Our Father

I recently heard 2 sermons about the concept of God as Father and have been inspired to think about how people are able to accept this, bearing in mind their different experiences of parenting and specifically of fathers.

It is a big step to move from seeing God as Creator of the universe to accepting the more personal relationship that Fatherhood offers us. In my next few “thoughts” I am exploring how this might feel for various folk searching for meaning, and what the Bible has to say on the subject.

After quite a few of the generation above me had died, I found out that a significant member of my family had been born to a single mother and was raised by his grandfather and stepmother. Alan, not his real name, used to see his mother, June, each year when she returned to the family home for a 2 week holiday from her job in service in a large house, about 80 miles away.

I don’t know at what stage he was told that she was his mother, but his grandfather must have been brave to take on this responsibility, leading to, no doubt, being the focus of gossip about the parentage of his grandson. It seems, from research that I, and my cousins have done, that Alan had a good relationship with his mother as a teenager and, in later life she later retired to a house near to him, his wife and 4 children. At first his children thought that the lady who visited them was an aunt, but they later knew she was their grandmother, although none of them discussed the situation with their children.

The crucial piece of information we will never know is whether June talked to Alan about his father, – did she name him or describe him in any way, or did she make it clear to Alan that those questions must never be asked?

So many people have told me about situations like this in their families and things are so different  today, with many researching their heritage openly, and even going on TV to explore their origins. One thing is clear to me. Alan knew very little or possibly nothing about his father, and he did not have any relationship with him. Yet he grew up to be a member of the Plymouth brethren, an upright and respected man who became leader of his town council, and, from what I know, had a strong faith in a God who makes it clear in Scripture, and through his Son Jesus, that he wants his children to know about him. Perhaps he looked to his grandfather for his fatherly male role model and was thankful for what his grandfather did to raise him within his own family. 

What did Jesus say about knowing God as Father?

John 14 verses 7 to 9

” Now that you have known me”,  Jesus said to them, “you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him”.

Philip said to him, “Lord show us the Father, that is all we need”.

Jesus answered, ” For a long time I have been with you all, yet you do not know me Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Prayer. God our Heavenly Father, we thank you from the depths of our hearts that you sent your son Jesus to show us your nature and your desire to have a relationship with us. May we never take this for granted, and use every opportunity we have to learn more about you. In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen