Reading through the Scriptures, I found two disturbing passages. Both dealt with the failure of spiritual leaders to raise their children in the Fear of the Lord.

In the first passage, we read: “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:12). The second passage, not very far along, states: “His [Samuel’s] sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3).

In these passages, we read of the sons of Eli and Samuel. Both men were Judges in Israel (1 Samuel 4:18; 1 Samuel 7:15). Both men were good men. Judged externally, they helped Israel to serve God. Nothing in these narratives shows Eli or Samuel as pagans, unbelievers, or the like. Not in anyway. Rather, these men are shown to be sincere. Eli rebuked his sons. When they took the Ark of the Covenant to battle, the text tells us that Eli was concerned for the Ark and not his sons (1 Samuel 4:13). Of Samuel it is said that, “the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, because the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:21).

Consequently, both these men were what we today would call, good Christian men or, more definitively, good Christian ministers. These men attended Bibles study. They preached good sermons. They desired to obey God. They were not afraid to speak to the people in public about the things of God.

However, judged for their internal actions, we see that both men were failures as fathers. Whilst they spoke publicly concerning the Law of the Lord, they did not implement it rigorously within their homes. Both men had a theoretical stance only when it came to their households.

Eli’s sons deserved a rebuke and they received it. However, they also deserved death (Leviticus 10:3; 19:29; 21:6-7). Samuel’s sons deserved a stern rebuke at the very least (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 27:24; Exodus 23:1-3). In all cases, these men should have been tipped from office. Yet, they were not. Both fathers soft-pedalled. They adopted a different standard, not the standard of the Lord, when it came to their sons and the instructing of their own households.

To understand the impact of this oversight or double standard, we need to see that the failure of Eli and Samuel, not only as Judges, but as representatives of the Priest and Prophet, led directly to the Israelites asking for a human king (1 Samuel 8:5). As we see later in the narrative, asking for a king was the equivalent of Israel rejecting Yahweh (1 Samuel 8:7) their One True King, who was the source of both Priest and Prophet.

The statements of Scripture regarding the sons of Eli and Samuel are very heartbreaking. The consequences of the inaction of Eli and Samuel are even more striking. God set His face not only against Eli’s sons, but against Eli’s house. Samuel’s sons become the reason for Israel to desire to be like the “other nations”. What a change! This is Yahweh’s nation. They are, by their very definition, supposed to be different, set apart, holy! Yet their desire is to be like all the other impoverished nations who do not know Yahweh. Why? Because the Judge, the Priest, and the Prophet compromised in the home!

We can cast aspersions at these men and their failures from our vantage in time and space. They warrant it. However, the position of humility might first require us to ask, “Are we doing any better?”

Fathers! Is raising truly Godly children more important to you than having them become a well paid executive or sports star? Do you spend more time caring for the eternal welfare of others than for those within your own household? Is your favourite soap-opera more important than instructing your children in the Lord? Do you worship with your children on Sunday or do you accept the unholy practice of sending them from your presence?

Confession time! Yes, I am a hypocrite! I have not always done right. However, that does not alter the fact that we fathers have a great privilege and responsibility in these matters; a Biblical call and duty in these matters; nor an excuse for the fact that right deeds were left undone.

We fathers have been appointed by God to raise and train the next generation to both love and fear Yahweh. We achieve this by training and by example. If we will not step up, who will? If we love our families, why do we shun this privilege?

May the Lord, in His compassion, open the eyes of many fathers so that they see the beauty of their God-given calling to raise up holy and faithful ones to the Lord. Fathers, teach your children of Jesus. Let the little ones come to their Covenant Redeemer. Hinder none through sloth, worldliness, unpreparedness, or inaction.