Many years ago this question was asked “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? ... For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him...” As we read over the life of Abraham we quickly realize he exercised his God given authority to command his home and family. Abraham was neither permissive nor a buddy, he was a commander.
The word “command” is the same as that used for the words of authority spoken by God to Adam, and to Noah. When God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh, He gave them a charge (command) that Pharaoh must let His people go. “Command” is a word that describes the vocalization of rightful authority. In Genesis 18:19 God said that He knew Abraham and that he would command all those in his household, and therefore God told him his secrets.
So what kind of commanding did Abraham do? Was he the imperious, tyrannical father? Not at all. He was a wise father who commanded from a position of obedience to God. He was IN authority because he was UNDER authority. When God called him out of Ur to Canaan, he obeyed. When God commanded him to circumcise all that were in his house, he did so, AND he was the first in line for the knife (Gen. 17:24-27). When God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, he obeyed and reasoned by faith that God would raise up Isaac when he slew him.
Was he a willful and stiff-necked father who cared not at all for his children? Of course not. He “fathered” poor silly Lot, and when he was carried away captive by the kings of Mesopotamia, Abraham went after them, and defeated them. At the age of 99. He it was that knew enough about the daughters of the pagan Canaanites that he sent his servant back to Haran shopping for a wife for Isaac. He it was that grieved over Ishmael’s expulsion from the household. He was a tenderhearted father who loved all those in his household.
Best of all, Abraham was a worshipping father. His trail was marked by altars built and sacrifices slain. If you stood near Abraham you could smell the smoke of a thousand burnt offerings.
I was blest to have a father like Abraham. He was a giant in leadership. He commanded his children and his household after him. He was a soldier in the battalion from the Old School. He was my hero.
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