Thursday 24 February 2011

Flawed Fatherhood

Studying Genesis I've been spotting various patterns as I mentioned earlier in the week, but one of the more tragic that you then see across the rest of scripture is the failure of father's seen in the falling away of their children.

Adam has both a godly son and a murderer, both Esau and Jacob don't turn out too well, Jacob's sons are bloodthirsty, consumed by jealousy and hatred(Gen 37) and live by their appetites, Judah's sons are wicked and two are put to death by God(Gen 38). Moving on in scripture Gideon's son Abimilech kills his brothers(Judges 9), Eli's sons are wicked (1 Sam 2), Samuel's sons do not walk as he did (1 Samuel 8), and David's sons commitment various sins.

Why do so many of the Bible's great men have flawed children who reject God? The bible doesn't give us an answer directly, there are cases where father's fail to discipline their children, my hunch is that busyness may have played a part. But it makes sobering reading for parents, particularly father's, today. Do not take for granted that your children will grow up to follow Jesus. Make it a priority to carry out Deuteronomy 6:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

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