteronomy 6:17-18; 11:13] and,

2) They commanded their children and households after them to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’. God had also given this command to them. “...and these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). 

The results and consequences were always the same whenever these instructions were not followed. GOD’S laws were forgotten, idolatry was practiced, and punishment came from GOD. Today, fathers, still have the same two responsibilities.  First become righteous themselves by rendering obedience to GOD’S will today as found in the gospel of Christ, and ‘bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord’. (Ephesians 6:1-4)  The first must precede the second for without it, there will be no godly example to follow.

How many fathers today keep the way of Jehovah themselves?  How many fathers command their children and their households to ‘keep the way of Jehovah’?  How many fathers force the second without giving thought to the first?  It will never cause anything but resentment from those under your care if a father does not exemplify what he demands of others.  How many children and other members of a household attend, study, and offer worship unto GOD without a father present?  How will your children turn out…idolaters or Christians?  Chances are they will follow in your footsteps.

rdb
6/14/2011