The Best and Worst Fathers of the Bible
Earthly fathers are winners when they follow their heavenly Father as his children. And lead their children to do the same.
The NBA season ended this month on Miami’s home court as the Dallas Mavericks lifted up the championship trophy. The Miami Heat watched in disbelief as their “Three Kings,” LeBron James, Chris Bosch, and Dwyane Wade bowed their heads in defeat. For Wade, the NBA championship is lost, at least for this year, but he’s striving to win at something much more important. Fatherhood.
After a painful divorce, Dwyane Wade has become the full-time father of his two sons, Zaire and Zion. In a recent Newsweek essay Wade reveals his joy at being able to surprise Zion at school by bringing cupcakes for his fourth birthday. “It was the day after we’d won the Eastern Conference finals, but that victory couldn’t compare with the huge smile on Zion’s face at that moment.”1
Certainly Dwyane Wade isn’t the perfect specimen of fatherhood, but in today’s world of me-first athletes his story is refreshing. And inspiring for any father who has failed too many times, whether professionally or personally.
The Bible reports a number of father failures, including Eli who sacrificed his family for the sake of a job, and Jacob who played favorites. Fathers, beware!
On the other hand, encouraging examples of fatherhood include the father in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. This father thinks and acts with a balance of love and discipline, compassion and instruction, work and family. Then there’s the admirable example of Joseph, whom God appointed to become Jesus’ earthly father. Recall the loyalty of Joseph to Mary and her unborn child, and the faithful devotion Joseph put into action to provide for and protect both Mary and Jesus whether at home or escaping the ravenous Herod. Fathers, pay attention!
The father in the Bible to whom most fathers may relate, however, is Abraham. The Bible does not hide from us the tension between Abraham’s godliness (obeying God’s orders to sacrifice Isaac) and his shameful negligence (fathering a child with his wife’s servant, or taking care of his own wants while ignoring his wife’s needs). That’s real, day-to-day fatherhood. Champion one moment. Loser the next.
Why should fathers continue to be given such a high responsibility when they haven’t performed the job description to appropriate standards?
Because of the best of all fathers in the Bible. Our Father in heaven. There is no father like him, yet all fathers emulate him. Before making another to-do list to become better fathers, however, men do well to first become children. To sit on the lap of their heavenly Father and feel the warmth of his love, listen to the wisdom of his instruction, see the power of his care. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
And then, Psalm 103 adds plenty of fatherly comfort and inspiration for any believer to find about our wonderful God. He forgives and heals. He satisfies our desires (but only with good things). He is slow to anger, and abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve. He knows us, and remembers the weaknesses of our humanity. He rules over all. He sends angels to serve him by serving us.
Earthly fathers are winners when they follow their heavenly Father as his children. And lead their children to do the same. No job compares to that.
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for fathers, for their rugged care, their determined providing, their wisdom, their tough and their tender love. Where fathers have failed, forgive them, and let me forgive my own father too. Lift up fathers, encourage them in their role, and lead them as your dear children to be spiritual heroes of faith to their own children. Amen.