It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was. —Anne Sexton
People will often build their views of God based on how they view their earthly fathers. But are earthly fathers a good picture of your heavenly Father?
It depends.
For some, “father” brings up feelings of comfort and security. Yet for others, just imagining the sound of your father’s footsteps raises an instinct to try to hide. You might look back at your father and think, “If God’s anything like my old man, I don’t want to have anything to do with Him!”
So when we talk about “God the Father,” our minds, not our emotions, must dominate. We need to let God’s Word, not our feelings or earthly experiences, be our guide when we try to figure out what we mean by “God the Father.”
Throughout the Bible, we find the perfect picture of a perfect father. Moses’ request in Exodus was a sincere one:
“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” (Exodus 33:13)
In the passages following this request, God reveals no less than fourteen fatherly traits about Himself, each of which is amplified in many other places throughout the Bible. These traits also make a decent model for those of us who are fathers on earth, but they aren’t intended to be a guilt trip to try to make us perform better. Instead, they should encourage us all, as God’s kids, with the wonderful news of our perfect parent who cherishes, values, and adores us.
Father, I pray that any misconceptions I have about You will be swept away by the truth of Your Word. Please help me clear my mind so Your Spirit can lead me to the truth. Amen.