The Fatherhood of God (Old Testament)

Written and compiled by Gary Kukis

These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, but shall be have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son of God." (John 3:16–18). "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] Me!" (John 14:6).

Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud.

This doctrine is taken from Proverbs 3 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Vv. 11–12 read: Do not despise the correction of Yehowah, my son, and do not abhor [or, dread] His reproof; for whom He loves, Yehowah reproves; as a father, He delights [in His] son.
Even though the Jews and believers in the Revealed God did not realize that there was a Trinity, there was still a Trinity in the Old Testament. See the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The Fatherhood of God (Old Testament)
1.	Although this verse clearly sets up an analogy (Don't not despise the correct of Yehowah, my son...for whom He love, Yehowah corrects; as a father, He delights in His son.), God is presented as a Father in the Old Testament on numerous occasions.

2.	God is clearly presented as the Father of Israel.

1)	When God sent Moses to speak to Pharaoh, this was to claim Israel, His son, His firstborn. Ex. 4:22

2)	"I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn." (Jer. 31:9b)

3)	Mal. 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? (ESV)

3.	God called Israel out of Egypt, as a Father to a son: Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. (ESV; capitalized)

4.	God is the Father of Israel because He created the Jewish people, He made them and He established them. Deut. 32:4–6 "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. They have dealt corruptly with Him; they are no longer His children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not He your Father, Who created you, Who made you and established you? (ESV; capitalized)

5.	God is the father of man, because He made man. Isa. 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. (ESV; capitalized)

6.	God looks out for all of His people. He is a Father to the fatherless. Psalm 68:5

7.	The Jews are not God's only sons. Jer. 3:19 "'I said, How I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call Me, My Father, and would not turn from following Me." (ESV; capitalized) Also Isa. 63:16 For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; You, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Your Name. (ESV; capitalized)

8.	Because the people of Israel are sons of God, they were not to mutilate themselves in any way. Deut. 14:1 (apparently, these are acts which associate a person with some false god)

9.	God is presented as a personal Father to Solomon. 1Chron. 17:12–13 "He [Solomon] shall build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son. I will not take My steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,..." (ESV; capitalized) This has both Solomon and the Lord in view.

10.	As you may notice, the Fatherhood of God in the Old Testament is never presented as universal, as the Father of all mankind.

11.	God is presented as our Father by analogy:

1)	God disciplines us as a father disciplines his own child. Deut. 8:5 Prov. 3:11–12

2)	God has compassion for those who fear Him, just as a man has a compassion for his child. Psalm 103:13

12.	God is the Father to the Messiah to come:

1)	Psalm 2:6–9 "As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill." I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to Me, "You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (ESV; capitalized)

2)	Psalm 89:20–29 I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him, so that My hand shall be established with him; My arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set His hand on the sea and His right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to Me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.' And I will make Him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for Him forever, and My covenant will stand firm for Him. I will establish His offspring forever and His throne as the days of the heavens. (ESV; capitalized) God the Father is speaking both of King David and of David's Greater Son.
My point in presenting many doctrines specifically related to the Old Testament is to show consistency between the Old and New Testaments, despite the different dispensations involved.
These verses were taken from http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-Fatherhood-Of accessed February 5, 2015.
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

Topics	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

The Abbreviated Doctrine of
Chapter Outline	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

Bibliography

Topics	Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
Kukis Homepage	Doctrines