The role of a father is to instruct his children in the ways of G-d and know G-d’s Word. When his children are young, before peer groups begin to impart their worldy views, he will instill G-d’s instructions in his child’s heart.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, “These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, and write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates.”
A Father’s Role Provides Protection Through Strength & Moral Justice.
Training a child in the way they should go, the father’s instruction becomes the child’s staff, a plumb line.
A father is a man of justice. Justice is not only the action to be fair in a time of dispute. Justice is a principle never to do anything that would give an unfair advantage over others. Fathers will teach this principle to their children. Laws are designed to keep things fair and safe. When things are fair and safe, there is peace and order.
Fathers determine the hedge of protection. His boundaries define morality, justice, and what is right and wrong. The hedge, established through instruction, determines the boundary lines.
Within these walls of safety, both the mother and father have the freedom to nurture and develop the children. They can be tuned in to the child’s fears, concerns, and needs.
The father encourages his children by providing his support, which is strength in the times of adversity, despite circumstances they may be facing. He can be that strong tower, that voice of conviction, encouraging his children to stand firm, take heart, and not waver. He can challenge them to grow, no matter the circumstance.
You Can Do It!
An abusive father is an insecure man who holds onto his strength and power, exerting his power OVER his family. He wants to hold his strength for himself. He is afraid that if he shares this power with others in the family, that he will somehow be beneath the successes of his children or wife. This fear is a complete lie from the enemy.
A true father will never be afraid to release his power and strength to his family, through encouragement and convictions. The most powerful phrases a father can give his children are the words, “You can do it!” and “Stand firm!” These words put the wind beneath the child’s wings and keep them on course. These words instill conviction; with conviction comes strength and defines character. When fathers believe in their children, that encouragement (which is a form of strength) helps the child believe it themselves. Fathers help challenge their children to do the things they thought not possible. Fathers know that seeing their children take up a challenge and succeed is far more powerful than holding all the success for themselves.
In the Workplace, Ministry, and Church
A father who is secure in his gifts and abilities and has confidence that G-d is pleased with him will influence and convince others of a need to change if change is needed. He can then provide a platform for his children and wife where they can excel. This is servant leadership!
A father’s leadership will empower his children to see the target so that the next generation will have the foresight to see various outcomes from a difficult situation and be able to plan alternative solutions so that they can be successful.
A Father who knows his purpose, gifting, and identity in G-d, will help strengthen gifts and talents in his children.
David and Joshua display this ability, by getting the 12 tribes of people that were different in their thinking to work together, because they knew Yehovah was pleased with them.
Characteristics of a Father Following and Obeying the Word of G-d :
He studies the Word of G-d in order to establish what G-d would expect of him so he can role model the nature of G-d to his children. A blessed righteous man will reveal two essential attributes to his children; He will fear G-d and meditate on the Word of G-d.
Psalm 1:2b, Their delight is in Adonai’s Word; on his Torah/Word, they meditate day and night.” This is an example of a righteous man – this becomes his goal in life.
He will reveal two essential attributes to his children. He will fear G-d and meditate on the Word of G-d day and night.
He feeds on the Word to grow spiritually. No deceit, envy, or malice will be on his lips.
1 Pet. 2:1-3, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, of all deceit, hypocrisy, and envy, and of all the ways there are of speaking against people; and be like newborn babies, thirsty for the pure milk of the Word; so that by it, you may grow up into deliverance. For you have tasted that Adonai is good.”
He will have great delight in keeping the Commandments of G-d.
Psalm 112: 1b, “How happy is anyone who fears Adonai, who greatly delights in his mitzvoth. (teachings)”
He makes it his rule every day to conduct himself in purity and faultlessness. He is a hearer and doer of the Word of G-d.
James 1:22-27, “Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it! For who hears the Word but doesn’t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But if a person looks closely into the perfect Torah/Word of G-d, which gives freedom, and continues, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work it requires, then he will be blessed in what he does. Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing. The religious observance G-d considers pure and faultless is: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.”
He makes the Word of G-d his standard of life,
2 Tim. 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus, anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.”
He will be full of compassion and be a light in the darkness.
Psalm 112:4, “To the upright, he shines like a light in the dark, merciful, compassionate and righteous.”
A father obedient to the Word of G-d will have a blessed family because he has faith to stand against evil. He will trust in G-d that his son/daughter will be blessed.
Psalm 112:8b, “His heart is set firm, he will not be afraid, till finally, he looks in triumph at his enemies.”
Psalm 112:2, “His descendants will be powerful on earth, a blessed generation of upright people.”
We have our roots in the past and are of the past, even though we don’t live in the past. We are connected to our generations in many ways we may not be aware of. It’s very important to teach the principle of generational blessing, direction and hope.
Prayer:
Father, Your original mandate stills stands today. We are to take dominion. We are to keep and guard our garden (home) that You placed us in. I understand that You have placed us on earth, in this specific culture, with a specific purpose, in this appointed time.
In a spiritual sense, we are all tribes that are connected to You with a calling to change the domain that we live in so that it reflects Your Glory. We accept Your calling to serve Your people, as well as those in our community that does not know You, by acts of loving our neighbor. Amen
I will leave you with,
Psalm 112, “How happy is anyone who fears Adonai, who greatly delights in his mitzvoth, (commandments). His descendants will be powerful on earth, a blessed generation of upright people. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness stands forever. To the upright he shines like a light in the dark, merciful, compassionate and righteous. Things go well with the person who is merciful and lends, who conducts his affairs with fairness; for he will never be moved. The righteous will be remembered forever. He will not be frightened by bad news; he remains steady, trusting in Adonai. His heart is set firm, he will not be afraid, till finally he looks in triumph at his enemies. He distributes freely, he gives to the poor; his righteousness stands forever. His power will be increased honorably. The wicked will be angry when they see this; they will gnash their teeth and waste away, the desires of the wicked will come to nothing.”
Shalom,
EliyahuPraise
Further reading on the definition of a father:
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/vocabulary_definitions_father.html
Hebrew word study for Father:
http://livingwordin3d.com/discovery/2016/10/17/hebrew-word-study-father/
