Constant Coulibaly

When we think of God as Father, a child might imagine Him as an old man with a long beard sitting in a rocking chair in heaven. Such a representation of God is understandable for a child but becomes ridiculous when it comes from an adult. Yet many adults visualise God the way children would.

When the Bible refers to God as a "Father,” this does not mean God has a physical human body.

The Apostle John declares, "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24). This means that God is not a physical being like us, but rather a spiritual being. God is infinite, and as such, it is impossible to localize Him in one's mind to have a mental description of Him. We cannot conceive of an image of God in our earthly minds. If we could, we would be frightened to death. This reminds us of Exodus 33:20, where God tells Moses, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

When the Old Testament speaks of God the Father, distinguishing the first Person of the Godhead from the Son and the Holy Spirit, this is to show that He is the Originator or Creator. It says, in Deuteronomy 32:6, “Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?” The prophet Isaiah also writes, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” (Is. 64:8) Malachi adds, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? …” (2:10 NKJV)

These three passages, along with many others, emphasize God's role as the Father of the Hebrew people. He formed them as a nation and placed them in the Promised Land (Gen. 12:1-3). God was the Creator of the Jewish nation.

Furthermore, God is the source and sustainer of all life. Concerning human life, the Bible teaches that God created man (Gen. 1:27). He formed his body (Gen. 2:7) and is the Father of his spirit or soul (Heb. 12:9; Gen. 2:7). Both animal and plant life owe their existence to God (Gen. 1:11-12, 20-21).

God also is referred to as the "Father of lights," which means that even things like the stars came from Him (Gen. 1:14). God is the Creator of everything that exists! (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6)

When Jesus spoke of God as Father, the emphasis shifted from origin to relationship. Jesus often talked about God being “Father,” using the term more than fifteen times in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). He taught his disciples that God is their Father, telling them on a dozen occasions, God “is your Father". Jesus meant to convey the loving and caring character of God, not a physical description.

People who receive Christ, believe in His name and submit to His command to be baptised by immersion in water for the remission of sins, God “gave the right to become children of God.” (Jn. 1:12; 1 Jn. 3:1-3). That is what it means to become a child of God through faith in Christ (Gal. 3:26). While all human beings are children of God in the sense that they were created by God, only those who have faith in Christ are His children.

As God’s children, Christians can count on Him to provide them with the necessities of life (Mt. 6:25-34; Jas. 1:17). This assurance is grounded on the fact that God is perfectly good (Mk 10:18; 1 Pet. 2:3). When we face times of grief or sorrow, God comforts us, for He is “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3; 1 Thess. 4:18). When we go through difficult times and worry, God offers us a way to find peace. Through prayer and supplication, we can entrust our concerns to our heavenly Father, knowing that we have access to Him (Eph. 2:18; Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Pet. 5:7; Jas. 1:6).

The Word of God therefore invites us to think of God in a warm and affectionate way, being confident that He welcomes us as His beloved children (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). Is God your Father?