Is God a Father?
Do the Ancient Jewish Holy Scriptures support a Father – Son relationship to God? Is God a Father? Does he have a Son? Or is this concept a later Christian invention as some critics have proposed? In order to find the answers, we will study select verses in the Torah, the Psalms, and the Prophecies found in the Hebrew Scriptures. These Old Testament Books were already written long before Jesus came to earth to be born in Bethlehem, and are still regarded as Holy Scriptures by the religious Orthodox Jews today.
Please note: All Bible references are in Blue; all Bible verses are in Red, and all the words of Jesus are in Bold Red. All scripture references are taken from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
Christians affirm that the God in the Christian Scriptures is the same God that Jewish patriarchs and prophets worshipped. The Jewish Old Testament Scriptures are the foundation upon which the Christian New Testament was established. The latter Scriptures of the New Testament have no bases for authority or truth without the former Scriptures of the Old Testament. So let us explore the Old Testament foundations for the New Testament Christian belief in God as a father. Is God a Father?
According to Exodus the second Book of Moses in the Torah, God called the nation of Israel His son.
Exodus 4:22 “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:” Hosea 1:11 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”
According to Deuteronomy, the 5th book of Moses in the Torah, God is a father.
Deuteronomy 32:6 “Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?”
David praised God as a Father.
1 Chronicles 29:10 “Wherefore David blessed
the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.”
In the prophecy of Malachi, God likens himself to a father.
Malachi 1:6a “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you…”
According to the prophecy of Isaiah, God is a Father.
Isaiah 63:16 “Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.”
According to this Psalm of David, God has a begotten Son.
Psalms 2:6-7 “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
According to the Proverbs, God’s Son has a particular name.
Proverbs 30:4 “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”
The mighty God is also called the everlasting Father.
Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice form henceforth even for ever. The Zeal of the LORD of host will perform this.” This Old Testament prophecy reveals to us a great mystery. How can a child be born who is called the mighty God? And how can a son be given who is called the Everlasting Father?
Christians believe that the person referred to in Isaiah 9:6-7 is Jesus Christ. But can the New Testament Scriptures adequately solve this Mystery? Let’s review this prophecy one short phrase at a time and compare it to the New Testament.
“For unto us a child is born” The New Testament declares that Jesus was born as Child in Bethlehem. Micah 5:1-2, Matthew 2:1-6
“unto us a son is given:” The Bible declares that Jesus is the Only begotten Son of God. John 1:14, John 3:16-17, 1 John 4:10-14
“and his name shall be called Wonderful,” Jesus performed miracles and did many wonderful works. Surely He deserves the name, Wonderful. Matthew 21:15
“and his name shall be called… Counsellor,” What a Counsellor Jesus was, for He taught thousands about the Kingdom of God. Matthew 5:1-2, John 3:1-7
“and his name shall be called… The mighty God,”The New Testament boldly declares that Jesus is God! John 1:1-2,14, Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:16, Philippians 2:5-11 When Jesus’ disciple, Thomas, saw Jesus bodily rose from the dead he cried out to Jesus saying, “My Lord, and my God”. John 20:24-29
See our Article, “The True Identity of Jesus” for a more thorough explanation of the Scriptures’ declaration of the deity of Jesus.
“and his name shall be called… everlasting Father,” The New Testament declares that Jesus and His Father are one; hence He is rightfully called the Everlasting Father. 1 John 5:7, John 14:8-11 When Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” He claimed to be one with the everlasting Father. John 10:30-33
“and his name shall be… The Prince of Peace.”The New Testament emphasizes over and over of how Jesus gives the Believer peace! John 14:27, Romans 5:1-10, Ephesians 2:14 The Prince of Peace is a fitting name for Jesus, because in the book of Daniel the promised Saviour was to be called, Messiah the Prince. Daniel 9:24-25
It is vital to a sincere seeker of truth to let the weight of the words of this prophecy sink into their mind and heart. This ancient prophecy cannot be ignored. If this verse is not referring to Jesus Christ, then to whom could it possibly be referring to?
Isaiah 9:6-7 declares that the Mighty God and Everlasting Father would sit upon the throne of David and establish it forever. In the New Testament Jesus is called the Son of David. Matthew 1:1, Mark 10:46-52
If Jesus is the Son of God, How is He the Son of David?
Before Jesus was born, an angel came to a virgin named Mary, The angel told her how she would be instrumental in miraculously bearing Jesus into the world. Let’s read the New Testament account of this story in Luke 1:30-35 “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.“
See “Who was Jesus’ mother” to further understand what the Bible says about Mary.
The Bible clearly answers the question concerning how Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of David.
1. Jesus’ stepfather, Joseph, was in the direct linage of King David. (You can read this of this royal genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17.) Though Jesus was not related to Joseph by blood, Jesus was related to Joseph through his mother Mary, whom Joseph married after Jesus was born. Matthew 1:18-25
2. Jesus is called the Son of God because Jesus is the eternal God. Jesus is also called the Son of David; because when He became a man, he chose to come to earth in the linage of David. Romans 1:3-4 “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
In the Last Chapter of the New Testament, Jesus declared himself to be the root and offspring of David. Revelation 22:16 “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” This signifies that Jesus was the King before and after David was king in Israel.
When Jesus came to earth the first time he didn’t establish a literal kingdom on earth. John 18:36-38 But Jesus did establish a spiritual Kingdom in the hearts of every one of His believers. Matthew 12:28, Luke 17:20 Jesus is the KING of
Kings and the LORD of Lords, (Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11-16) and He promised to come back. John 14:3 When Jesus does come back, He will establish a literal kingdom on earth and He will rule and reign from Jerusalem for a period of 1000 years. Isaiah 11:1-10, Revelation 20:1-7, Psalm 2:6-12 When the Son of God came to the world the first time, He came to save us from our sins. When Jesus comes a second time, He will come in judgment. Revelation 19:15
See what Jesus himself said about his purpose for coming to earth.
Our choice concerning believing or rejecting Jesus as the Son of God has eternal consequences.
Jesus said in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. According to the Bible, our eternal destiny is dependent upon whether we chose to believe on the Son of God or not. John 3:35-36 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” According to the Bible, if you reject Jesus as the Son of God, you also reject your only hope of salvation. 1 John 5:9-13
The Bible declares that you can become a child of God through faith in Jesus.
According to the Bible, if we believe on Jesus and receive Him, we can become spiritual children of God and experience new life as part of God’s family. John 1:11-13 “He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
We all are sinners by nature, and consequently we are all separated from God who is holy. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Because we are separated from God by our sins, we are spiritually lifeless. A spiritual birth is necessary in order for us to become spiritual children of God. Jesus said in John 3:3, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Again, Jesus said in John 3:6-7, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.”
We must believe in Jesus to receive this gift of everlasting life. And if we do not believe in Jesus, the Son of God, we are condemned by our unbelief. Jesus said in John 3:16-18,“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The Choice is yours! What will you do with Jesus Christ? Will you believe on Him, or reject Him? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Why don’t you call on Jesus and ask Him to save you today?
The Bible says in Romans 10:9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
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