The Patriarch, Abraham, with his son, Isaac
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Technically, the term “Patriarch” refers to just Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the three progenitors of the nation of Israel. I prefer a broader definition. When I look at the roles people like Moses, Joshua, and King David (among others) played in the leadership and development of the Jewish nation, I can’t help but include them in my definition of Patriarch because they each played a foundational role in cementing its survival. It’s also important to state that the role of women in the Old Testament provided equally valuable lessons as those of the Patriarchs, so bear that in mind when studying the collective lessons inspired by these Founding and Foundational leaders of the nation of Israel.
The Principles taught by the Patriarchs are often lost in today’s modern society, and many Christians tend to overlook them because of their placement in the Old Testament (often thought by some as the “Expired” Testament). Simply put, they include:
- A Respect for the elders of their community—those who have lived life, survived, and learned from their experiences.
- A Reverence for those who mastered the art of filling their “God-shaped vacuum” with words that were recognized as being “God’s words” and not their own. Their words nourished a faith in God that sustained their people.
- A Commitment to lead their people with respect for their heritage and their God. To actively seek to understand why they exist and why their God has called them with a purpose and a promise. To them, being a Jew meant something.
- A Reminder of their calling to “be holy” and serve the one and only true God.
Respect for Elders
I grew up in a family that taught respect for our elders because they had earned it. Some of this philosophy derived from the fact that my grandparents had lived during the time of The Great Depression and, as a result, they had accomplished much just by surviving it. But I think there was more to it than that. My parents were well aware of the sacrifices that were made by their parents just to put food on the table. They admired them for their tenacity to never give up and their faith that told them a better day was coming. Many was the time when, after refusing to eat something on my plate, my father would remark, “When I was a kid, we’d pick dandelions in our front yard and make them into a stew. They tasted terrible, but it was all we had to eat. So, don’t complain!” Such statements didn’t make me enjoy my food more, but it did help me admire what my grandparents had gone through just to keep “body and soul” together.
As an adult, such childhood experiences helped me appreciate cultures that revere the elder members of their families. Unfortunately, too many cultures don’t. Those who do have a sense that, as people age, they can learn things that might be useful to those younger than them by helping them recognize and avoid mistakes made by their predecessors. Thus, if you actually listened to them, you might learn something useful. I found this concept instructive when it came to both my parents and my grandparents. There were so many things that I learned and so many mistakes I avoided just by probing their wisdom. And yes, sometimes their wisdom was forced on me using the power that comes with being an elder. For that reason, their wisdom was not always received as wisdom at the moment it was delivered. In some cases, it took years for me to appreciate what they were trying to teach me if I ever did. But, all things considered, I would not be the man I am today were it not for the wisdom of my elders.
Reverence for those who have found Faith in God
For the Jews, the concept of respecting, honoring, and even revering their elders was a way of life. You may recall that God (in the Old Testament) was often referred to as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” According to Jewish tradition:
“Every Amidah — the main section of morning, afternoon, and evening prayers — begins with a mention of the ancestors of the Nation of Israel: “Blessed are You, Lord our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob.” Additionally, mentioning our ancestors emphasizes that everything that we Jews know today about the divine we learned through the wisdom of our ancestors recounting their direct experiences with God.” ((https://www.rootsmetals.com/blogs/news/ancestors-in-jewish-culture))
The Bible is filled with the collective wisdom of great men like Moses, King David, King Solomon, Joshua, and the prophets who wrote down what God inspired them to write. We call the books they wrote “holy scriptures” because those who first heard/read what these men had to say believed their words came from God. The writers had learned how to listen to and recognize God when He spoke. Throughout the Old Testament, God taught His Chosen People (the Jews) to honor and revere their elders and leaders. An old Jewish proverb relates why:
“… the midrash also relates a story told by the sage Abba ha-kohen bar Papa. When he would be walking on a road and see a group of people ahead of him, he would take another road so as not to trouble them to rise in his presence. Another sage, Rabi Yosei, criticized the behavior of Abba ha-kohen. He tells him he should have passed in front of those people and afforded them the opportunity to rise in his presence and thus express awe for God. In other words, giving honor to an elder or a sage is akin to honoring God. When read together, Torah and Midrash provide a description of what the relationship between the Jewish public and its elders should be. Elders exercise authority not for their own glorification, but for that of God… and the recognition of elders that such honor not be abused, can help educate people of all ages that mutual obligations benefit all members of society. ((https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/honoring-elders/ JTS is deeply committed to strengthening the North American Jewish community’s ties to Israel and to sharing the centrality of Israel to Jewish peoplehood.))
Thus, God’s purpose in teaching His Chosen People to honor their elders was multi-faceted:
- Honoring an elder was “akin to honoring God.” Remember, in our last principle on faith, we said that the great men of faith were listened to and honored because the people recognized that their words filled that “God-shaped vacuum” in their souls. They believed that God spoke through them and, as a result, it was vital that they listen to, honor, and learn from them.
- Being an elder carried great responsibility. If the adoration that came with it went to their heads, they might make the mistake that they were actually worthy of it and decide to stop listening to God and substitute their wisdom instead. Yet, the wisdom of the above proverb says, “Elders (should) exercise authority not for their own glorification, but for that of God… that such honor not be abused.”
- An elder who exhibited faith in God was not a given. Not all responded to “that still small voice” calling them to recognize God and fill their “God-shaped vacuum.” But, when an elder was judged by his people to be a “great man of faith” who spoke words deemed as “inspired by God,” they earned an additional level of reverence and respect.
God used these Patriarchs as vessels to help His People “see” who He was and what He was like. They were not perfect—far from it—but they inspired their people and helped them get closer to their God, both collectively and individually.
A Commitment to their Heritage
One of the roles of the Patriarchs was to remind their people of their heritage—where they came from and where they were called to go. To remember the role God played throughout their history. To do this effectively required strong leadership skills to reinforce the importance of remembering one’s past. If you’ve ever managed to wade through the first and second books of Chronicles in the Old Testament, you know what I mean. The Jews were/are obsessed with tracing their genealogies. They have been at it so long that they are the only people who can trace their lineage all the way back to the first human created, Adam. ((Other cultures may claim this ability, but if you examine their work closely, it is usually based on piggy-backing on a Jewish genealogical line.)) Knowing one’s roots was important because it proved your identity as a Jew, part of God’s Chosen People.
There were other practical reasons for knowing your lineage:
- It established your inheritance. Each tribe of Israel was assigned a specific portion of the Promised Land to be their inheritance. With no proof of lineage, there was no inheritance.
- It established your role in Jewish society. Certain tribes were assigned certain roles (e.g., those of the Tribe of Levi were given the role of priests responsible for the operations of the Temple).
- It established your place among your ancestors. The Jews are no different in taking pride in being related to another famous Jew. Jesus Himself was descended from the line of King David.
- It defined your commitment to continuing your ancestral line. Genesis records the very first words God spoke to His creation (Genesis 1: 27-28 NKJV):
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.
As a result, the Jews took seriously their responsibility (as given to them by God) to procreate and have children.
- It provided a clear way to trace the lineage of the Messiah. Multiple prophecies predicted that the Messiah would “sit on the throne of King David” as a direct-line descendant.
These may sound like things common to most civilizations—but they are not. James Sinkinson is President of Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME), an organization that publishes educational messages to correct lies and misperceptions about Israel, writes:
“Perhaps what rankles opponents of the State of Israel and Zionism is the fact that the Jews are the only people who can demonstrate indigeneity ((Indigeneity is defined as being “a quality of a person’s and a group’s identity that links them to specific places with knowledge of and respect for original ways.” Emory University.)) in the Land of Israel as the place where its culture, language, and civilization were formed.
No other people speak or use Hebrew or have their singular focus on the sliver of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. No other religion or people’s holy books mentions Israel, Zion, or Jerusalem nearly as many times as the Torah. The Koran does not mention them at all.
The Jewish people’s connection to Israel is unique, unbroken, and consistent. Our traditions and miraculous history can be seen as a continuous love affair between a people and its ancestral homeland.” ((https://www.jns.org/myth-vs-fact-are-todays-jews-the-descendants-of-ancient-israelites/))
The Patriarchs symbolized everything that made Israel unique. Collectively, they were the focal point of the nation—the leaders who kept this vision constantly in view. They gave their people something to believe in and attain, and the power behind that belief (God) has sustained them as a people through untold suffering and persecution over centuries.
A Reminder of their Calling
Israel is unique among all nations on earth. The Founding Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), along with the Foundational Patriarchs (Moses, Joshua, and King David), were not called to create just any nation; they were called by God to “be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19: 6 NCV). This put enormous pressure on anyone chosen to lead Israel. Although many tried valiantly, none were up to the challenge. Yet, despite their failures, we cannot help but admire the legacy they all left behind. They inspired us with their successes and had us crying (or pulling our hair out) over their failures. They were human. But the lesson God wanted to demonstrate through all their experiences was—no one could live up to God’s standards! God did not seek to teach the Jews this lesson to frustrate them (but it did). He did it to show that even the very best men God found on earth (despite their best intentions) were not up to the challenge. Only Jesus, the one and only Son of God, could accomplish what these great men could not—to live up to the standard of holiness required by God.
In summary, God’s message to us through the Patriarchs is this:
- Aspire to hear God’s voice. Seek it with all your heart. And, when you are blessed to hear it—listen and obey. It may come to you directly or through someone chosen by God. Listen to your “still small voice” for confirmation. God’s words are true, they give life and direction, and they will never fail you.
- Respond with Reverence to your calling. God wants to use you! When called—GO! Listen to and revere God’s voice. Don’t let the devil’s voice distract you nor rob you of your faith. Failure is inevitable, not permanent. Great leaders understand that fact and use it to their advantage by never giving up!
- Follow with Discernment and Commitment both your calling and the calling of those called to lead you by God. If your calling is to follow, do so with discernment. If your calling is to lead, do so with humility. There are many who want to deceive you. Seek God’s voice and direction in all things. Know that the leader you follow today may not be God’s choice for tomorrow.
- Share with others what you hear from God—it is a holy calling. If God is speaking through you, your words will produce fruit and grow in others. Know that some will resist and rebel against your message. Nevertheless, remain faithful to your vision and to your belief that God is good, fair, and loving.
- Respect those who have gone before you. They have most likely paid their dues and can be a wealth of wisdom if you pursue it.
These are powerful lessons. Don’t let anyone rob you of them! God provided this principle to lay a solid foundation for how you would find your calling and then have the courage to pursue it.
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