View of the Father
The role of a father is very important. As we all know, we learn from observation. A little girl will learn how she thinks she should be treated by observing how her earthly father treats her, her mother, and even her earthly father’s mother. The same is true for little boys. They observe their earthly father to learn how to be a man, to be strong, how to overcome, how to be responsible and to be the provider for the family. Let me ask you this…Do you ever think of what you learned by observing your earthly father is how you perceive your heavenly Father?
When I was a little girl, I remember my dad having to work a lot. I would rarely see him. When I did, he liked to watch TV to relax or he would be sleeping so he would be rested for work. I spent more time with Mom than I did my dad. When I got older I believed that my dad didn’t love me. A lot of years went by with me thinking in this way. Let me share with you how God worked. When I was in my early 20s I moved to North Carolina. I was over 500 miles away from my family. My mom and dad came down to visit and God used a little pond in Ellerbe, North Carolina to change everything. My dad and I went fishing together and at the time I thought something magical had happened. When I look back, I see that it was God opening my eyes to the true love of my earthly father. This would help me to see my heavenly Father in a new perspective. It wasn’t until the latter years of my time in North Carolina that my heavenly Father drew me back to Him with loving kindness. Since then, there has been no turning back. All of us have different situations…but we can all have the same heavenly Father, who can transform anything…even the most broken of relationships, if we let Him.
In 1300 BC, Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. When we read the story, the Israelites were in slavery to the Egyptians. The Lord spoke to Moses and used him to bring the Israelites out of slavery to bring them to the Promised Land. He parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape the Egyptians who were in pursuit of them. Even in their grumbling, the Lord provided for them. He fed them manna from above when they were hungry; He made water come from the rock so that they could drink. Even when they wondered in the wilderness for 40 years because they chose to disobey God, there was a remnant left to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land, men of a different spirit.
The Lord never left the children of Israel. When we continue to read the story, we learn that the children of Israel could not wait for Moses to return from speaking with God. They created themselves a golden calf to worship. When Moses returned he had to plead with the Lord to forgive the children of Israel. Moses had to contend for the children of Israel and seek atonement for their sins. The Lord dealt justly with the children of Israel, even though they turned their backs on the Lord, the Lord never turned His back on them.
All throughout the history of the Old Testament, we see there was a constant state of turning away from God. People willingly chose to worship other gods. God never left them. God is a just God. He deals with sin as should be. But he always drew His people back to Him with loving-kindness.
From the day Adam and Eve sinned against God, there had been a separation between God and man…God never stopped pursuing us! All throughout the Old Testament you read of sacrifices needing to be made for atonement of sin. God had the perfect sacrifice planned before the foundation of the world. The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, our Savior became the perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews 10:8-14 (NKJV), Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings for sin You did not desire, or had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
What I want to make clear to you is this. Our Father desires to have a relationship with you, with me. He NEVER left us…never forsook us. In the Old Testament we were bound by the law. Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice that was sacrificed once and for all. He tore the veil and reconciled us to our Father. Now we live not by the law but by the Spirit. When we truly recognize how powerful, long-suffering, strong, mighty, just, and loving our Father is, we experience Him in a way that we never desire to turn from Him again. We long to serve Him and to love Him, because in His presence is fullness of joy! We find in Him our true value and worth…He treats us as a true father should.
In Exodus 19:5-6 the Lord spoke. ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
Please, read this again…put this in your heart! You are a special treasure to the Lord. You are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation! How precious are His thoughts toward His children!
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to do so today. His love sets the captives free! Being a Christian will not be easy. Life without God is death…but life with Christ is life eternal!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. –John 3:16 (NKJV)
©2022 Leslie Wittenmyer—All rights reserved