"Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs."
Acts 7:8 (NIV)The Bible is divided into three major dispensations through which God communicated to mankind: the Patriarchal (Hebrews 1:1-2), the Mosaical or Law (Exodus 19-20), and the Christian (Acts 2, Acts 3:22-23). In the patriarchal dispensation, fathers such as Adam, Noah, and Abraham served as the head of their households and the primary medium through which God spoke to their families (Genesis 2:4-3:24, Acts 7:8). Noah is a striking example. God warned the entire world of coming judgment through him, and it was Noah's obedience, together with his family's, that secured their salvation while the rest of the world perished (Genesis 5:32-10:10). One of the enduring lessons from that dispensation is that the husband, or the wife where the husband is absent, is called to be the patriarch of the home, the one primarily responsible for the spiritual welfare of the family.
Today, we sometimes see ministers of the Gospel so consumed with the work of ministry that they neglect their own households, leaving their children spiritually unattended. Many other parents fall into the same trap through careers and other pursuits, prioritizing everything except the morality and spiritual formation of their own children. But the patriarchal role given to the head of the home has never expired. It remains one of the first and most important duties any parent carries. It may be challenging to balance this with other responsibilities, but through prayer and God's strength, we can learn to place the welfare of our families first before every other duty.
Lord, help me to fulfill my role as the patriarch or matriarch of my home before any other calling. Give me the wisdom to prioritize my family's spiritual welfare above ministry, career, or any other pursuit. Strengthen me to lead my household well, that my children may reflect the faith I profess. Amen.