Fathers, examples of

The ideal father, from a biblical perspective, is one who loves God, is obedient to him and reflects this in his daily living and in the care and upbringing of his children.

Fathers who followed divine principles within their families

Abraham

Genesis 18:19 See also Genesis 17:1–7, Genesis 17:18–20, Genesis 21:1–5, Genesis 21:8–13, Genesis 22:1–18

For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

Zechariah

Luke 1:5–20 See also Luke 1:62–80

The father of the prodigal

Luke 15:11–31

Fathers who acted wrongly

Through favouritism

Genesis 37:3–4 See also Genesis 25:28

Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Through lack of discipline

1 Samuel 2:22–25 See also 1 Samuel 2:27–36, 1 Samuel 3:11–18

Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. “Why are you doing these things?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear about your wicked deeds from all these people. No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people. If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.

The intercession of fathers for their children

Abraham

Genesis 17:18–22

And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!” But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.” When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

David

1 Chronicles 29:10–19 See also 2 Samuel 12:15–23

Job

Job 1:4–5

Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

The father of the demoniac

Matthew 17:14–15 parallels Mark 9:17–18, Luke 9:38–39

When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

The royal official

John 4:46–49

So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” “Sir,” the official said, “come down before my child dies.”