Life Lessons on Fatherhood

GENUINE fatherhood is modelled in your children when they choose the good they see in you.

Fatherhood is a gracious gift

Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, did not choose the good they saw in their father. They were corrupt, morally bankrupt and disrespectful to God.

Despite their father’s rebuke, they continued in their wicked ways, and God was displeased with them.

So he sent someone to Eli to tell him that his sons would die. (1 Samuel 2:29)

FATHERS must be careful not to postpone the conversations they need to have with their children.

Train up a child [your child] in the way he should go; Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

WHILE Eli respected the things of God, his sons disrespected them.

He was present (active) but absent (inactive) from their lives.

When Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons, he was active in Joseph's life but passive in theirs, and they hated it. (Genesis 37:1-44)

FATHERS must be careful not to show more love to one child than the other.

Favoritism breeds discord and leads to wicked plans, which cause trauma.

When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they caused trauma to their dad. They removed the one he loved. (Genesis 37)

However, God, in his infinite mercy, gave him a second chance to see his son again.

FATHERS must not provoke their children to wrath [do not make them bitter about life]. (Ephesians 6:4)

Jacob provoked his sons by favouring Joseph over them.

FATHERS must allow themselves to be led by God.

Jacob missed it the way he raised his sons, but got it right when he prayed for his grandkids.

When Joseph came to see him, Jacob told him that he did not think he would see Joseph’s face again, but God had shown him Joseph’s offspring.

So Jacob knew things by the Spirit. No wonder: when he laid hands on Joseph’s kids, he put his right hand (hand of dominance) on Ephraim (the younger) and his left on Manasseh (the older). (Genesis 48)

When FATHERS walk with God, God becomes real to them.

Abraham meant a lot to God; no wonder, when God visited him, he made a declaration.

‘For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.’ (Genesis 18:19)

When God makes you a father, he wants you to teach your children his ways.

FATHERS keep their promises.

When Bathsheba reminded David of his promise to her, he told them to bring Solomon quickly and anoint him as king. (1Kings 1:15-49)

FATHERS who mean well are concerned about their children's well-being.

Mordecai adopted Esther after her parents' deaths, and when the king sought a wife, he handed her over to Hegai, the king’s eunuch.

Every day, he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was doing. (Esther 2:11)

EVERY FATHER has the same duties to raise their children in the way of the Lord.

We have a heavenly Father who shows us how.

AS YOU celebrate Father’s Day, it will mean much to God when you reconcile with Him.

He made His Son, who knew no sin, to become sin that you may become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Confess your sins to Him and ask him to forgive you. Request him to come to you and be your Lord and Saviour.

If you've done this, I rejoice with you. What a day to reconcile with the Father of fathers. Happy Father’s Day.