Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.”
Hebrews 13:8 (emphasis added)

The Ironside Commentary says, ‘The moment our responsibility as sinners, having to do with the God of judgment, ended, our responsibility as children, having to do with our Father, began. In this new relationship we are to display the activities of the divine nature’. Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him” (John 3:17). Paul said, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). We know Adonai Elohim is our Father. The Great I AM. Yahweh. YVWH. But I wonder if we really see His heart to BE a Father as much as we should.

Part of the problem is that we do not have a clear picture of Fatherhood. We see fathers as males. The primitive male fighting against other males for the possession of females. The winner of bread. The warriors. The providers. The ‘caveman’ who goes out to get while the females stay and nurture. But science is beginning to catch up with the Word on Fatherhood. Sarah Blaffer Hrdy (a primatologist) writes in her book Father Time ‘The same molecules and neural circuits that played pivotal roles when mammalian mothers first began birthing helpless babies, and then instinctively tending them, can become operational in males.’ Not exactly the traditional view. In fact, studies have shown that circuits in the prefrontal cortex were active in the brains of fathers who helped mothers care for children (The mothers were still primary caregivers). Fathers are nurturers too and they always have been.

In wild wolf packs (a traditional animal looked at for male roles), the leadership of the pack is determined along family lines with the parents being dominant over their offspring. It can go wider than that with aunts, uncles, grandparents and siblings all being involved in leadership and nurturing one another. Wolves are a group of individuals working together to provide offspring care. Everyone has a role in nurturing and leading both the next generation and the pack as a whole. Far from the mythical ‘alpha male’ of modern social media. Fathers are more complex than we often want to let them be. They do not need to be the lone figure leaving at the crack of dawn, returning long after dark to leftovers in a cold kitchen, and seeing the children MAYBE on weekends for a few moments between chores. Fathers are meant to be an intimate part of the family unit.

Because of the less-than-true pictures of males and fathers, it can be hard for us to get a picture of the Father. It is too easy for us to see Him as aloof, majestic, and judgy. That isn’t to say He ISN’T majestic. He is. Fantastically so. But that is WHAT He is, that isn’t His heart. “Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still. Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man. I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking” (Ezekiel 1:25-28). That is a level of majesty that none can stand against. But the heart of that majestic Father is turned toward us.

There was a billboard sign outside a biker bar in the United States. We all know what image of bikers comes to mind: a big, burly man with a large beard and tattoos all over him. He’s probably loud and says something rude or vaguely threatening. He wears all leather, a t-shirt with a bike on it, a jacket covered in patches, and a pair of sunglasses. Tough. He is a TOUGH man. Back to the sign. It read: No matter how tough you are, when a 2yr old hands you a toy phone you answer it. THAT is the Father’s heart. He ANSWERS us. “Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). “And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Our Father isn’t up there ready to beat us. He isn’t annoyed. He isn’t angry. He cannot WAIT to see us face to face. He’s waited long enough. He wants to see YOU. His patience toward our problems knows no end. It is currently just after six in the morning. I have been up and awake since just before two this morning. Why? Children. Children coming in to say they can’t get to sleep and then lying on my bed for comfort. Comfort and to push me into the corner. Children crying because they’re too hot. Because they want to drink cold water in my bedroom. Because they want to snuggle but not touch because they’re still too hot. They don’t want to lie down in front of the air conditioner (in spite of it being three in the morning), they want to kneel but also want to sleep. The whines. The crying. The requests to use MY bathroom. And the changes of jammies for various reasons. It has been musical children this morning. When it isn’t one, it is another. And throughout the night I kept hearing ‘Father heart. Father heart’.

My own father worked. A fair bit. There was pressure to work and work and work. The pressure of a provider. I’m sure as kids my siblings and I were not shy in explaining and proclaiming all the things we wanted. Then there would have been all the things he and our mother wanted to give. Shelter, food, treats, clothes, toys, experiences, etc etc. There was pressure to be successful. To amass monetary piles of worth in the eyes of the world – as well as his family members near and far. The judgment based on worldly success and education from friends, fellow churchgoers, family, in-laws, and strangers on the street. Being a workaholic wasn’t a flaw, it was an admired character trait. It was easy to see the father-in-passing that he sometimes had to be due to work.

But the point of the work was never the work itself. It was us. The family. He was a PROVIDER. You could see that. No, he could not always provide all that he (or we) wanted. But we never went without. He also provided something else. An unwavering arrow pointing to Adonai. We never got to forget that Adonai was at the centre of our lives and my mother firmly joined him in that. We were always pointed to Him. We saw them praying. Studying the Word. Teaching Sunday School. Hosting Bible Study groups and prayer meetings. He was a good role model. Emotionally available, but not overly emotional. The last stop of discipline, but fair in judgment (as much as he could be anyway. I was a troublemaker).

I don’t remember the nights he was up with us, but I’ve seen the pictures. In fact, if you look at the family pictures he shows up a lot. In the background. In the foreground. He was – and is – a presence in our lives. He’s a supporter. He’s a giver. He likes to bless. He has advice he could give, but he doesn’t push it on you. He has opinions that are not always ours, but other than communicating them and the reasons for them, he leaves us alone to choose what we want. He’ll support almost anything, unless it fails to align with Adonai’s morality. He doesn’t apologise for seeking to support Adonai’s point of view. He doesn’t condemn when we don’t line up – his job is information, not interference. He gives his time if you want it. He wants to know how you are. He likes children who know how to play. He likes to laugh. He is a good reminder that being a father is not about frowns and I-told-you-not-to’s. He is a good father.

Our Father in heaven is a lot like that. Giving. Blessing. loves children. Sees us all as children. We see our big adult declarations and our big adult accomplishments. He sees little toddlers with sweet voices running around the Throne with huge grins and iced cream stains. He is a protector and nurturer. He wants to see us happy. He wants to see us successful. He wants us to see the non-issue sin is in Jesus. He wants us to walk in the fullness of His Grace, not just a piece we can grasp. He wants us as graduates from the school of trust, not students desperately cramming for a test He isn’t giving. He wants us well and whole, but will walk the floor comforting us and letting us sleep on His chest every night of the week if we choose that route. He is THERE for us. He offers, but doesn’t pressure. It is ALWAYS our choice. He aligns things for us, sets things up, and has plan after plan in place for every eventuality. He is a GOOD Father.

I am sitting here yawning with my eyes like sandpaper and my focus trying to float away and I am reminded He is NEVER like this. “May he not allow your foot to slip. May your Protector not sleep. Look! Israel’s Protector does not sleep or slumber. The Lord is your protector; the Lord is the shade at your right hand” (Psalm 121:3-5). The Father is ALWAYS there for us. He is ALWAYS looking out for me. He doesn’t look away. He doesn’t lose interest. He is NEVER in a meeting or busy with bills. ““Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?” the Lord asks. “Do you not know that I am everywhere?” the Lord asks” (Jeremiah 23:24). He is a GOOD Father. He always has MY best and YOUR best in His heart.

He is not looking for a couple of hours here and there. He is looking for relationship. He is running the entire universe all the time (Hebrews 1:3-6), but He has time for you. “Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you! Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms; your walls are constantly before me” (Isaiah 49:15-16). The Hebrew word for inscribed is chaqaq (khaw-kak’), and it means to cut in, inscribe, and decree. He carved our names into His hand. Like a relief into a brick wall. But it is also a declaration. Adonai is a God of words and declarations. He has declared us. The word carries connotations of commanding, decreeing, enacting, lawgiving, ruling, and sceptres. He kinged us. Crowned us in Jesus who has all the crowns (Revelation 19:12).

We aren’t worthy of glory. We aren’t. We’re dirt. But Jesus is worthy of ALL glory. So our Father clothed us in Jesus so that His glory is our glory in Him. We’re copies of Jesus in the Father’s eyes. No sin. No faults. No issues. No failings. He isn’t blind to them (The Ruach HaKodesh is here to teach and correct us after all). But He chooses to see us as we are in Jesus. To focus on the US who WILL BE and ARE in Jesus. To call the unseen as though it is seen (Romans 4:17).

He IS our Father. He is our RENEWER. He makes us like Jesus who is like Him. He makes us over day after day, week after week, year after year. Each day we become more like Jesus. More like Him. And no matter WHAT STAGE we are at, the Father is up there shouting to the heavens His JOY at YOU. Right where you are. No matter where on your journey you are. He exults in you. He takes joy in you. You are His BELOVED CHILD. He never forgets it. He showers you with all the love He has, and then gives you more. He calls you to be like Him so that we can see Him. Stand before Him. Climb into His lap all smiles and giggles and cuddle. He is your FATHER. He is a GOOD father. And He loves you. He is proud of you. He sees you. Let Him reach down and give you a pat on the head. Let Him show you His approval. He loves you. You are a GOOD child.

Daily Affirmation The Father Loves You: Psalm 91:1

“As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the Most High, and resides in the protective shadow of the Sovereign One” The Father protects me. He keeps my house dry. He has removed spiders, silverfish, and pests from our living areas. He’s prevented rodents from nesting here. He’s kept moles and voles away. He’s multiplied food in our cupboards. He’s guided our shopping and provided for needs months to years before they came up. He’s reduced travel times. He’s directed us to sales. He’s set guards on and around our home. He’s turned it into a place of peace for the neighbourhood. He’s sent children to our door for food and a safe place. He’s kept equipment going and fixed others. He’s regulated the temperature inside our home. He’s brought worship in. Angels have dropped by to witness and join in that worship. He’s shared jokes with us. He’s corrected us. He’s blessed us. He’s required a standard of behaviour. He lets nothing slip, but is willing to deal with each and every thing no matter how small and bring us to the place where we not only see His point of view but embrace it for the rightness and truth that it is. He loves us. He shows us that again and again and again every single day. He’s done it for us. He will do it for you if you’ll let Him (Romans 2:11). The Father loves you and loves to get into the details of your life. Not to micromanage or interfere in a human sense. No. He wants to be part of your life so that He can bring HIS life into YOURS. To give you ABUNDANT life right where you are and ABUNDANT life on HIS standard of living (John 10:10). The Father loves you! Enter into His blessing. Enter into Jesus. Abide in obedience out of love for Him and see what He does! He can’t wait. You shouldn’t either.

Confession of Our Place in the Father’s Heart:

Just as the Father has loved Jesus, Jesus has also loved me; I will remain in Jesus’ love so that I can love the Father back.

John 15:9