A Good Father : The Greatest Role Model

Bienhome Muivah *

Genesis 48:1-5,8-22
"… May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life to this day,
the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
-may he bless these boys …"

The role model or our greatest hero is right besides us. We tend to look elsewhere in the wrong places. Brad Britt, famous Hollywood star is not the one, how about Elton John, great singing icon, he is not either. We all have a long list of heroes/role models in our mind. We exalt them so high, they are put on the pedestal, and draw strength from them whether real or imagined.

The saddest thing is that, we have ignored the greatest role model God has given us. The man right beside us who shares all our joys and sorrows, a slight headache or stomach pain upsets him. He is ready to jump with joy on our high school exam result. He experiences floating on cloud 9 when he sees 'A' grade in our report card.

He is the man who gets up everyday and goes to work, who helps tie the shoe-lace, who comes home in the evening to help his children's homework, the man who puts with our moods and our misconceptions, the man who sings to us and keep on loving us even when we are unlovable.

Why should we keep on ignoring the greatest role model of all times God has given us as a gift? Remember the media-made images/icons can never be our heroes. Our father in our humble homes are the greatest role models.

A Good Father puts God first
A good father puts God as his first priority above his wife and children. We can recall the life of Joseph in the Bible. From the very early stage, he got into trouble with his brothers, then came the second phase of his trouble, with his boss's wife, in order to preserve his godly living.

Blessings abound in the lives of those who put God first. And this should be demonstrated by the father in action what he professed with his lips.

A good Father seeks God's guidance
Joseph sought God's guidance every step of the way. He remained firm in his faith when he was despised by his hostile brothers. During his series of trials and temptations, he continued to seek God's guidance. Stepping on the footsteps of Joseph, fathers need to seek God's guidance for every decision in the family.

A good Father ask for God's blessings
Joseph brought his two sons to his father to receive God's blessings. He asked that the Lord bless the days of his son's lives.
Father must intercedes for the blessed lives of each member in the family. A good father understands that blessing is the pre-requisite in a Christian family.

A good father puts the past behind him
Joseph learned from the past mistakes. He said, "what you did to me in the past, you meant for evil, but God turned into good." Genesis 50:20 shows that he doesn't harbor any bitter feeling or meditating revenge upon his brothers rather he took it as God's divine plan. What an awesome mind-set!

A good father draws many good lessons from his past and learn from it. Not to dwell or rehearse on them and start feeling sorry/regret but to see what lessons God would have you learn from them.

There was an old man who kept a sweet disposition always no matter what happened. Tragedy, bereavement etc cannot bogged him down. Upon questioning, how he is able to cope and keep on smiling. He replied, because of what the scripture says, "what does the Bible say?" It says, "And it came to pass."

A good father put his trust in God
Joseph put his trust in God no matter what. He was despised, forsaken and rejected yet he remained firm in his faith. All his life he never failed to put his trust in God. Sometimes everything doesn't come our way as we expect, although contrary, we need to keep up our trust at the high speed. Joseph's life shows that trusting in God is not always easy.

A good father always trust in God for his home, his dreams, his life, for future, for his children, for finances etc.

He is confident that God can handle what he is not able to handle. He knows he has limitations, and thrust all his cares upon God.

So friends, your hero is right besides you. Don't take him for granted. Failing to recognize your greatest hero/model would cost you dearly.

Happy Father's Day!