“…the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent consolers to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”…2 Samuel 10, 3-5
This father’s day we want to remember the Fathers that hurt. Fathers who have been sent on assignment like David’s noble men but did not anticipate the disgrace they will receive in the course of their assignments. Fathers who literally at the initial stage of their assignments embraced the king’s instructions with all their hearts and got hurt or disgraced while they were on their mission.
Many fathers started out their lives to really be a true father but met unanticipated challenges in their life journeys and had their dreams shattered by unexpected results. As David responded to the men and kept them in a place until their beards grew back again God is saying to some fathers that I know you , I Know what happened, you may be in a hiding place now but it’s a place where your character will be perfected and God will vindicate and restore your honor .
Just like Joseph went through so many unanticipated challenges to realize his dreams, on this father’s day I encourage you to hold on to your dreams and at the end of the day you also will be a fulfilled father. I remember the story about the old man who was asked what was his favorite bible passage and he quoted “It shall come to pass” and when asked why he said there had been many troubles he had lived to see but one by one they got solved because God has said this challenge is not for ever it will surely come to an end that it will glorify HIM. This phrase “It shall come to pass” occurred about 120 times in the King James Version Bible. HE will never leave you nor forsake you.
You may say I got burnt by my bad choices it was not so much of the enemies’ ambushes but the bad choices I made. Like the prodigal son determine in your heart to turn away from sin and true repentance means knowing the way devil got you down in the first place and resolve never to fall for that sin again no matter how he improved, revised and redesign the sin. Put structures that will not make you fall again and know that the TRUE FATHER that we all belong to as illustrated in that parable is stretching out HIS hands to welcome you back. HE took Peter back after he betrayed HIM. HE will take you back if you like Peter truly repent and turn away.
For you men who biologically may not be a father yet He did it for Abraham at an old age and with HIM all things are still possible. This Father’s day look up with Hope and Faith and this challenging phase of your life will surely come to pass. Happy Father’s day!
