The Prominent Father

Introduction- Challenging my views of male masculinity and what it means to be a man

Illustration:

Raising Boys without Men: How Maverick Moms Are Creating the Next Generation of Exceptional Men by Peggy Drexler, Linden Gross

Our Fathers, Ourselves: Daughters, Fathers, and the Changing American Family by Drexler, Peggy

by Drexler, Peggy

Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men: God's Design for Male Identity by Myles Munroe

by Myles Munroe

Concepts that resonate well with me- being the product of a single parent house hold, raised primarily by my mother

And the occasion of Father’s Day when our earthly Fathers have not been prominent in our lives

Or we as fathers have not been prominent in our children’s lives

Or feeling our children do not allow us a prominent place in their lives.

Peggy Drexler, Linden Gross

Transition- The Prominence Of The Father In The Life Of Moses

Moses the product of a single mother it appears, leading the children of Israel

The author and purpose of writing the Pentateuch and hence the book of Exodus

Body- The Prominent Father

Publicly Delivers & Identifies His Children

Mose’s Father-in-law, Jethro heard of all God had done

For Moses

For Israel, His people

Recognizes What The LORD Has Done

So He Leads Not Only God’s People But His Family

3X Moses family being brought to him is mentioned:

Exodus 18:2 ESV

Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home,

Exodus

Exodus 18:5 ESV

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

Exodus 18:5

Exodus 18:6 ESV

And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,”

Zipporah Moses’ wife

Gershom- I have been a sojourner in a foreign land

Eliezer- The God of my father was my help & deliverer

Tells Family (Others) What The LORD Has Done

Transition-

Negative songs about fathers.

Negative songs about fathers.

Papa was a Rolling Stone.

 Papa don’t preach. 

But they’re also positive songs about fathers:

A song for dad

 dance with my father

the greatest man I ever knew

just the two of us will smith and Bill Weathers

Released July 20, 1998

From the first time the doctor placed you in my arms I knew I'd meet death before I'd let you meet harm Although questions arose in my mind, would I be man enough? Against wrong, choose right and be standin' up From the hospital that first night Took a hour just to get the car seat in right People drivin' all fast, got me kinda upset Got you home safe, placed you in your bassinet That night I don't think one wink I slept As I slipped out my bed, to your crib I crept Touched your head gently, felt my heart melt 'Cause I know I loved you more than life itself Then to my knees, and I begged the Lord please Let me be a good daddy, all he needs Love, knowledge, discipline too I pledge my life to you Just the two of us, we can make it if we try Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Just the two of us, building castles in the sky Just the two of us, you and I Five years old, bringin' comedy Every time I look at you I think man, a little me Just like me Wait an see, goin' to be tall Makes me laugh 'cause you got your dads ears an all Sometimes I wonder, what you gonna be A general, a doctor, maybe a MC Haha, I wanna kiss you all the time But I will test that butt when you cut outta line, tru dat Uh-uh-uh why you do dat? I try to be a tough dad, but you be makin' me laugh Crazy joy, when I see the eyes of my baby boy I pledge to you, I will always do Everything I can Show you how to be a man Dignity, integrity, honor and I don't mind if you lose, long as you came with it An you can cry, ain't no shame it it It didn't work out with me an your mom But yo, push come to shove You was conceived in love So if the world attacks, and you slide off track Remember one fact, I got your back Just the two of us, we can make it if we try Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Just the two of us, building castles in the sky Just the two of us, you and I It's a full-time job to be a good dad You got so much more stuff than I had I gotta study just to keep with the changin' times 101 Dalmatians on your CD-ROM See me, I'm Tryin' to pretend I know On my PC where that CD go But yo, ain't nothin' promised, one day I'll be gone Feel the strife, but trust life does go on But just in case It's my place To impart One day some girl's gonna break your heart And ooh ain't no pain like from the opposite sex Gonna hurt bad, but don't take it out on the next, son Throughout life people will make you mad Disrespect you and treat you bad Let God deal with the things they do 'Cause hate in your heart will consume you too Always tell the truth, say your prayers Hold doors, pull out chairs, easy on the swears You're living proof that dreams do come true I love you and I'm here for you Just the two of us, we can make it if we try Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Just the two of us, building castles in the sky Just the two of us, you and I Just the two of us (Just the two of us) Daddy loves you, daddy loves you (Just the two of us) For the rest of your life (Just the two of us)Songwriters: Ralph Mac Donald / William Salter / William Harrison Withers Jr. Just the Two of Us lyrics © Bleunig Music, BMG Rights Management

John 3:14–17 ESV

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 12:27–36 ESV

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Conclusion: How is the gospel presented in

How is the gospel presented in

Exodus 18 “Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh").

Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:1, 3-4, 8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Exodus 18:1 ESV

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

,,

Exodus 18:3–4 ESV

along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”).

,

Exodus 18:8–9 ESV

Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us

Illustrate:  How the Father has been prominent in the lives of the Children of Israel

Psalm 107:1–8 ESV

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Psalm 107:1-8

Psalm 107:31–32 ESV

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Psalm 107;

1 John 3:1–3 ESV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:1-8, 31-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/psa.107.1-8,31-32.esv

John 3:16–17 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/1jn.3.1-3.esv

“"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/jhn.3.16-17.esv

What is a proper response to hearing what the LORD has done?

Exodus 18:10–12 ESV

Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.