When I reflect on the heart of Father God, I think about God’s tenderness toward man. He is a forgiving, loving Father, intimately involved in every detail of our lives.
In my last post I mentioned the narrative of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. The younger son is asking for his inheritance and by doing so will break all ties with his father and family. In biblical culture this request was considered a serious act of rebellion which would have resulted in refusing the request, anger from the father, and severe punishment toward the son. In the story we see that the father did not respond this way, but instead gave the son his inheritance and allowed him to leave. As we read further the son loses all he had, is truly sorry for his behavior, and desires to return to his father. Verse 20. His father sees the son coming toward him and runs to meet him. For the father to run and meet the son is completely against Jewish culture. This was an act that never would be done in public. Jewish men did not run because that would require them to pick up their skirt and expose their bare legs. In this situation, it would be appropriate for a father to punish his son by making a public spectacle of him and not allowing him inside the city gate for several days. The father’s motive would to bring shame on the son. Also, when a son lost his inheritance to Gentiles, there was a ceremony that the community would perform called “ kezazha”. This consisted of the people yelling at the son, “you are now cut off from your people!” Then they would totally reject him and not permit him to come back into the city. However, by running to his son the father allowed himself to take the shame, humiliation, and rejection that the son deserved. Instead of rejection and unforgiveness toward his son, the father forgave him and welcomed him with unconditional love. The desire of the father’s heart was one of reconciliation.
The Pharisees were shocked as Jesus described the father’s unorthodox behavior. They did not understand that Jesus was introducing them to Abba Father.
Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Father, I thank You for Your desire to be our Father. I request that as we seek You, our eyes are opened to Who You are and to Your unconditional love for us.
