Uniquely From the Father

Those of us who are mothers know the excitement of finding out we are going to have a child. But have we appreciated how the fathers-to-be feel? Fathers have very individual stories about the time they first heard the words, “You’re going to be a father!”

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).

First let’s look at two examples of fathers-to-be in the Bible.

Good news from an unexpected source

Manoah probably experienced everything from shock to elation when his wife excitedly passed on the message that they were going to have a baby—specifically a son—at last!

The Bible records that she was barren, surely a source of sorrow and much disappointment for them both. And when she told him that an unnamed Man of God, His countenance like the Angel of God (“very awesome,” she added) had delivered this astounding news, Manoah wasted no time in praying for a second visit from this mysterious messenger, to “teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

This would be no ordinary son. Samson was to be a Nazirite all his life, used by God to begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13). That must have been quite a day!

The first one to know

When Abraham got the word firsthand from God, he fell on his face laughing. After all, he was only 99 years old, and his lovely younger wife, a mere 90!

He had previously complied with Sarah’s misguided remedy for childlessness, a sort of surrogate arrangement between her maid Hagar and her husband. A son, Ishmael, was born all right, but so was a noxious root of bitterness, hatred and jealousy in Sarah’s heart.

Now God Himself had intervened and, at long last, the legitimate heir of promise, Isaac, was born to an aged but happy couple (Genesis 17:17; 18:1-15).

Petitions from a father

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know personally of any fathers who have had announcements of impending fatherhood from angels or from God Himself. But I do know a father who took a petition to his Father on a regular basis and garnered bountiful results.

Zach and Jen (names changed throughout) already had one child, a beautiful daughter, Chloe. Watching her grow from baby to toddler to an adorable little girl was so rewarding that they found themselves wanting more. They tried for several years to increase their family, only to be met with disappointment.

Of course, Zach and Jen were praying about their desire, but one day Zach decided that in addition they would begin including this request every day at dinner when they asked for God’s blessing on their meal. And he was going to be specific—they would like twins!

Week after week, prayer after prayer, they hopefully waited. After more than a year, Zach decided to marshal the prayer resources of widows and friends and family. Two and a half years later, God answered their prayers—Jen was pregnant. Of course, there was much rejoicing.

Uh-oh or…

The excited mother and father waited as the technician studied their first scheduled ultrasound. “Oh!” she said quickly, peering at the screen. Zach and Jen looked at each other. Was this “Oh” as in “uh-oh” or …? “Two for the price of one!” she exclaimed, chuckling.

A time to be born

And indeed, it came to pass that twin girls, each perfect and beautiful, were welcomed into the arms of two grateful parents, along with beaming grandparents, an excited big sister, aunts, uncles, cousins and pray-ers alike. Jen had carried them almost to full-term, each weighing a little under 6 pounds. No caesarian was necessary, and they came just minutes apart. Thanksgiving and celebration ruled the day!

Meeting Abby and Annie for the first time at services caused quite a stir of joy and excitement. Still a regular source of delight even now, weeks later, one almost has to take a number for some baby-cuddling time. Zach and Jen are generous, however, and take pains to make sure everyone who wants to gets a turn.

The rest of the story

There is one more feature to this answered prayer that Zach shared recently, just in case you ever wonder about our Father’s attention to details. Sometimes when multiple births are involved, the babies share the same amniotic sac, which can lead to difficulties like getting tangled up. However, in this case, Zach explained, “Our twins were in separate sacs, which was much safer for the babies, but they shared the same placenta.”

Isn’t that just like a loving father/Father, I thought, listening to the obviously pleasurable retelling of a life-changing, faith-building experience involving an undisputable answer to prayer.

The love of fathers for their children sometimes gets overlooked. Karen Meeker enjoys watching her son and her son-in-law in their father roles and knowing without a doubt that her grandchildren are much loved, enjoyed, protected and nurtured.