God the Father

God as Father

When looking at the living beings on this planet we see "families" having a male and female partner and their offspring. We speak of a father and mother figure. For the human creatures we look at them as being created by Some One Who as our Maker deserves the title to be our Maker, Creator Who is Divine, or even can be called "Our Father".

Lots of people wonder for what cause they do exist and question if there is something, somewhat or someone behind everything here on earth. Many are looking for a Source, responsible for all beings. The head of a family or of a gang is mostly called "The Father" or the "Godfather. That One Being, responsible for everything that exists, we call Our Father. People have expectations when they look up as a person they consider to be their father. The same for those looking at the Divine Creator, the God of the universe or the God of heaven and earth.

When the title "father" is used for someone, it is considered that person has a certain (mostly good) relationship with others, like a father-son relationship. In such instance there is also mostly a certain intimate relationship. It is not because the father would be far away from his children that there would be not an affectionate feeling for his children. The bond is most important and gives the strength to their relationship, making it meaningful.

When we know that the Elohim Hashem Jehovah created the earth with its plants and animals and placed the first human beings in His Roayl Garden, we should know that those two people, the first Adam and his wife (or mannin) Eve were the first human beings and our ancestors. Having Jehovah has their Maker, He is there father and as such the children of Adam and Eve got the Elohim as their grandfather or could also talk to othhers of the "Father in heaven" next to their father on earth.

"Our Father, which art in heaven"

This first line from "The Lord's Prayer" used to be one of the best known in the New Testament. Today it is much less frequently repeated. But even at the height of its use, it is to be feared that the term "Father" was used in a conventional sense without much thought about its implications.

In Old Testament times God had already revealed Himself as a "Father".

"Israel is my son, my firstborn" (Exodus 4:22)

was His declaration to Pharaoh in Egypt. Through the long centuries of their experience the faithful appreciated the relationship:

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Psalm 103:13-14).

In the New Testament the supreme manifestation of God as Father is in the person of His beloved Son. Jesus constantly refers to God as "my Father" and, when addressing the disciples, as "your heavenly Father". The infinite grace of God, so dear to the psalmists and prophets, was shown in the giving of His Son as the atonement for sin. And so the faithful are granted a new relationship with God, in which they are not only "heirs with Christ" but "sons and daughters of God". John exclaims:

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God: and such we are" (1 John 3:1, R.V.).

But in these days of casual familiarity it is easy to slip into the habit of thinking of God, and indeed even addressing Him, as "one of us". Jesus kept his priorities clear at all times, and particularly in his prayers.

"I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth" (Matthew 11:25)

warns us that although God is truly our Father, He remains "Lord of heaven and earth" and should be worshipped as such. Twice in his prayer for the disciples shortly before his crucifixion, he addresses God direct:

"Holy Father ... 0 righteous Father" (John 17:11,25).

There is no familiarity here, but a profound recognition of this "otherness" from man.

Similarly the Apostle Paul, quoting from the Law and applying the saying to the believers in Corinth, urges them to "come out" and "be separate" from the idolatrous worship and practices in Greek society. God promises them,

"I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters";

but Paul does not hesitate to complete the quotation, "saith the Lord Almighty", and to go on to urge his readers to cleanse themselves

"from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God", that is, in reverent worship (2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1).

And in the prayer Jesus taught his disciples he addressed God as:

"Our Father, which art in heaven" (Matthew 6:9).

God is indeed a Father to the faithful, showing all the care and concern that a father would feel for His children. But those "sons and daughters", while appreciating His grace and mercy towards them, must never presume to forget the reverent worship which is His due. This balanced attitude is severely threatened in our times of freedom of expression and human rights. The Bible alone enables us to preserve that balance.

God the Father

God as Father

"Our Father, which art in heaven"

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