Superstar Dads – What Every Family Needs
One person we sometimes forget to learn from as fathers is our Father in heaven. How does God respond to His children?
PROVIDE COMFORT – Exodus 13:17-22; 14:19-25:
God provided for the comfort of Israel. He gave them protection from their enemies. In chapter 16, God provides Israel with manna and meat. He gave them water from rocks.
Our children need to know that home is a place of comfort and safety. There should be no fears associated with home. It needs to be a place of emotional safety, physical safety, spiritual safety.
Be real. Be loving. Share. Be honest in sharing your own struggles and mistakes.
Dads, provide comfort for your family just as God provided safety and protection to the children of Israel.
SET BOUNDARIES – Exodus 16:
Look at verse 8 and the Israelites: “complaining” (3x), verse 9 – “complaints,” verse 12, “complaints.” God decides to shower bread from heaven, which the Israelites called “manna.” When Father provides, Father has reason to expect obedience. He told them – “Gather as much as you can eat, a basket for each person in your family. Do not gather more than you need for one day.” Some left part of their basket until the next morning – probably hoping they would not have to work the next day – and God caused their manna to grow worms. Punishment. Boundaries.
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MODEL VALUES – Exodus 20:
Three months after Israel comes out of Egypt, God brings them to Mount Sinai and He has a “family council” with them. Actually, it is not to consult with them to see what their opinions are but, rather, to tell them what His values are. We might say that the Ten Commandments are God’s values.
Now, if setting boundaries is what we teach, then modeling values is how we live. Your children will almost invariably pick up more on how you live than on what you teach. Your children learn to react by the way you react. They learn to respond to their mother by the way you respond to your wife. They learn how to respond to people who mistreat them by the way you respond to people who mistreat you.
Do your children know that you run religiously? They know that you value your health. There is nothing wrong with that. Do your children know that you also spend time in Bible reading and prayer just as religiously? What are you teaching your children that you value?
Do your children know that you go bowling with friends every Friday night? Do they know that you play golf every day off? There is nothing wrong with that. Do your children know that you go out with your wife alone on a Saturday night? That you are helping with VBS in your extra time? What are you teaching your children that you value?
To be a superstar dad – provide comfort, set boundaries, and model godly values.
–Paul Holland
Your fellow
