Eli, Samuel, and David all failed at Fathering!
It’s a classic lesson in Bible history!
Eli raised two sons that were ungodly and unfit – Hophni and Phinehas; they were described as sons of Belial (1 Samuel 2:12)!
Samuel did the same – the failure of His sons Joel and Abiah were the primary reasons that Israel requested for a King (1 Samuel 8:5)!
David raised Absalom and Adonijah – sons that rose against their own Father and brothers !
(Ref 2 Samuel 17 and several more)
One major thing to learn from the failure of all these three men of GOD is that a father must not be NEGLIGENT!
Amongst several other things, these men were negligent in giving REBUKE!
David was a classic, bad example of this!
1 Kings 1:6 (AMP)
[6] His father [David] had never rebuked him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” Adonijah was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.
Scripture says David NEVER rebuked Adonijah!
He allowed the lad to do whatever He wanted !
He set no boundaries whatsoever !
That is simply DISASTER in parenting and spiritual fatherhood!
You see, Fatherhood isn’t a cliché!
It’s a VERB !
A present continuous activity!
It’s WORK!
This pattern of spiritual fatherhood that presupposes that sons and daughters should be the ones running after the father is WRONG!
It’s celebrity Fatherhood!
It has caused much harm in Ministry !
Father’s must run after their sons by WATCHING them!
A Father’s eyes and heart should go after His Sons and Daughters!
Hear what Jesus says in this parable…
Luke 15:20
[20] And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, AND RAN, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Elisha’s heart followed Gehazi !
2 Kings 5:26
[26] And he said unto him, WENT NOT MINE HEART WITH THEE, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money and to receive garments, oliveyards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, menservants, and maidservants?
This is what it takes to Father people!
BTW, a person that wants the care of a Father but doesn’t take Instructions and Rebukes from you is NOT Your Son/Daughter!
I believe that spiritual fatherhood is a SUPERNATURAL task, and therefore, the Lord supernaturally equips anyone who stands in that place for the task!
A true Father can SEE!
A true Father KNOWS !
A true Father DISCERNS !
A true Father REBUKES and REBUILDS !
A true father does all of these and more from a place of love !
It is impossible to do all these if one is NEGLIGENT!
Just musing….Literally!
