Pastor Steve Foss
There is a cave in Canaan where the patriarchs of Judaism and Muslim heritage are buried. The bodies of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah are all buried there. It is located in Machpelah (present-day Hebron), which is due south of Jerusalem and on the west side of the west bank, which is, oddly enough, mostly east of Jerusalem; the west bank refers to being west of the Jordan River. It was purchased by Abraham himself. In fact, it was the first “for profit” transaction described in the sacred texts.
It has a noted history of occupation by invaders and conquerors over more than three millennia: the Byzantines, Crusaders, Muslims (Mamelukes and others), Ottomans, Palestinians, and the British.
Abraham was born with the name Abram. He was born in Ur (modern-day Iraq) in ancient Mesopotamia. At some point, the adult Abram heard God call him to make a journey to a place where God would lead him. Abram was already old—nearly a century old. And he had no children, for his wife was unable to conceive. Nevertheless, God made a covenant (a promise) to Abram: that he would become the father of a great nation.
Abram didn’t even have one child, much less enough children to build a nation. He took God up on the promise and moved forward in faith. He was not perfect, making mistakes along the way, but God, by His infinite wisdom and power, did make Abram into a great nation. God first prepared him by changing his name to Abraham, which, translated, means bearer of many or father to many. Abram means “high father,” referring to honoring one’s father.
Even from the beginning, Abram’s parents were hoping for grandchildren. When he moved in faith, not knowing where he was going. God gave him the name of Abraham as a guarantee that out of his DNA would come a great nation.
Today, it seems, neither young men nor women see the promise of children as a blessing. It seems they have been indoctrinated with a worldview that children are an inconvenience, an unnecessary burden. The Bible tells us that children are a heritage from The Lord, and the fruit of the womb is God’s reward to parents (Psalm 127:3).
So, Fathers, thank God for your children this Father’s Day. Look upon them as a special blessing. Point them to God’s Word, that they may actually become a heritage from The Lord. The first textbook in American schools was The Bible. It is still the best source for a stable and good nation. In this way, you help to Make America Faithful Again!