Fathers of the Bible

Proverbs 17:6

From the time of our birth, we are all dependent on the older generation to care for us until we can care for ourselves.  We're also indebted to previous generations for guarding and handing down to us the knowledge, skills, traditions, and culture that are extremely important to daily life. Imagine what life would be like if each new generation had to devise the alphabet, invent printing, discover electricity,  or learn to make fire, we owe a lot to pass generations some good some not so good.

Abraham had a lot of good to pass on to his son of promise but he also had the burden, guilt, and shame of sin  to warn and guard his son from following in his footsteps. The most important part of Isaac's legacy wasn't the great material wealth his father had left him.  Isaac's most important legacy was the spiritual wealth from his father and mother: knowing and trusting the true and living God and being a part of the covenant blessings that God had graciously bestowed

upon Abraham and Sarah and their descendants from them would come a great nation and the only savior, The Messiah.  How tragic it is when the children of devout Christian believers turn their backs on their priceless spiritual heritage and, like Ishmael and Esau, live for the world and the flesh instead of for the Lord!

Some where we must try to find the common ground where we can love all of our children in a special way and not let the others feel as though they are slighted. This my friend is one of the biggest assignments we will ever have. There are many kinds of men in the world today as there were in old days. Men have made mistakes as everyone else has.

It seems as though there are some men that try harder to be good fathers than others.

Isaac in Genesis 27:2 learned a very hard lesson. It appears that Isaac and Rebecca had a divided home with their two sons. Esau and Jacob were twin brothers but since Esau was the first born, he had a special birth right. Esau seemed to be his daddy's boy and Jacob was his mama's boy.

In my opinion this is the beginning of a broken home. A wise father will try not  to make difference in his children. Each child has different needs at different times and I believe we should try to meet their needs as they arise, making difference in Isaac sons caused a problem that lasted many years.

David was a great  King of Israel but he let sin get into his family and much heartache followed. David lost the first child that was born to him and Bathsheba, one of his sons mistreated his half sister but the final blow came when David's favorite son Absalom attempted to take the kingdom from his father.  David had  to leave Jerusalem because of Absaloms attempt to over throw him and at the news of Absalom'  death David cried my son would to God it had been me instead of you.

I suppose the ideal father is found in Luke 15:11; A man had two sons and the younger of  them said to his father, father, give me the portion of goods that belong to me. He took all he had and left home and wasted all he had on foolish living. There were probably some fair weather friends as long as he had money but the day came when all his money was gone and he ended up in the pig pen as many are doing today. No food , no friends, only corn husk to eat. There was a memory in his heart of his father's house. Here is where you and I can have a big part in our children's life. We can give our children something to remember. This young man remembered that his father was good to his servants and he now was willing to become a servant of his dad's house. But I want you to notice the father had other plans.

This father was looking for his sons return and when he saw him coming home, all was forgiven and he said bring forth the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, bring forth the fatted calf, and kill, and let us eat and be merry for this my son was dead and he is alive again, he was lost and is found and they began to be merry.

This I believe also describes our Heavenly Father, friends , your Father is waiting and watching for you to come home. All heaven rejoices when a sinner repents.

Psalms 103:13 tells us ; As a father pities his  children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.

God's love has been extended to everyone that will by faith come and receive him. He will be the Father of all fathers here on earth and when the day  comes to depart this life  you will be received as one of the royal family members that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God. It begins