Dec 1, 2019
Jacob was Joseph’s father. While nothing is known of their
relationship, Joseph possibly developed a deep love for his
heavenly Father from his love for his earthly father. Often,
the love people have for God is reflective of the relationship
they have with their own fathers. And Joseph’s love for God
may have come from seeing his own father’s love for God.
Though faith can’t be ‘passed on’ to others, it can be
personified so it can be personalized. As most men took up
their father’s trade the fact Jesus was the ‘son of a
carpenter’(Gr. tektōn, ‘wood-worker, craftsman’) meant Joseph
probably learned it from Jacob (Matt. 13:55). First-century
construction washard, hands-on labor, so Joseph honored God by
doing what was necessary to care for his family and set an
example for Jesus. God superintended the lineage of Jesus to
include some men who were exemplary to those around them.
Godly men are to be a blessing and not a burden to their
family, church, and country. The mark of a man of God isn’t
perfection but responsibility (2 Thess. 3:10-12).