Page 9 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

The God Who is a Father

ometimes we cannot see the forest for the trees. Sometimes things are so much in our
Sface that we cannot discern what it is we are looking at. One of the most common
appellations used by Christians in referring to God is “Father.” Calling God “Father” is both
proper, and scriptural.

Matthew 6:9
"Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.’”

Galatians 4:6
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our
hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”

Referring to God as “Father” is something that Christians often take for granted. Most
have not taken time to deeply consider the ramifications of God being our Father. It will
serve us well to take a penetrating look into this matter. In approximately 270 occurrences
the word “Father” is used in reference to God’s relationship to mankind. We find the first
occurrence in what is referred to as “The Song of Moses.”

Deuteronomy 32:6
Is not He your Father who has bought you? He has made you and established
you.

Beyond this, there are hundreds of additional instances where men and women are
called the sons, daughters, children, seed, and offspring of God. It is apparent that
fatherhood is very important to the heart of God.
We can learn something about Yahweh’s purpose for man as we look at the creation
account in Genesis. Notice in the following verses the repetition of the phrase “after their
kind.”

Genesis 1:11-12
Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees
bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth"; and it was so. And
the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees
bearing fruit, with seed in them, after their kind.

Genesis 1:24-25
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle
and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so. And
God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind,
and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was
good.

Every living thing God created upon the earth had the ability to reproduce after its
kind. Sheep give birth to sheep. Oak trees produce other oak trees. Salmon produce salmon.