Gideon's Awesome Dad

There are a lot of great dads in the Bible. God chose Abraham to lead Israel because he would ”direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord” (Gen 18:19, NIV). Job regularly prayed and offered sacrifices for his children (Job 1:5). And let’s not forget Joseph, a “righteous man” (Mt 1:19, NASB) who was entrusted to raise God’s own son. But there’s another great dad that often gets glossed over. His name is Joash, and he’s only mentioned amidst the exploits of his son Gideon. However, his contribution to his son’s success cannot be understated. It’s only because Joash had his son’s back, no matter what, that Gideon had the courage to man-up to the God-given task before him.

"I GOT YOUR BACK"

Not long after Israel conquered Canaan, they were oppressed by hordes of pillaging Midianites. 

Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. (Judg 6:3-5, NLT)

Starving and oppressed, Israel cried out to the Lord, who sent an angel to call a young man named Gideon to rescue them. Specifically, he was instructed to tear down the local idols and defeat the Midianites. However, Gideon was unsure of himself.

Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. (Judg 6:15, ESV)

He asked the angel for a sign, which prompted a blazing fire to erupt out of a rock. After such a convincing display, Gideon set about his first God-given task: destroying the local idol and pagan altar. However, he did it at night “because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day” (Judg 6:27, NKJV). The Bible records that the next morning, the men of the city awoke to find their altar to Baal destroyed, along with the image of Asherah, and they were furious. Discovering Gideon was responsible, a mob formed, thirsty for revenge.

At that time, Gideon was probably a young man – the Bible makes it sound like he still lived at home. Here’s a question for you: how many parents of grown children would love a miraculous sign from God to launch them once and for all out of their house? You may laugh, but God has a plan for everyone, even the twenty-something child still living under his parents’ roof! However, what happened next in Gideon’s story is what we’ll focus on here, because Gideon’s father, Joash, risked his life to support his son. 

It’s not insignificant that Gideon was hiding in his father’s house in the first place. Another question for you: do your kids feel safe with you? If they get into trouble, do they run to you? Do they feel comfortable telling you the awful things they’ve done? Or do they fear judgment, or complacency, or sarcasm when they open their hearts to you? We all hope our kids feel safe around us, but do they really? It’s important for every parent – fathers especially – to reaffirm their commitment to their children regularly. All kids need to know that you have their backs no matter what, that whatever mess they get into, whatever mistakes they make, you will always love them unconditionally and find a way to get through it together. This is a message very few children, sons especially, explicitly hear from their fathers.

When the mob gathered at Joash’s front door, demanding he bring out his son so they could execute him, he said this.

Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down. (Judg 6:31, ESV)

In one fell swoop, Joash proved his devotion to his son and his profound wisdom. Not another word is ever mentioned about the vengeful mob, which presumably disbanded, except that Gideon was thereafter called Jerubbaal. The nickname means “let Baal contend against him,” a fitting reminder of his father’s words.

Not only did Joash save his son’s life, but his response empowered Gideon to fulfill his second God-given task, that is, to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Soon afterward, he led a small band of 300 warriors against an enormous army of 135,000. By God’s power, Gideon annihilated his enemies.

EMPOWERMENT

A good father can empower a child like no other. Gideon met with a fearsome angel, which made him cry in terror, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” (Judg 6:22, ESV), but he was still afraid of his task. Nor was miraculous fire blazing up from a rock enough to empower him to do what he ought to (v. 21). Instead, it was only after he received his father’s public support that the “Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon” (v. 34). It was his father – not the mighty angel or the heavenly fire – that gave him the courage to march off to war. If his dad had his back, even against his own neighbors and relatives, there was no reason to doubt himself anymore.

Such is the influence of a father. Deep are the wounds a bad father can leave in his child’s heart, but immeasurable is the power that comes from a loving father’s explicit approval and support.

KINGDOM IMPACT

The greatest impact we could ever have in God’s kingdom is raising godly children. That sort of legacy, of successfully launching a Spirit-filled child into the world, is like shooting a blazing arrow into the darkness. It’s unparalleled by anything we could accomplish on the mission field or any other ministry. 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! (Ps 127:4-5, ESV)

Let’s not ever think of parenthood as anything less than the highest calling.

Furthermore, the principles of fatherhood also apply to non-parents. Just because the children we encounter don’t belong to us doesn’t mean we don’t have influence over their hearts and minds. In God’s kingdom, we’re all family. Paul, the spiritual father of many of the early churches, talked about three distinct fatherly duties in his letter to the church in Thessalonica.

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thes 2:11-12, NIV)

First, encouragement. This is a no-brainer. Dads have the ability to put wind in their children’s sails, speaking strength, confidence, and courage into their lives. Words of encouragement from friends are important, but from a father (or any spiritual parent), they carry more weight.

Second, comfort. This is something guys often need to work on. Comforting comes naturally to mothers, but it’s equally important for fathers to console, empathize, and join in their children’s suffering. I’m not talking about coddling or allowing children to quit when they should persevere. Instead, it’s about coming alongside your children, feeling their pain, and bearing their burdens. This call to comfort echoes Paul’s other teaching that fathers shouldn’t provoke their children (Eph 6:4; Col 3:21).

Third, responsibility. Paul’s urge for children to “live lives worthy of God” speaks to the duty fathers have to ensure their children’s success. Every child is different – different talents, different needs, different challenges – but their father has a responsibility to ensure each one lives up to their fullest potential. He must work tirelessly to ensure his children are as successful as they can be, however that looks for each of them. That’s the life worthy of God. Fathers help unlock potential by doing everything they can to see it come to fruition.

In short, a good dad puts his kids on his shoulders so they can reach higher heights than they ever could on their own. Encouragement, comfort, and responsibility – these are the key ingredients to children’s success in life. Add a whole lot of prayer, and you’ve got the recipe for raising Spirit-filled kids.

HOW TO BE A GREAT DAD? BE LIKE CHRIST

From one godly man to another, David told his son Solomon,

Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments. (1 Kings 8:61, ESV)

That’s the key to fatherhood, and to living a godly life in general, because when we spend time with Jesus, we’ll start to be like him. Our priorities will realign to reflect what’s really important – not our jobs, money, or our all-consuming hobbies, but loving, serving, and leading those who live under our roof. Children will inevitably model their fathers, for better or worse. Thus, our job is to model Jesus, so that when our kids follow after us, they’ll be on the right track.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Cor 11:1, NIV)

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works. (Tit 2:7, ESV)

Take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (Heb 12:13-14, NLT)

There is no single model for being a good father. No sure-fire recipe, no magic formula. Rather, fatherhood is about being emotionally available to each child’s individual needs. That means every dad can be himself – completely authentic – as he speaks godly identity into his children, a message that is desperately needed in this broken world.

A father’s words are pivotal in children following their God-given passions. Dads have enormous influence over their kids’ hearts, so we must be careful with them. Sometimes it’s the words not spoken that are the most hurtful. Like Joash, let’s make sure our kids regularly hear that we have their backs, no matter what. The confidence that instills can very well be the most effective way we strengthen and expand the Kingdom of God on earth.

© D. B. Ryen Incorporated, June 2024.