Obviously, this Sunday is Father’s Day. Naturally, its purpose is to honor the fathers in our families and the fine work they did in behalf of all of us across the continent. There is no single chapter in the Bible exulting fathers in the same way that Proverbs exalts mothers. I thought it would be a good idea for us to consider the bad examples of fathers that we can use in a positive way for those men who have stood up for the cause of their wife and children. These are men who deserve recognition at home and the church. However, let’s look at some fathers in the Bible and learn from them about better fatherhood.
We first turned to Lot who was the nephew of Abraham. His example is recorded in Genesis 13 to 19. While traveling with Abraham to the promised land, they both grew very wealthy. The herdsmen of each began to have strife with the other which resulted in Lot and Abraham dividing the land before them. At this point thereafter, what became is an example of someone who sacrifices the welfare of his children. While in Sodom, he offered his own daughters to the physical pleasure of homosexuals who preferred to perform evil deeds with the angel sent to protect Lot and his family. Later, we see that Lot had little influence on his sons-in-law who laughed at the warnings he offered them and his wife who looked back at the town with regret for having to leave it resulting in her turning into a pillar of salt. In a cave after their escape, his two daughters got him drunk and caused him to commit incest. Even though Lot is called a righteous man, he is by far an example of a father with a righteous testimony that was blemished before his family.
The story of Eli, the priest, is recorded in First Samuel two and three. He would not be able to perform a godly example before his two sons which resulted in them committing gross sin and God striking them dead. Eli was an arrogant, narcissistic person who cared very little for his family. Even though his sons were grown, when he tried, he had no influence on them to live out a life befitting that of a priest’s family. It is possible for a man to be so engrossed in what he thinks is a ministry while losing leadership in his own home. Godly fathers have their priorities in order never forgetting the importance of those he caused to come into this life. A godly father will also be a godly teacher to his family.
The life story of Saul, who was the first king of Israel, is strikingly opposite of what God expected of him. He claimed to be a righteous man before God, but in truth he was sinful, disrespectful, and a liar. It is a true blessing for those men of God who set an example before their family of truth, consideration, and kindness. Saul became so frustrated with his position as the first king that he allowed himself to fall deeply into sin. He attempted to murder David out of jealousy. His emotional turmoil became so great that he consulted a witch bringing judgment upon his head. His own son, Jonathan, observed that this man brought trouble on the nation. There are times that fathers are able to hold high positions whether in business or government. As they function in their responsibilities, they must beware of the reputation they set before their children. We are grateful to godly fathers who are able to balance their career obligations while caring for their families.
The case of King David would seem to be one that should not be in this list. However, as successful as he was even in his relationship with God, he did not monitor his own spiritual condition which caused him to commit murder of the husband of a woman with whom he had an affair. Sexual sin is not beyond any father no matter how he is perceived as a godly man. Many stories exist even in our own lifetimes of men who fell to these temptations. It is a joy to know that there are fathers who are able to control their lust. The result of David’s sin was the death of his newborn and chaos in his family for the rest of his life. A man who is trying to strongly serve God will always take into consideration the consequences of every decision he makes and how it affects others.
The story of our last man is that of Manasseh who was also a king. His life is recorded in Second Chronicles 33. He had a godly father named Hezekiah, but he rejected the righteous influence of his dad. He came to the throne when he was just 12 years old. It took little time for him to turn away from the teachings of his father and not only cause himself to delve into deep sin but also led his whole nation into spiritual turmoil. The end of his story is both tragic and wonderful. A godly father will always take into consideration how far-reaching his influence is on others. Manasseh tried to remedy the chaos he brought into his family and on his nation. Unfortunately for everyone, he was only partially able to rectify the consequences of his sin. This is one man that I personally would like to meet when I go to glory. The righteous father learns from his parents and passes on the spiritual goodness that was given to him.
By these few examples, we can see how these fathers caused much harm on themselves, their families, and others. Let us learn by their mistakes. Let us give thanks for the godly fathers who are able to keep their lives in order. Ours is a great privilege to have a father that always points to God and leads others to him. This type of a man turns away from the many temptations the devil offers and bravely lives a life that is a positive influence on his family. To our fathers, we thank you. We forgive you of your mistakes and sins. We encourage you to go forward in spiritual growth.
Christian Writer 