Isaiah 63:16 (ESV) For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
One of the greatest privileges I have in life is to be called a father. It is one of the highest callings for a man. The most prevalent image that God models for us is that of Father.
Consequently, one of the greatest areas of spiritual warfare waged by the enemy is against fatherhood. The media belittles the role of men in general, but especially fathers. Statistics show that the majority of divorces occur when the oldest child of a couple reaches the age of puberty. Just when a child is looking for identity and destiny, their foundation, their parents, are suddenly divided, causing them to become shipwrecked.
One of the most important roles fathers have in the life of their children is in the area of blessing. Again, because of ignorance or apathy, the blessing a father gives to a child has been practically eliminated from the Western culture. Instead of receiving a blessing from the very one they are seeking approval, they instead receive abuse or neglect at worst, or being ignored. This is not the way Father modeled for us.
Look at scripture. You will find specific times of blessing that God desires a person to receive in their lifetime. Father later implemented them in the Law of Moses to be sure that every Hebrew received a blessing. First of all, after birth a child was brought before the priest to be blessed. The parents, and possibly others, would speak blessings over the child and commit it into the hands of Father.
Then at puberty each child would have a ceremony. For the male child it was a bar mitzvah; for the female, a bat mitzvah. These Hebrew phrases mean Son (bar) of the Covenant and Daughter (bat) of the Covenant. These ceremonies would be as big as a wedding. Much time and effort went into planning the event. All of the family and friends would gather. Gifts were given. The highlight of the night would be when the child was placed in a chair, then raised up high by other family members. They would march the child around the room like a king or queen being carried about. The whole time the father of the child walked before them proclaiming loudly, “This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased!”
How could any child come away from that experience without feeling special? Other things would change after the bar/bat mitzvah. Their clothing would change. They were no longer considered children, but instead treated as a man or woman.
The next time of blessing would come when the child married. They would again come before the priest for a blessing and the wedding pronouncement. Parents would speak blessings over the new couple, pledging to assist them in any way needed. It would launch them into a union that was sealed by Father Himself.
Our Father intended for the elderly to be blessed; to be cared for and to be shown honor. This is also an area that the Western culture has practically eliminated from its view of society.
To know that our Father wants us to be blessed exposes the deep love for which He loves us. He does not want to simply muddle through life and pay homage to the “great god in the sky.” He wants us to know His heart and to follow His ways. His ways are intended for our greatest good. Without that understanding it is very difficult to give ourselves to Him fully.
Meditate on some of the Names of God that have been considered up to this point. Let us get to know our Father to the point that we can trust Him fully and follow Him completely. Then we will know life.
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