The Family of God

Then [Jesus] said to [His disciples], "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

- Luke 11:5-13 (NIV)

Jesus had at least four younger brothers and two younger sisters, which meant he grew up in a house of many children. His was not a wealthy home, and he no doubt knew the inconvenience of an entire family sleeping in one room. This is the setting for one of his parables. A family had just gone to bed when a friend knocked at the door to ask food for an unexpected visitor. The owner of the house was annoyed at having to get up at such an inconvenient hour, but because of the friend's persistence he gave the man what he wanted.

The point of the parable is that if even a tired and unwilling householder could be persuaded by a friend's persistence, how much more would a loving Father respond to the requests of his children. God's children do not have to beg from an unwilling Father.

To reassure people of this, Jesus gave another family illustration. The heavenly Father will not give his children anything less than what is best for them. If they ask for a fish he will not give them a snake; if they ask for an egg, he will not give them a scorpion. They may not always receive exactly what they want (for a wise parent does not give children everything they ask for), but they can be sure he will never give them anything that is inferior or harmful.

- Don Fleming, Parables and Pictures

Link: The Fatherhood of God (21 Jun 10)