Dear friends,
Happy Father’s Day to all fathers!
What lessons can we learn from Moses as a father?
Moses is one of the most revered persons in the history of Israel. He was the one whom God chose to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. He also received the 10 Commandments, and from it came out the Mosaic laws.
The wife of Moses was Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro. They had two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. (Exodus 2:21-22; 1 Chronicles 23:15). Moses is so popular that we sometimes forget that he was also a father and a husband.
What happened to his sons Gershom and Eliezer?
According to the Midrash (a commentary of the Jews), Moses requested one of his sons to be appointed as the next leader. God responded, “Your sons sat and did not occupy themselves with Torah. Joshua, who served you, is fitting to serve Israel.” It was a very sad day for Moses. He did everything that he could for his sons. Moses made a choice, but ultimately it was the choice also of Gershom and Eliezer.
This means fathers may guide their children to the right choices but ultimately the children had to make their own choices.
In interesting to note that Numbers 3: 1-2 the line of Moses was listed under the sons of his brother Aaron. It says, “This is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: The names of Aaron’s sons were Nadab (the oldest), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.” It listed the four sons of Aaron not of Moses. The nephews of Moses became his bloodline up to the next generation.
But Aaron’s two sons also made a wrong choice. Numbers 3:4 says that Nadab and Abihu died because they did not follow the command of God.
This means that even though Moses and Aaron made the right choices, they cannot make a choice for their sons. That is the same with us. Fathers can make their choices and we pray that our children will learn from our choices. But ultimately it is up to them.
Let us remember that all of us are accountable of the choices that we make. We pray that our fathers will be exemplary in their choices. We also pray that our children will make the right choice!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on