Today we're going to look at four photos of dads in God's Word - Job, Noah, Abraham, and Eli. And, as you can tell, if you know your Bible, we'll be studying three good guys and one bad guy. We're going to learn what a father of the Word looks like from a positive and a negative perspective. We're going to look at the positive attributes that God honored in the lives of Job, Noah, and Abraham. Then we'll look at what God rebuked in the life of Eli. We can really draw lessons from both their failures and successes.

                                  Our Pattern Is God's Word

So, what should we look for? Good habits that show up in the great dads of God's Word! The first great dad we will see is Job. From his life we need to grab and copy his habit of prayer. And, by the power of God's Spirit, start making it characteristic of your life!

The Book of Job is perhaps the oldest book in the world. It is also perhaps the clearest view into the spirit world, the spiritual side of parenting, and the cosmic proportion of conflicts we face as we parent and lead as dads.

Habit Number One: Prayer

Job Prayed

What is the key truth about the good dad Job? JOB PRAYED.

"So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings [according to] the number of them all. For Job said, `It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' Thus Job did regularly" (Job 1:5, NKJV).

Can we learn something about how to parent our families from Job's life? Yes, some powerful habits he had. There are five distinct elements of Job's parenting habits. You may want to even note these in your Bibles.

Job Prayerfully Followed The Life Of His Children

Note the words: "when the days of feasting."

"So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings [according to] the number of them all. For Job said, `It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' Thus Job did regularly" (Job 1:5, NKJV).

He knew what was going on in his children's lives. He knew their cycle of house visits, parties, get togethers, and so on. He was in touch on a daily basis with where they were, and where they were headed. He followed his children around in his heart because he had a godly concern and love for them. ARE YOU FOLLOWING YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES? You and I will never pray effectively for those who are not regularly on our hearts.

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