The Bible is full of images and examples of Fatherhood. We can all benefit this Father’s Day from a deeper look into the concepts of having a father and honoring a father. Honoring one’s father is the first commandment with a promise attached. Deuteronomy records the Law and in 5:16 states,

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

The promise is that God will bless those who honor their father and mother with long, satisfying life in a land where everything will go well with them. This promise is built upon the covenant that God established with His people Israel. Therefore, God is obligated to bless those who honor their fathers.

This blessing is not conditional on the actions of our father but our response to them.  Many have either poor examples of a father or no example of a father. This does not limit the promise God has made; as long as we do not harbor ill will toward our parents, God will keep His promise.

In the Old Testament, God is revealed as the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon. In the New Testament, God is our father. Thus, Jesus came to provide a supernatural means of spiritual adoption to those who believe in Him.

Galatians 4:4-6 tells us, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!'”

Abba is an endearing Aramaic expression closely related to our children’s cry of “Dada” or “Daddy.” Our human fathers share a genetic covenant with their children, but God, our heavenly Father, upholds a spiritual covenant with His children.

14 out of the 21 books of the New Testament contain within their first few verses the phrase, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So rest in the peace and goodness of “Daddy God” today and honor your earthly parents.

Happy Father’s Day.