But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Isaiah 64:8

This weekend while on vacation, Patrina and I encountered a group of people who think they know God, but the God they worship is a false god, a cheap counterfeit of the one true God.

The Judeo-Christian view of God is complex. He is revealed in Scripture as Creator, Holy, Righteous, Just, Sovereign, and Judge – to name a few. But it does not diminish our concept of God to refer to Him as Father.

A casual reading of the New Testament reveals a favorite term of Jesus’ that God is Father, but the concept is rooted in the Old Testament as well. For example, Psalm 68:5 describes God as a “father to the fatherless.” The fatherless are abandoned. Forgotten. Ignored. Ever feel that way? Just a little?

As Father, God retains all of the other unique characteristics, but they are somehow enhanced when we consider His Fatherly Love for us. He is for us. He is our biggest supporter and He only wants the best for us and He sees each of us as the unique individuals we are – unique as a fingerprint.

Even if our own experience with our fathers is less than ideal, we have a clear picture of what a good father should be, right? Let’s consider some of the unique characteristics of God together.