Embracing Fatherhood

Ijeoma M Anyanwu

“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations”(Gen 17:5).

Abram was among the few whose names were personally changed by the Lord. His new name was the opposite of his present reality. He had only one child, Ishmael. He was ninety-nine years old, and his wife, Sarah, was ten years younger.

Father Abraham is your Example

But the Lord never consults your past or present situation to determine your future. He already has His plan in place. And in His plan, He had chosen and made Abram a father of many nations. In the very next chapter, the Lord says of Abraham, “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”(Gen 18:19).

As the world goes through all kinds of metamorphism, there are certain things that must never be allowed to be changed or altered if homes, societies, and nations must remain sane and stable. Among them is the divine positioning and roles of husbands and fathers.

Fatherhood is a calling

No one takes this honor upon himself, it is the Lord who calls.(Heb 5:4). As a father, it is crucial for you to understand that your role as a father is a divine calling, not an accident or chance. He chose you and made you a father. His expectations are clearly spelled out, and just like any other assignment, He expects you to give your all to this calling. Because your success in this area will determine the destiny of lives, homes, societies, and nations. Because Abraham stayed true to his calling as a friend of God and as a father, nations and peoples today have received and will continue to receive God's promises.

It has always been the plan of God

It was a clear plan: in addition to being chosen to be a father of many nations, Abraham was designated to guide and teach his descendants and household to walk in obedience to the Lord. He was thus given a clear job description in addition to being called to be a father.

Esteem your calling as a father

Your role as a father should not be treated any differently than you would your career or call to the ministry. Hold your calling as a father in high esteem—you should not seek to be validated by anyone. Because that validation may never come. But the One who called you sees you, and has validated you. And that should matter to you the most.

Perhaps Eli, the High Priest of Israel, would have treated his fatherhood with the same seriousness as he did the priesthood if he had known this. A generational promise was lost to him as a result (1 Samuel 2:27–36). And it has nothing to do with being a super dad, because such a father does not exist.

Your role as a father

should not be treated

any differently than you would

treat your career or call to the ministry.

The man the Lord desires is one who, like Abraham, is completely surrendered to Him and to His will, regardless of his age, background, or social standing. A father who has the courage to live out his faith and way of life in a way that leaves no doubt in the mind of his child, wife, and household as to who his absolute allegeance belongs to. Just like Eliezer of Damascus saw in his master Abraham (Gen 24:12). A father who will set aside time to teach his children and family to follow suit.

Understand the You are Needed

In today's generation, where good values are being changed and twisted with every tick of the clock, take heart. You are important, honored, cherished, relevant, and very much needed. Because despite the best efforts of the world around us to downplay the significance of fathers and fatherhood, history and statistics unequivocally highlight the difference between children who had a father figure in their lives and those who did not, regardless of the father's spiritual, physical, or financial standing.

In what ways are you embracing your role as a father?

Prayer: Father, thank you for calling me and making me a father. Flood the eyes of my heart with understanding of this calling, and grant me the grace to live a life worthy of it in Jesus name.