The Father of eternity

Two brothers. Two fathers. Two inventors. We meet them at the beginning of the Bible: “Jabal was the father of those who raise livestock and live in tents. His brother’s name was Jubal, the father of all who play the harp and flute” (Genesis 4:20-21). What is significant about these men with peculiar names? 

My grandma once gave me an old book called Manners and Customs of the Bible. It was published in 1874 and it describes what life was like thousands of years ago in the cultures of the Middle East (Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Israel, etc).

The Guinness World Record for the longest beard is held by Hans Langseth (1846–1927) from Norway. His beard was 5.33 metres long and when he died it was put in a museum.

Back then, when someone invented something, they were called the “father” of that particular thing. For example, a great warrior might be called “the father of war”, a great blacksmith would be “the father of steel” or a man with a long beard “the father of beards”. In case you were wondering, the Guinness World Record for the longest beard is held by Hans Langseth (1846–1927) from Norway. His beard was 5.33 metres long and when he died it was put in a museum—that’s what he’s remembered for!

Throughout history it has always been a sign of honour and prestige to be called the “father” of something—that thing’s inventor, originator or creator. Famous examples include:

• Albert Einstein: The Father of Relativity. 
• Benjamin Franklin: The Father of Electricity. 
• Alexander Graham Bell: The Father of the Telephone. 
• Hippocrates: The Father of Modern Medicine.
• Galileo Galilei: The Father of Physics.
• Alan Turing: The Father of Modern Computer Science.
• Sigmund Freud: The Father of Modern Psychology.
• Stan Lee: The Father of Comic Books.

So, coming back to our Bible verses: What were Jabal and Jubal the “fathers” of? Jabal pioneered the nomadic farming lifestyle that the Israelites became famous for and Jubal invented the harp and flute.

Father of eternity

Why are Jabal and Jubal in the Bible? Are they there for simple historical interest? Or do they point to something greater? We get a clue from the prophet Isaiah. He writes, “For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, emphasis added).

Who is Isaiah talking about? Jesus. Most English Bibles say, “Everlasting Father” but directly translated from Hebrew it reads “Father of Eternity”. Jesus is the Creator and Inventor of eternity itself. He is, according to Christian tradition, the “Father of Eternity”. But wait, are we talking about Jesus or God? Both, actually.

In the beginning, Jesus already existed. Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Jesus and Jesus gave life to everything in the universe.

The Bible says that in the beginning, Jesus already existed. Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Jesus and Jesus gave life to everything in the universe (John 1:1-4). According to Isaiah, He “lives in eternity” (Isaiah 57:15) and Jesus Himself said, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). Jesus and the Father are so in-tune with each other that their will is one-and-the same. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us so that whoever believes in Him will be able to share eternity with Him (John 3:16).

Father of all

The apostle Paul tells a group of Christians living in the ancient city of Ephesus, “Live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. . . . There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

Paul is saying that God is the Father and Creator of every single person on planet earth. Our family, friends and colleagues—even the people who cut us off when we are driving, those who troll us on social media and those who hurt us with their words and actions: God made them all—and the crazy thing is that He loves them just as much as He loves you and I. As Jesus was dying on the cross, He thought of them just as much as He thought of you. Why? Because God is everyone’s heavenly Father. He created all of us, and when people hurt us and hurt the ones we love, Jesus’ message to us remains the same. “Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Be loving.” Why? Because God is not the Father of some; He is the Father of all. 

Father of good gifts

James, the brother of Jesus, once said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). God is the Father of good gifts. He’s the Creator of the heavens and earth, stars and galaxies—everything that is “good and perfect”. He created it all for us.

When my little daughter sees stars, she bursts into “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at the top of her lungs. She loves stars. Whenever she sees one, she points to it in amazement and says its name. She loves trees, flowers, birds and rainbows. As a child, she appreciates what many of us don’t—that all these are “good and perfect” gifts from God. They are there for our delight and enjoyment.

What about you? Do you see God’s gifts, or are you too busy to notice? Do you have trouble practising gratitude? Do you sing at the top of your lungs about all the amazing things God has given you? Maybe you should try it! From the warm sun to the smile of a toddler to the sparkling waves at the beach, sometimes we need to stop what we’re doing to notice all the “good and perfect” gifts that God gives us every day.

Father of mercy

In the beginning, God made a good and perfect world, but humanity rebelled. Because death can’t exist alongside God’s perfection, the first humans should have died—but God is the Father of mercy. In Genesis 3:15 we find a promise of mercy. It’s the promise that God will deal with the problem of evil forever—but that in doing so, He will be wounded in the process. Instead of leaving humans with their own problems, God promised He would save them—even if it would cost Him personally. 

As the apostle Paul reflects on this promise, he writes: “God is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).

Whatever is dragging us down, whatever is making life tough, we can always come to God

Who is the Father of mercy and endless comfort? God is. And no matter what hits us in life—whether it is the cost-of-living crisis, families being separated, jobs being lost, our health, the health of someone we love or a spiritual battle—whatever is happening in our lives, whatever is dragging us down, whatever is making life tough, we can always come to God. As Paul says, “He is the Father of mercy and endless comfort.” As we celebrate our fathers and father figures this Father’s Day, may we remember the Father of eternity, the Father of all, The Father of good gifts and the Father of mercy.