As a Family

"and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name... and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns." -Deuteronomy 16.11, 14

There were three yearly feasts that the nation of Israel was required to celebrate in remembrance of all that God had done. Passover to remember their deliverance from Egypt, the Feast of Weeks to remember the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, and the Feast of Booths to celebrate the harvest. For these three holidays they were to travel to the place God would choose, Jerusalem, and celebrate. Here Moses tells them that they are to celebrate as a family.

It was not simply about celebrating what God had done, but about celebrating as a family. Children were to be included, and invited to share in what God had done. The celebration was about remembering what God had done. It was a chance to praise God, and tell new generations what God had done in the past.

So much of the Pentateuch is about stories of God's works being passed down from father to son. This only happens in the context of a relational family where dad is present and involved. If dad simply goes to work, then sits in front of the TV all night, what is there to inspire his children to follow God? But if dad is involved in their lives, if they know he loves them, and if they see him passionately follow God, and then he invites them to be part of it there is something for them to be drawn to.

Men, what kind of father are you? Are you involved with your family? Do you model a faith in God that inspires them to follow Him? Are you inviting them to celebrate God with you?

Let us set an example for our families, and let us worship and celebrate Him as a family.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor