Figure of the Father

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Luke 5:20

They say that parents, and fathers in particular, are a child’s first picture of what God is like. To a baby, parents are like gods. They have all the power, they control everything, they provide everything, they seem to know everything. At a certain age children begin to realize, of course, that their parents are not gods and do not know everything. But usually the relationship between parent and child will continue, subconsciously, to shape the child’s image of what God is like.

So what kind of father did you have? Hopefully you learned from your earthly father what I learned from mine: that God is loving, patient, consistent, forgiving, and kind. But no father is perfect.

Some fathers play favorites, causing resentment among the lesser-loved siblings. (Ever read the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis??) This may tempt them to view the disparities in life as God choosing favorites. But in Acts 10:34-35, Peter said “that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” God is not in the business of making all things equal in this fallen world. But He does equally offer eternal salvation to every person (Titus 2:11, Hebrews 5:9). And, as Matthew 5:45 reminds us, God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

If your father was over-indulgent, never criticizing but never setting any boundaries, you may see God as someone who doesn’t really care how we live, who doesn’t really care much at all about the people He created. But the heavenly Father has given us a vast amount of guidance for living. Indeed, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”(2 Timothy 3:16). God cares deeply, and He has not left His children to fend for themselves.

On the other hand some fathers may be overly strict and try to control their children with too many rules. This often leads to rebellion by their children who may picture God as manipulative. But read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. Here Jesus describes a foolish, disrespectful son who asks his father for his inheritance in advance so he can go and do what he wants. The father would have been completely within his rights to refuse this request. But he didn’t. He let his son make his own choices and he let him go. This is certainly not a picture of a controlling father. It is a picture of God the Father.

If your father was harsh and critical, you may have developed an image of God as stern and just waiting for people to mess up so He can condemn them to hell. But Psalm 103:13 (ESV) tells us that God is compassionate toward us just “as a father shows compassion to his children.” Read that whole psalm for a more detailed look at how forgiving God really is.

Thinking back to the story of the prodigal son, notice the father’s reaction when the foolish, irresponsible son returns home shuffling his feet in shame. Even a good human father would very likely greet such a son with crossed arms, pursed lips, and an “I told you so” speech of some sort. But the father in this story represents God. And this Father noticed the son coming from a long way off “and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him,” (Luke 15:20, NKJV).

Lastly, some children grow up without a father. He’s either abandoned the family literally, or he is so overly busy elsewhere he is just not very “present” with his family. For these children, God may seem like a mystery, or His existence like wishful thinking. But the LORD Almighty, who is “father of the fatherless,” (Psalm 68:5), promises: “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters.” (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! I John 3:1

Dear God, I thank You for good fathers, but I know that you are the only perfect Father. Help me to forgive my earthly father for any mistakes he made. Guide me through Your Word to understand what You are really like. And help me to submit to you as your loving child. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins