The Condoning Father

Dear class,

Today's reading is taken from 1Sam 1-3.

Here we read of the the birth and dedication of the last judge (well... if we discount his less than able sons!) of Israel - Samuel.
At the same time, we read of the sad account of Samuel's mentor, Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. We read of Eli, as a condoning father, who has allowed his sons to go too far, finally ending in tragedy. He above all men was in the best position to inculcate godly values in his children. But the bible tells us that he failed to do so. Where had he gone wrong?

1. They knew not the Lord (1 Samuel 2:12)
What happened to the principles laid out centuries before in the days of Moses? Weren’t the father to “teach [them] diligently unto thy children” (Deuteronomy 6:7)? And yet was this serious charge. Not only did they not know the Lord, they were described as “sons of Belial”! We subsequently read of the various immoral behaviour they had exhibited. These two individuals had no part in Israel, less to serve before the altar! This strongly suggests a total lack of effort on the part of the father to bring up children in the admonishment of the Lord. This failing sowed the seeds of destruction, which they would finally reap in death and condemnation.

2. They hearkened not (1 Samuel 2:22-25)
Eli did attempt to discipline his sons. Yet it was perhaps too little, too late. He knew very well the great sin his sons had committed (1 Samuel 2:13-17). For that matter, if he had allowed the situation to degrade into such, he should have been the first to publicly declare their sins and allow the congregation to exact the appropriate punishment. There is no “blue-eyed boy” in the sight of God! No one is above God’s law. Is it any wonder that the sons rejected the counsel of their father? Where was the consistency in the first place? No child would become rebellious over night. This was a classic case of long term neglect and feeble, if not non-existent methods of discipline that resulted in total rejection of authority.

3. He restrained them not (1 Sam 3:13)
If God had not put this in His inspired writings, Eli might have been excused as being plain unlucky to have such disappointing sons. Yet, the Holy Writ tells us, it was indeed a great failing on the part of an absent father. Dads! We need to exercise discipline when there is a failing. If we love our children, we would do so. Indeed, this was a classic case of “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24; 23:13,14).

Brother J.J. Turner, in summary of the section on Eli wrote:

“Eli failed! He was responsible before God for the morality of his sons, but he neglected it. The priest and judge failed his sons. The spiritual leader of others failed his sons. The man who was busy for God was too busy for his sons. The man with the answers did not take time to hear the questions of his sons. The man with an eye for the things of God did not see his own sons slipping into sin. The man who challenged others to live by the law, failed to obey it himself.”

It is interesting to note that, in the end, Samuel too had "lack lustre" sons (c.f. 1Sa 8:3).
What then? Is this the "plague" of men who have dedicated their lives to the service of God, which caused them to neglect their children?
Far be it! Part of our responsibility as godly fathers is to raise up godly children. (Pro 22:6; Eph 6:4, etc). Most surely, every person of accountable age is finally responsible for his actions (c.f. Ezk 18:20). Yet perhaps the difference in Eli and Samuel is that the bible specifically mentioned of Eli's failings as a father, but is silent on that of Samuel.
As fathers/parents, we have the responsibility to bring up our children in the way of the Lord. How they ultimately turn out, is beyond our control. But only as the Lord wills. Yet this is completely different from just adopting a "laissez-faire", hands-off attitude in bringing up the next generation.

May the Lord help us all to bring up a godly generation and bless us with more to come.

in Him
Paul

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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~ 1Thessalonians 5:17,18