Being an “Impact Dad”
Someone once said, “There are two sides to every coin.” There are many Dads out there who are making an “impact” on their children, but it may not be an impact one would consider to be spiritually positive and good for them. Let’s focus on the other side of that coin, and the impact Dads can and should make based on a Biblical perspective of what God desires for fathers to be in the hearts and lives of their children.
There are a number of examples of good, positive “impact Dads” found in the pages of the Bible. Let’s notice several:
Impact Dad #1 is Abraham who demonstrates to us and his son Isaac that God is a God who keeps His promises. There is a story in Genesis 22 that demonstrates this impact; 22 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will [a]provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham reached out with his hand and took the knife to [b]slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the boy, and do not do anything to him; for now I know that you [c]fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place [d]The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it will [e]be provided.”
Impact Dad #2 is Isaac who demonstrates that God is a God who blesses obedience. In Genesis 28:1 says, “So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and commanded him, saying to him, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.” Earlier, in Genesis 24:1-4 we read, “And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Impact Dad #3 is Jacob who demontrates that God desires to change your Character. In Genesis 32:24-32 we have the all-night wrestling match that Jacob had with the Angel of God and by the end of the match Jacob got his name changed from “Jacob” the supplanter and trickster, to “Israel” meaning “God Prevails”. When God intervenes and prevails in one’s life there is a character change that takes place in one’s heart which can be seen in one’s countenance and actions.