top of page
Writer's pictureMelissa Tembo

Abba - The Prodigal Father

(inspired by the Prodigal God by Tim Keller)

In Luke 15, Jesus gave 3 illustrations using parables of lost things, the Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and the Lost son. Jesus gave these parables after discovering that the Pharisees and experts of the law were grumbling over His association with people that they deemed to be ‘notorious sinners’ (Luke 15:1-3). To illustrate His purpose on earth, Jesus gave the three parables:


 

The parable of the lost sheep is about a shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep and goes to search for the one that he lost. The parable of the lost coin is about a woman who turns her house upside down looking for a coin that she lost. Both the shepherd and the woman celebrate and tell all their friends when they find their lost things.

The parable of the lost son is about a man who had two sons (Luke 15:11). The younger of the two asked the Father to give him his inheritance before he, the father, died. The Father divides the estate and gives each son his inheritance. A few days later, the younger son leaves his father’s house, goes to a far-off land, and squanders away all his inheritance. When his money ran out, a great famine swept across the land and he begged a local farmer to give him a job looking after the pigs. The young son became so hungry that he would have even eaten the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything. At some point he realises that, “At home, even the servants have food enough to spare.” (Luke 15: 17). He comes to his senses and decides to go back to his Father’s house, beg for forgiveness and ask to be reinstated as a servant. While he is a long way off, his father sees him and runs to meet him. As he is begging for forgiveness,

21…The father interrupted and said,[i] ‘Son, you’re home now!’

22 “Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son. 23 Let’s prepare a great feast[l] and celebrate. 24 For this beloved son of mine was once dead, but now he’s alive again. Once he was lost, but now he is found!’ And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy.

- Luke 15:21-24 TPT


 

A lot of times, this story is referred to as the story of the prodigal son. A son who squandered away all his inheritance but was forgiven when he repented. But, as Tom Keller illustrates in Prodigal God, I would like to propose that this story is not only about a repentant son but more so a forgiving father. A prodigal father who, like the woman with the lost coin and the shepherd with the lost sheep, rejoices at the return of his lost son.


The word ‘Prodigal’ is from the Latin word “prodigalis” or “prodigus” meaning lavish. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, one of the definitions of prodigal is ‘one who spends or gives lavishly or foolishly.’


When we look at the story of the lost son, we see that the Father spared no thought on how he loved and celebrated the return of his son – a son who had all but wished him dead in asking for his inheritance, a son who had taken everything, squandered it and come back empty handed.


When the son returned, the father was exuberant. He asked for the best to be brought for his son. He didn’t even want the servants to help his son get dressed but did so himself:


“Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son. For this beloved son of mine was once dead, but now he’s alive again. Once he was lost, but now he is found!”


The father was lavish in the love and joy he expressed at His son’s return.


That is the picture of our Father in heaven. There is a song recorded at Capital City Music and sung by Dion Davis called Lean back that I absolutely love. In a moment of deep calling to deep, Dion sings these words

Beautiful Father,

You are not emotionally unavailable

You are present in the moment

You are never abusive in correction


Abba is not a Father who is waiting for you make a mistake so He can punish you and send you to hell. Neither is he a God that is waiting to hurt you with His words when you come and tell Him the wrong you have done. He is a Father who will accept you as you are. In your mess, in your sin, in your mistakes – He will embrace you. He is a prodigal Father and He loves to lavish good gifts to His children. But our Father will not leave you as you are. He will not only accept you, He will restore you and change you from the inside out.


On Next week’s post, we will be exploring the restoring nature of God’s character as we look at the relationship between the Prodigal Father and His prodigal son


 




12 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Fear Not

Kommentarer


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page