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“I Call God Father!” a study on the Father’s Love by Ken Chant

Text This is what the Lord says: ‘I thought that I would call you my own children, and so could give you a splendid inheritance, the most beautiful land on earth. Then I thought that you would call me “Father!” and that you would never again turn away from me. ”’ – Jer 3: 19

Introduction Normally we can trust in a good Providence. l E. g. , my life has been preserved several times. . .

But protection is not always assured. Thus, any of us may suffer bitter misfortune – like three travellers whose car broke down far from any town. . .

Shall we then (like the Israelites) blame God, accusing him of tyranny, indifference, weakness?

But always he is speaking the poignant plea of our text –

“I thought that you would call me “Father!”

What does the text mean? l Certainly these things –

I thought that you would call me ‘Father!’ and that you would. . .

SUBMIT TO MY DISCIPLINE Does that seem a strange place to begin? l Yet there is no fatherhood without submission! –

See Hebrews 12: 7 -10 – “Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. If you aren't disciplined like the other children, you aren't part of the family. On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. …

… Shouldn't we place ourselves under the authority of God, the Father of spirits, so that we will live? For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him. ” (GW)

Sometimes, like Absalom, God has to “burn a barley field” to get our attention (2 Sam 14: 28 -33).

BELIEVE IN MY LOVE The Hebrew text has two singularly strong expressions – 1. “I myself deeply thought. . . ” – it is hard to express in English the heavy emphasis that is contained in the original.

2. “Treat you. . . ” – the verb is feminine. The sense is that he is addressing Israel as a daughter.

Yet contrary both to law and custom, he wants to offer her the inheritance of a favourite son!

It is like a lesser daughter replacing a first-born son as heir to the British throne!

So we see how strongly the Father wants to bestow upon us his promise! l And how rich that promise is! (vs. 19 a) –

“This is what the Lord says: ‘I thought that I would call you my own children, and so could give you a splendid inheritance, the most beautiful land on earth. ”

But they would not receive it, nor call him “Father” – perhaps because of pride, sin, unbelief, and the like.

Let us not be so foolish! l Whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, we must learn how to affirm and cling to the love of God!

No other joy can surpass that of saying – l “God is my Father, ” and l “He loves me with an everlasting love!”

ACCEPT MY PROVIDENCE We can have free will or divine control, but not both! l Thus we find scriptures like these –

“Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. ” – 1 Peter 4: 12 (CEV)

“You will start hearing about wars and threats of wars, but don't be afraid. (cont. ) –

“These things must all happen first, but this isn't the end. Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. (cont. )

“But these things are just the beginning of troubles, for yourselves will be arrested, punished, and even killed. (cont. )

“Because of me, you will be hated by people in every nation. Many will give up their faith, and they will betray and hate each other. False prophets will appear and deceive many people. (cont. )

“Wickedness will spread and cause many people to abandon even the pretence of love. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. ” – Matthew 24: 6 -13

And then, to us who believe is given the wonderful promise of Rom 8: 28, “We know that God is working in every circumstance, to turn it into good for those who love him, and who are called according to his purpose. ”

Which leads us on into our next thought – God says, “I thought you would call me Father, and that you would. . ” –

REJOICE IN MY BENEVOLENCE Despite heaven’s invitation, the people failed to discern God’s heart l they could see God only as Creator, Judge, Ancestor, King l He was “Father” only in a tribal or national sense (cp. 2 Es 1: 29; and the old British use of “Sire”. )

Not until Jesus came (Lu 2: 49; 11: 2) did the warm, personal meaning of the old scriptures become clear.

Yet people still have trouble embracing the love of God. l They are still reluctant to call him “Father!”

One reason for this is that it takes a certain toughness of mind, a vigour of faith, to believe in divine benevolence.

But for us, who possess the gift of the Holy Spirit, this should be the easiest thing in the world! l See Romans 8: 15 -17 –

“God did not give us his Spirit to make us slaves or to fill us with craven fear. Rather, the Spirit turns us into God's children, and by the power of that same Spirit we cry out to God, ‘Father! my Father!’ Indeed, the Holy Spirit joins himself with your human spirit to declare that you are God's child. .

. . . And since we are his children, we will one day possess the inheritance that he has kept for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share the suffering of Christ, we will also share his glory!”

conclusion This is what the Father would like to say to you and me today – “How gladly would I treat you as a first-born child! How gladly would I give you a splendid inheritance!”

What will your response be? Acceptance or rejection of the divine offer? l For the one, there is a promise of bountiful love, life, and joy. For the other, nothing but a poignant echo following each receding footstep –

“I thought that you would call me Father!”