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Wim Kamphorst

Fathers in the Bible

No father in the Bible was perfect, except One. Look at their strength and their pitfall, and choose what you want to take with you.

  • Abraham

    Faith

    Strength
    Trusted God with his son, and was told to teach his children the way of the Lord.
    Pitfall
    Lied out of fear about Sarah, and let tensions in his family get out of hand.
    Lesson for today
    You pass on faith by living it, also in your weakness.

    Genesis 18:19, Genesis 20:2, Genesis 21:9-14, Genesis 22

  • Joseph, husband of Mary

    Protection, Faith

    Strength
    Listened to God and brought his family to safety, in the middle of the night.
    Pitfall
    The Bible mentions no failure. He doesn't even say a word.
    Lesson for today
    A father often protects most by obeying.

    Matthew 1:19-24, Matthew 2:13-14

  • The father of the prodigal son

    Grace

    Strength
    Let his son go, kept watching for him, and ran to meet him.
    Pitfall
    None. Jesus uses him as a picture of God himself.
    Lesson for today
    Grace does not wait until the child has said sorry.

    Luke 15:11-32

  • David as a father

    Boundaries

    Strength
    Loved his children intensely.
    Pitfall
    Became angry but did not intervene when Amnon did wrong, and later lost Absalom.
    Lesson for today
    Love without boundaries is not love.

    2 Samuel 13:21, 2 Samuel 18:33

  • Eli

    Boundaries, Faith

    Strength
    Taught the young Samuel to listen to God's voice.
    Pitfall
    Did not correct his own sons.
    Lesson for today
    You can guide someone else's child well and forget your own.

    1 Samuel 3:9, 1 Samuel 3:13

  • Job

    Prayer

    Strength
    Prayed again and again for his children, in case they had sinned.
    Pitfall
    In his suffering he wrestled with God, but kept talking to Him.
    Lesson for today
    Praying for your children is work nobody sees and that counts.

    Job 1:5, Job 42:5

  • Jacob

    Grace, Boundaries

    Strength
    At the end of his life he blessed all his sons and grandsons.
    Pitfall
    Favoured Joseph, which stirred up jealousy and hatred among the brothers.
    Lesson for today
    Favouritism breaks a family, blessing builds it up.

    Genesis 37:3-4, Genesis 48 to 49

  • Noah

    Protection, Faith

    Strength
    Did exactly what God said and brought his whole family to safety.
    Pitfall
    Later got drunk, bringing shame into his family.
    Lesson for today
    Even after a great victory you remain vulnerable.

    Genesis 6:22, Genesis 9:20-23

Tools: Being a father

What kind of father are you?Ten questions about fatherhood, also as a spiritual father or mentorTake the testTime with your childHow many weekends, summers and bedtime stories do you have left? An eye-opener in numbers.Open the toolWhat your father gave youLook back honestly at your own father. What do you take with you, and what do you leave behind?Open the toolWrite a blessing for your childChoose what you see in your child and what you wish for them. You get a personal blessing to speak out or write down.Open the toolTable questionsReal conversations at the table or in the car, with questions for each age.Open the toolFamily manifestoChoose your five core values, answer a few questions and print your own family manifesto.Open the tool