"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling," says Psalm 68:5. The Lord God Almighty chose the language of family out of all the ways He could have communicated with humanity. He could have described Himself as a kind dictator, a patient landlord, or a benevolent dictator. He, on the other hand, chose the word father.
Because we all know what a father is and does, He presents Himself as a Father. We have an innate understanding of what a good father should be, even if we did not have earthly fathers who treated us well. That understanding was implanted in our minds by God. We all want to be loved, cherished, safe, and appreciated. In an ideal world, an earthly father would be able to meet those requirements. But God will, even if he doesn't. Jesus taught His disciples to refer to God as Father (Luke 11:2). God's love for us is described as that of a caring parent throughout the Bible (Isaiah 49:15; John 16:26–27; 2 Corinthians 6:18). Although He has both father and mother characteristics (Isaiah 66:13), He prefers the masculine word because it also means strength, protection, and provision (Psalm 54:4).
Orphans and fatherless people hold a special place in God's heart (Deuteronomy 24:20; Jeremiah 49:11; James 1:27). "Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me," says Psalm 27:10. Many times, God knows, earthly fathers have been absent or have failed to do their job (Ephesians 6:4). He expresses his willingness to take on the role of a father (John 6:37; Deuteronomy 1:31). He invites us to cry out to Him in times of trouble (Psalm 50:15), to cast all our anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7), and to enjoy His company (1 Peter 5:8). (1 Corinthians 1:9: Psalm 116:1; 1 John 5:14). He exemplifies the qualities He envisioned for fatherhood when He created it. Although many earthly fathers fall short of the ideal, God promises that no one will be without a perfect Father in Him.
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