and protection inherent in a father’s love? In Paul’s treatise of this event (Hebrews 11:17-19), he says Abraham’s faith was such that he completely trusted God’s promise concerning the lineage of the Redeemer who would come from Isaac’s seed. Abraham believed it so much that he was convinced God would raise Isaac from the dead, if necessary, to keep His word. Absolute faith in God is Abraham’s legacy to all believing fathers. He simply trusted God to do what He said He would do. It doesn’t get any better than that! Christians should be proud to claim kin- ship to such a man as Abraham, “the father of the faithful.”

CALEB, Fearless Servant of God

Caleb was a fearless servant of God (see Numbers 14:6-9) who raised a brave and adventurous daughter named Ach- sah, who dared to ask for an inheritance in a land of giants. She received it—a land filled with flowing springs of water and abundant fruit—and married a brave Israelite hero named Othniel. Caleb was the best of role models to Achsah, and her life reflected her father’s example (Joshua 14:6-13; 15:16-19).

DAVID, a Warning to Fathers

David, Israel’s greatest king whom God called “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22), presided over a dysfunctional family. Many of his writings of despair in the Psalms can be traced to his disap- pointments as a father. Fathers can fail and misplace their priorities, as David did. David’s life warns all fathers of the conse- quences of wrong decisions, even by men regarded as spiritual leaders.

ISAIAH, a Prophetic Father

Unique events are associated with many of the fathers found in the Bible. For example, the prophet Isaiah gave his son the longest name recorded in the Scriptures, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, meaning “spoil hastens, prey speeds.” His birth and name were prophetic. God told Isaiah that before his son could speak plain enough to address his prophet father and his

prophetess mother, God would send judg- ment on Damascus and Samaria through the king of Assyria (Isaiah 8:1-4). I sup- pose if little “Maher” was a quick learner, Samaria was in for quick judgment!

PHILIP, Father of Four Prophetesses

Philip, a powerful evangelist and one of the first deacons in the early church, had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8-9). Paul, Luke, and their company stayed with this family for a number of days before departing for Jerusalem and Paul’s imprisonment. Not only did Philip have a profound spiritual influence on his

ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GOD IS ABRAHAM’S LEGACY TO ALL BELIEVING FATHERS. CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE PROUD TO CLAIM KINSHIP TO SUCH A MAN AS ABRAHAM, “THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL.”

children, who followed his vocation and calling, he also opened his home to godly people who could further bless and influ- ence his children.

The reminder here is that a father can allow either good or evil into his home. He has the God-given power to bless or hurt, enrich or weaken his children. Philip made the right choices.

JOSEPH the Carpenter

Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth and the husband of Mary, served as the earthly father and role model to Jesus. Parentage became the first test of his char- acter. Here the anvil was struck with the hammer—the anvil was Joseph’s heart, and the hammer was Mary’s pregnancy. His love, his fiancée, his dream of dreams was expecting a child, and Joseph knew he could not be the father. Mary’s story eclipses the human

imagination, and Joseph’s knowledge of the small, confined world of Nazareth, as

well as the strict culture of his Jewish roots, filled him with a terror no one could ever hope for. Yet Joseph was pliable to God, like clay ready for the potter. God had cho- sen a father figure for His Redeemer Son, and Joseph would be perfected in the kiln God had prepared for him. As God assured and guided Joseph through dreams (Mat- thew 1:20-21; 2:13), he obeyed God, wed his beloved Mary, and committed himself to his role as husband and father. Did people of Nazareth talk? Most assuredly, for people are people regard- less of their culture and era. But what a brave man this carpenter was! He made the long, arduous journey to Bethlehem, and there saw the wondrous signs of shep- herds guided by angels. He fled without hesitation to Egypt at God’s warning and returned again at God’s beckoning, all in fulfillment of prophetic messages (vv. 14-15, 19-21).

In Joseph’s world, every Jewish father would teach his son his trade, and Luke 2:51 says Jesus was “subject” to his par- ents. I believe Jesus was acquainted with the hammer and the saw, the drawknife and chisel. He knew sweat on the brow, hard labor, and the truths found in the honest rural environment of the hill country of Galilee. Joseph the carpenter must have taught Him those things. Jesus was the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, and God trusted His development to an earthly father named Joseph.

Just Plain Men

As we read the Scriptures, we under- stand that the fathers found in the Bible were nothing more or less than plain men. They knew triumph and tragedy. They rejoiced at life and grieved at death. They were fathers with all the trappings of humanity. But God saw them as He sees us. He has given us their stories to enable us to learn and grow and become the kind of fathers our children can be proud to call their dad.

David M. Griffis is third

assistant general overseer of the Church of God.

EVANGEL • JUNE 2010 19 Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33