Jairus
Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, showed how much he loved his daughter by publicly falling at Jesus’ feet to ask for healing over her. Through his faith, his daughter was healed: “Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, ‘My child, get up!’. And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Her parents were overwhelmed . . .” (Luke 8:40-56).
Joseph
The earthly father of Jesus, Joseph is described as a “righteous man” who was willing to obey God’s instruction to marry Mary and take on parenthood, even though he faced public humiliation by doing so (Matthew 1:18-24). He did all he could to protect Mary and baby Jesus, faithfully listening to what he was told in a dream and safely escaping with them to avoid Herod.
Jehoiada
When the young king Joash was rescued as a baby and hidden in the temple for seven years, his uncle Jehoiada the priest watched over him, eventually restoring him to his rightful position as king of Israel. Through Jehoiada’s fatherly counsel, a Godly covenant was established “between the Lord and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people” (2 Kings 11:17). Not all fathers are biological!
Mordecai
When a young Esther was left as an orphan, her cousin Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter. Throughout the book of Esther, we see many examples of Mordecai’s faith, love, care and fatherly guidance to Esther.
Caleb
As a father, Caleb ensured his daughter, Achsah, married a brave and godly man. When Achsah respectfully approaches her father to ask for an extra blessing of more land with a source of water (as the land she had been given was desert), her father is willing to give her much more than she requests (Joshua 15:16-19 and Judges 1:12-15).
Job
Job was an excellent example of faith for his 10 children. He would “get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them” to purify them after family gatherings just in case any of his children had sinned and “cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:1-4).
Manoah
The father of Samson, when his wife told him that an angel had appeared to her with news that she was to become pregnant, Manoah humbly accepted God’s will. He asked God for further guidance on how to raise the baby in a way that was pleasing to God, so that Samson could live up to his God-given destiny (Judges 13).
Jehonadab
He was a father who left a legacy, teaching his children to walk in faith and setting strict rules for his family, the Rechabites. These family rules were respectfully obeyed through the generations (for more than 200 years!), with God using the Rechabites’ faithfulness to teach His people an important lesson (Jeremiah 35:12-17). God blessed the Rechabites through Jeremiah, saying, “You have obeyed your ancestor Jehonadab in every respect” (Jeremiah 35:18). What a legacy.
Noah
Described as “a righteous man, blameless in his generation”, Noah “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). He raised his three sons in the most corrupt time on earth, provided an excellent example of working hard (in building the ark), and because of his faith, saved his sons and their families from perishing in the flood.
God the Father
The best father of all is God our heavenly Father. During His time on earth, Jesus told us about God the Father’s perfect love for His children (us!). He is a great listener, slow to anger, promise keeper, excellent provider, protector and a reliable Guide through life.
