He is also a Father (Thursday, Week 11, Year II)

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The father-child or parent-child relationship ought to be so strong and deep that it shouldn't be tampered with, redefined or negatively affected by status or position. No matter how royal or exalted a king may appear to be, he is still a father. No matter how ferocious or tough-looking a warrior may appear to be, his fatherly heart can't be like that of a fierce-looking lion ready to devour. When it is time to act as a father, he descends to the level of fatherhood. His status as a king or warrior should not cow his child and make the child believe that the father has become less a "father" and more a "terror".

The Old Testament writings have a lot to say or communicate to us about God, but there's no strong emphasis on the image of God as a father in the OT. Further research on this may be helpful.

The Book of Sirach (48:1-14) eulogises Elijah for his prowess as a prophet, presenting to us a long litany of Elijah's prophetic track records. As great as Elijah was, he never saw God or conceived of Him as a FATHER. All the actions of Elijah present to us an image of a God who is imposing, awe-inspiring, fearful, warlike, ready to destroy and consume. 

It is actually the New Testament that opened our eyes to the "father" side of God. In teaching us how we are to pray (cf. Matt. 6:7-15), Jesus began by introducing God as "OUR FATHER" in order to create in us the consciousness that God is also a father: a loving, provident, caring, merciful and forgiving father.

If this image of God is strongly engraved into our minds, many "funny" beliefs we have previously held about God will begin to crumble. And it will help us develop a better, more cordial, helpful and richer relationship with God. No matter how royal, kingly, imposing or awe-inspiring God may appear to us, He is and will forever be a father: loving, caring, tolerant, merciful, slow to anger, gracious, provident, abounding in love, and so on.

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