Learning to Be a Better Dad

I remember the uncertainty of becoming a father. What was I supposed to do? What kind of demeanor should I portray? I wanted to find an example of whom I should model my entire fathering after.

For anyone wanting to know how to be a great dad, I want to provide you some help.

If you want to be a good father, you can’t find a better example than God our Father.

Learn from him. Let me give you a practical example of what this looks like.

Before Moses ushered the Israelites into the Promised Land, he wanted to give some reminders before walking over the threshold. Like a father about to take his children into an expensive store, Moses rallied the family together for one final “come-to-Jesus” talk. Instead of telling them not to break any expensive objects, he reminds them of God’s commands with a “Deuteronomy” (which means a “second telling” of the Law).

Before he gives them instructions and commandments again, he reminds the Israelites yet again concerning God’s unwavering faithfulness. You should be encouraged to see how Moses illustrates God’s protection of his people. Read Deuteronomy 1:30-31 to see how he describes God.

30 The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.

Deuteronomy 1:30-31

To what role did Moses compare God?

A father.

Through this description, we learn a lot about how God cares for his people, but we also learn a lot about what God expects from fathers. In this description, Moses portrays how a father will carry his son in the wilderness.

  • In the most difficult of traveling conditions, this father desires to create more pain in his back than in his son’s weary feet.
  • He would rather cause his trip to be more difficult than to wear out his son.
  • He would rather his hands take the brunt of the desert weather than his son experiencing the discomfort.

Can you picture how God expects fathers to care for their sons? An affectionate father picks up his tiresome son as they travel through the wilderness. His son is tired and relieved to be in the strong arms of his father.

Secure and comfortable, the son cannot think of a more affectionate place to be.

You may not naturally be an affectionate man. You may not have received a lot of physical touch from your parents growing up. As you know though, oftentimes, what we don’t receive, is what we go looking for.

Provide consistent presence, loving arms, and affectionate touches for your children to reassure them of your love for them.

If you want to learn how to be a better dad, look to the perfect one who cares for you, and learn from him.