(Hebrew: ‘ab; Greek: pater, literally a nourisher, a protector) How important is fatherhood? In the natural sense of progenitor, he is also an ancestor, near or remote. He is a founder, i.e. the first ancestor of a tribe or a nation. He is the author of a family or a society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself; thus Abraham was the father of all of them that believe. (Romans Ch.8) God is called the father of men and angels (Isaiah 63:16; 64:8, Ephesians.3:4, 15).
He is also called the father of lights, i.e. stars (James 1:17).The above topical senses come from the notion of source, origin; others are drawn from the idea of paternal love and care, the honour due a father, etc. A father is a benefactor, as doing good and providing for others as a father. The Messiah is the “everlasting father” (Isaiah Ch. 9:6). God is the father of righteousness and kings (2 Samuel 7:14, 1 Chron. 7:13, 22; Psa. 89:26.) A father is a teacher, in the form of the idea of paternal instruction (1 Samuel Ch.10:12); Priests and prophets were called “father”, as teachers (2Kings 2:12, 5:13)
The position and authority of the father as the head of the family is expressly assumed and sanctioned in Scripture as a likeness of that of the Almighty over his creatures. The New Testament brings the fact of the fatherhood of God into greater prominence and distinctness, God is represented as the Father of various objects and orders of being which he has created. The term thus used refers to the natural relationship between God and his creatures, and has a significance more or less profound according to the different natures and capacities of these objects or orders of beings. Thus God is “the Father of Lights”, the heavenly bodies (James 1:17) Also, he is Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9) He is particularly Father of man created after his image (Acts 17:26; Luke 3:8).
God is in a special sense the Father of his redeemed and saved people. All the hope of the Gospel rests upon the fact of the fatherly love of God for mankind. Even in all of mankind’s sinfulness (John 3:16; Luke 15:11-32), only they who are actually saved through Jesus Christ are admitted to the privileges of children in the divine household. The Jews were the people to whom salvation as promised. Jesus died for the sins of all of mankind that whosoever believes in Him, may have everlasting life. The Gentiles are thus regarded as new branches, grafted into the True Vine. Jesus is the True Vine. Fathers today, have a great responsibility to care for and nourish their immediate families and to teach them to follow the correct path in life, that all may be well with their descendants and to enable them to be blessed with the full blessings of God.
God Bless Brian