Young Adults' Group

Doubtless You Are Our Father

by Pastor Mark
August 12, 2021

A Father-son relationship

A key thing about good leadership is the kind of relationship that we have with the Lord. Last Sunday, Pastor Charles taught that it was vital that David had a close relationship with God as his Father. He did not just have a Master-servant relationship but a Father-son relationship, “He shall cry to Me, “You are my Father.”” (Ps 89:26) David saw God as his Rock and his Father. Whenever he did not know what to do in facing his challenges, he would fall back on his relationship with God. David had a wonderful relationship with his Father.

The danger of taking this relationship for granted

We recognise the importance of having a close and intimate relationship with our Father. It is a privilege and joy that we can relate and commune with Him at all. But we realise how easy it is for us to stray from God and to take this relationship for granted. Israel often wandered away from God and failed in relating to Him closely. They were consistently drawn to sin and idolatry. The Lord had to deal with them severely by sending them into captivity. But the prophet Isaiah would make a special prayer of hope on behalf of the people of God.

Assurance of a Father and son relationship

These were the assuring words of Isaiah in his prayer, “Doubtless You are our Father.” (Is 63:16) God would remain as Father to His people. Isaiah had no doubt whatsoever. God would not restrain in showing His strength and mercies (Isaiah 63:15). Israel would have every hope in relating to God as Father. Isaiah prayed further, “You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.” (Is 63:16) God had been relating to Israel as Father even from Moses’ time. He was their Father-Redeemer from Everlasting. Isaiah recalled, “In all their affliction He was afflicted…in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9)

As Father, God redeemed Israel out of Egypt and carried them through the wilderness. God showed Israel His love and pity as a Father does to His children. He would do it for them again if they would look to Him for salvation and restoration. Even though we may have strayed away from God, let us be assured that He will remain as Father to us. Let us look to the Lord and plead with Him to show His love and pity as we seek to renew our relationship with Him. Let us not doubt that He would continue to be Father to us.

The work of the Father

Isaiah recognised the need for the Lord’s salvation and cleansing. He acknowledged, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” (Is 64:6) He prayed further to the Lord, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isa 64:8) Again, Isaiah was acknowledging God as His Father. As Father, God was the Potter of His people, and they were the clay. As a loving and patient Father, God sought to mould and fashion them. But Israel was not always willing to let God work on them. They wanted their own ways. Isaiah saw how God would continue to work on His people as their Potter.

All of us must recognise our need for our Heavenly Father to work on our lives too. As a wise Potter, He knows what needs to be done. As the clay, let us seek to willingly allow the Lord to do the necessary work in us. We thank God for being such a loving and merciful Father to us. Let us be challenged to draw closer to Him as our Father.

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