“Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
Many are the ones who struggle with these words of admonition. Over these many years of ministry, I have encountered believers who had grave difficulty referring to God as “Our Father in heaven”. The reasons were varied between an absent father in the home, to one who was very unloving or abusive in a variety of ways. The reasons for which seem to be unlimited. They did not feel comfortable calling God, Father, because it placed God on the same level as one who inflicted either physical or emotional pain, or both.
Some have wanted to know why they should honor such a man as this. Why would a “loving God” demand such a painful thought as showing honor to one who is dishonorable in relationship?
An easy answer, but one which may sound glib or uncaring would be, “because God said so!”
However, there is a deeper concern in the heart of God for you in this command for honor and respect. I want to try to speak to you from the heart of God and my heart of compassionate understanding. Contemplate this:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee . . .” (Jeremiah 1:5)
The Psalmist came to a conclusion of his beginnings:
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)
Beloved, hear the heart of God on the matter. Somehow, in ways that are beyond our understanding, God saw you in thoughtful loving design within His heart before you were conceived in your mother. Your DNA, which we are just recently becoming very aware of, was designed and recorded somehow in that book of His of which the Psalmist spoke, before your conception. He knew you, and He knew the very gene pool necessary for your creation. He knew all that was required for you to be you, and He orchestrated hundreds of years of genetics on your behalf. And, the finale of your being birthed was, of all people, your father and mother!
We are not called to honor our father and mother because they have earned our honor. We are called to honor the positions of father and mother because God ordained those blessed positions. In addition, we honor our father and mother because they were the ones God used of necessity to complete our intended design.
One last thought: if we were able to trace our DNA all the way back to the beginning of us all, Adam and Eve, we would remember in Genesis 2:7 we are told that after God had formed man from the dust of the ground He breathed something of Himself into Adam. God is Life. God gave that which He is into man; life.
Beloved, in every way, our DNA begins with God.
There is so much that is beyond our complete understanding, but our response must be as stated in Psalm 37:3 – “Trust in the LORD, and do good . . .”
Happy Father’s Day!