Fathers and Children (Part 1)

“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children ….”

(Luke 1:17 – NLT)

Final words are important! Many will gather round the bed of a dying father or mother to hear their last words. Last words reveal the burden of the heart – the things that, when all is said and done, are most important.

The last prophetic word, spoken by God through the prophet Malachi, in the Old Testament, is also of great importance in our understanding the Father heart of God, for it reveals his longing – the thing that was most important to him. What is it? To – “turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers ….” (Malachi 4: 6 – NIV)

Through Malachi God also revealed that a man with the spirit of Elijah would be commissioned to carry out this task. We know him as John the Baptist. John’s father, Zechariah, was of the priestly line of Abijah, which means in Hebrew – “The Lord is my Father”. Even John’s heritage prepared him for this great task!

In announcing the birth of John, and in fulfilment of the prophetic word, God sent the angel closest to his heart - Gabriel, to tell a dumbfounded Zechariah that his son would – “ Be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children…”. (Luke 1: 17 – NLT)

Interestingly, Gabriel is sometimes seen in the bible as one who comes to express the love of the Father in whose presence he stands. For instance he told Daniel – “God loves you very much.” (Daniel 9:23 - NLT).

It is hard to underestimate the significance and impact of the birth and life of John, cousin of Jesus. Jesus himself described John as the greatest of men (See - Luke 7:26), the messenger and forerunner of the Messiah. And the central theme of his message, as we have said, was to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and hearts of children to their fathers. Why is this so significant?