October 24, 2011
But He’s My Daddy
Thousands lined the streets waiting for the procession hearing the trumpets sound as it approached. Like dominos, people bowed in fear when the first chariot came into sight knowing its occupant was the most powerful man in China. However, one little boy was determined to get to that chariot. As he broke through the crowd a soldier grabbed him. Holding him up, he said, “Don’t you know who that is? He’s Great Emperor of China the most powerful man in the world.” The little boy’s reply surprised the soldier, “But he’s my Daddy.”
I read this story years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. I was studying the greatness of God the Father at the time. He is the infinite, eternal, creator, and nothing equals His power. I even began wondering how it was possible to have a relationship with someone that great. Then the Holy Spirit led me to the scripture we looked at last week. But you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15).
Abba is a term of endearment and intimacy representing the close personal relationship between a child and his/her father. No English word completely captures its meaning. The words, “mama,” and “dada” only begin representing the level of intimacy. “Dada” is the typical first thing a baby calls its father in English speaking societies. As the child learns language this usually changes to Daddy for their most intimate reference to their Father.
Abba was a common word among Jewish children and parents. But, the Jews didn’t have this concept of God. In fact, they revered the name of God to the point they wouldn’t even pronounce it. The Hebrew language didn’t have vowels. So the exact pronunciation Yahweh or Jehovah, God’s personal name, has been lost. Jesus brought a new understanding of the Father when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane the night prior to His crucifixion. Jesus called out to His Father, Abba! Father! All things are possible for You (Mark 14:36). Here was a child, the Son of God, knowing the horror He was about to face. He didn’t cry out Yahweh, Almighty, Eternal God, or All-powerful One. No, he cried out “Daddy!”
My daughter moved to New York after high school. She packed everything in a U-Haul trailer; we said our good-byes; and she headed out the door with her final words, “Love you Dad.” About fifteen minutes later the back door flew open and I heard, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.” Fearing something terrible had happened, I ran and embraced my sobbing daughter trying to understand what she was saying between her cries, Daddy, Daddy. Finally, I grasp enough to realize her truck wasn’t running correctly dashing all her plans. But she knew where to get help—not just from her Father or even from her Dad—but from her Daddy.
Some of us remember little John-John saluting the coffin of his assassinated father, John F. Kennedy. The president had certainly been the most powerful world leader at the time taking America through the Cuban Missile Crisis. Little John-John wouldn’t have understood all that. But you can read of the affectionate stories of him playing under his daddy’s desk in the Oval Office and sitting in the lap of his Daddy as the President spoke to foreign dignitaries.
We have a Father more powerful than any Emperor or President. He is the Creator of the universe with no limit to His power or to His love. And remember, He adopted us. He is not only Father—He is our Abba or our Daddy. We can run to Him crying, “Daddy, Daddy!” when we need His help.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
“Don’t you know who that is? He’s the God of the Universe, the most powerful being that exist.”— “BUT HE’S MY DADDY”—