Who Is the Best Father in the Bible?

Someone asked me yesterday who I thought was the best father in the Bible. Fascinating question. As I reflected on the question with a number of other pastors (via email) and with two pastors in the room with me, we made a few interesting observations. First, the answer obviously is not Joseph, since Jesus was not simply a product of parenting. Although, Joseph was certainly the most honored father in the Bible since God chose him to be Jesus’ earthly father. What an incredible gift given to Joseph. So, if he is off the table, who would you choose?

The Process of Fathering Is Not Highlighted

Throughout the Bible we get glimpses of fathering and principles for fathering; however, the process of fathering is not highlighted in particular. We could talk about many fathers in the Bible. Yet, as we do, we do not see them do the work of fathering, with a few exceptions. The exceptions are unique. We see how David parents – ouch. On the other extreme, we see how Abraham parents in the instance of the sacrifice story with Isaac – that’s a tough one. However, there are no specific examples of the entire process.

In light of this, let me share my answer. I offered up two suggestions.

Job – the father of 20 of his own children with one wife

God kindly gave Job and Mrs. Job twenty children. He had ten, but a fierce wind blew the house down where they all were together. In this accident (at the hand of the devil), all ten died. God then restored the two of them with ten more children. So, he qualifies as a dad.

What about his fathering?

There are three outstanding qualities to notice which all impacted him as a father.

First, he was a godly person.

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1).

Job lived for God. Few men were ever said to be so godly in the Bible. No doubt, this impacted his capacity and practice of fathering. Wouldn’t it be incredible if every child could say that his or her dad walked with God blamelessly, uprightly, in the fear of God, and shunned evil. Wow! As a personal note, I believe that my brothers and sister have that kind of dad. Just as Job, not perfect, but very godly. As I have seen growing up, this impacts his daily life and parenting.

Second, he led his family in worship.

The story also describes how he led his family in worship. The narrator continues:

And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly. (Job 1:4-5)

Job was serious about worshipping God. As a father, his children’s relationship with God mattered to him. As he watched them live, he was both concerned about their walk with God and did something to help them in it. This stands out as another great quality of parenting. As above, I would reflect on my own life and say that I enjoyed a dad who was very aware, consistent, and proactive regarding our worship and life with God as well.

Third, he was sensitive to God.

At the end of Job’s story in the Bible, we see another great quality that had to impact his parenting. After a season of struggle with God through a very difficult time in his life, when confronted by God, he was sensitive to God’s rebuke. Job repented easily. God asked him a number of questions, and Job responds to the truth of God. In other words, Job was sensitive to God’s Word – here, direct revelation. He asks God to forgive Him, repents of His sin, and gets right with God. In fact, God says to Eliphaz, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:7). Wow! That’s powerful.

When confronted by God, Job responds:

 What about Jeremiah 35 – Jonadab the son of Rechab?

In Jeremiah 35, we get the story of Jonadab. Here, he taught his children the Word of God and taught them to live consistent with it. In fact, he did this so well that God used him and them as an example to all of Israel. Here are the 18 verses of his story. As you read through it, you might agree that he may be the best example in the Bible.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, “Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.”

Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, his brothers and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, and I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door. Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine.”

But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’ Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed. But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, ‘Come, let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians.’ So we dwell at Jerusalem.”

Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the Lord. “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me. I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me. Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.” ’

“Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them but they have not heard, and I have called to them but they have not answered.’ ”

And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” ’ ” (Jeremiah 35:1-19)

What do you think? Would he qualify? God says, “You shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever” – that seems significant. Why? Because he taught his children.

Both Fathers Lived Consistent with Deuteronomy 6

For sure, both fathers lived consistent with Deuteronomy 6. They lived and taught the Word to their children.

 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Whatever we do, may God be glorified and our children blessed!

Who would you say is the best father in the Bible?

 

Image Credit Road Ahead

 

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