Divine Dad: Rethinking God as Father
- mtlmagazine
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
by Lynn Cowell
What is your first thought when I say: God is your good father?
For some, immediately we agree. God is kind, attentive, engaging and other “good” words. For others, the words good and father don’t fit in the same sentence. Our earthly fathers, possibly by no fault of their own, were unable to be protective, peaceful or our provider. As a result, when we hear God is our good father, it doesn’t resonate with us.
In Luke 15, Jesus taught a parable known as the prodigal son. I’ve heard it called the Story of the Running Father which I find beautiful. The focus is on the good father, instead of on the actions of his son.
Jesus begins His parable in verse 11, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” (NIV)
The younger son requests his share of his father’s estate, which is both strange and rude. An inheritance is given after a parent dies. Since his father is still living, the son is saying he values his father’s things more than their relationship.
Out of love, the selfless father provides the selfish son with his desires. The good father holds his thoughts and holds in his hurt too. After watching his son pack, he watches him go. The father doesn’t try to talk him out of it. In love, the father releases his son.
The story continues: “and there [he] squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15:13 NIV). Everything the son had is gone. Now, homeless and without food, “He came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!’”( Luke 15:17 NIV)
As the son sets off for home, he prepares a speech for his father: “‘I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father” (Luke 15:18–19 MSG).
What we see next in the story describes the heart of our Heavenly Father: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him….the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet’” (Luke 15:20, 22 NIV).
In ancient Israel, it was inappropriate for an adult man to run because to do so he would have had to pull up his tunic, which was long like a dress. In this time period, it was “humiliating and shameful for a man to show his bare legs.”[1] That didn’t stop the father from showing his love!
There is so much evidence of the deep love of our Father God, as modeled by the running father.
The father had provided his son with what the son wanted even though it wasn’t for his best.
The father not only let the son go, but once he was gone, the father didn’t chase him down. He allowed whatever would happen to happen, hoping one day his son would come home.
The father didn’t intervene at the wrong time. Pure love let the son go, leaving the father brokenhearted. The father got out of the way so his son could learn his way. If the father had begged the son to stay or come home, the son may have remained the selfish person he was. They would have never had the type of relationship full of love and mutual respect that the father longed for.
The father was willing to let his son go so the son could become who his son was meant to be. He let the son go so the son could experience all the blessings of being deeply and unconditionally loved once he returned.
The father, who had every reason to say, “I told you so,” didn’t.
What kind of father feels compassion, of all things, for a child who has treated him the way this son has? A father who’s mad? A father who is disappointed? No; it’s a father who loves purely. A father who believes his child is worthy of love, even when the world wants that child to think differently.
A father whose love is not built upon how he is treated, but who loves with arms wide-open.
I think Jesus was very intentional, with every detail that he added to his beautiful story of the running father, to make sure we heard: this is the heart of my Father and your Heavenly Father.
Father keeps extending his love to us continually, no matter what, always ready for us to just come home.
Adapted from Strong & Secure: 100 Devotions for Young Women by Lynn Cowell (© 2025). Published by Zonderkidz. Used by permission.
Lynn Cowell is part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ contributor team. As the author of several books, written for women of all ages, her latest is a new book for young women: Strong & Secure, helping them to grow strong in faith and secure in their Heavenly Father’s love. Lynn calls home Charlotte, where she and her husband, Greg, and the occasional backyard deer enjoy life as “just us.” Along with their three adult children and spouses, the Cowells love hiking, making homemade pizza together, and anything combining chocolate and peanut butter. She’d love for you to connect with her on Instagram @Lynn Cowell and Facebook @LynnCowell!
Comentários